Department of Labor 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Under section 101 of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, the Secretary of Labor (Secretary) may allow the modification of the application of a mandatory safety standard to a mine if the Secretary determines either that an alternate method exists at a specific mine that will guarantee no less protection for the miners affected than that provided by the standard, or that the application of the standard at a specific mine will result in a diminution of safety to the affected miners. Final decisions on these petitions are based on the petitioner's statements, comments and information submitted by interested persons, and a field investigation of the conditions at the mine. MSHA, as designee of the Secretary, has granted or partially granted the requests for modification listed below. In some instances, the decisions are conditioned upon compliance with stipulations stated in the decision. The term FR Notice appears in the list of affirmative decisions below. The term refers to the Federal Register volume and page where MSHA published a notice of the filing of the petition for modification.

The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA95) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is soliciting comments concerning the proposed revision of the ``Telephone Point of Purchase Survey.'' A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the individual listed below in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.

Pursuant to section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (Pub. L. 92-463), as amended, and section 166(h)(4) of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) (29 U.S.C. 2911(h)(4), notice is hereby given of the next meeting of the Native American Employment and Training Council as constituted under WIA. Time and Date: The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. e.d.t. (eastern daylight time) on Thursday, July 14, 2005, and continue until 5 p.m. e.d.t. that day. The period from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. e.d.t. on July 14 will be reserved for participation and presentation by members of the public. The meeting will reconvene at 9 p.m. e.d.t. on Friday, July 15, 2005, and adjourn at approximately 12 p.m. e.d.t. on that day. Place: All sessions will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 1800 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Status: The meeting will be open to the public. Persons who need special accommodations should contact Ms. Athena Brown on (202) 693- 3737 by July 7, 2005. Matters to be Considered: The formal agenda will focus on the following topics: (1) Strategic Planning for Economic Development Report; (2) UI Wage Study-Discussion of Preliminary Findings; (3) Follow-up Issues on Technical Assistance; (4) Follow-up on Resolutions; (5) Timeline for Implementation of Common Measures; and (6) Proposed Changes to Section 166 Reporting (NAWIA).

This document contains corrections to the preamble and rule text of the final rule that was published in the Federal Register on Monday, June 6, 2005 (70 FR 32868). The rule relates to diesel particulate matter exposure of underground metal and nonmetal miners.

This document contains exemptions issued by the Department of Labor (the Department) from certain of the prohibited transaction restrictions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (the Act) and/or the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the Code). A notice was published in the Federal Register of the pendency before the Department of a proposal to grant such exemption. The notice set forth a summary of facts and representations contained in the application for exemption and referred interested persons to the application for a complete statement of the facts and representations. The application has been available for public inspection at the Department in Washington, DC. The notice also invited interested persons to submit comments on the requested exemption to the Department. In addition the notice stated that any interested person might submit a written request that a public hearing be held (where appropriate). The applicant has represented that it has complied with the requirements of the notification to interested persons. No requests for a hearing were received by the Department. Public comments were received by the Department as described in the granted exemption. The notice of proposed exemption was issued and the exemption is being granted solely by the Department because, effective December 31, 1978, section 102 of Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1978, 5 U.S.C. App. 1 (1996), transferred the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury to issue exemptions of the type proposed to the Secretary of Labor.

The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the Employment Standards Administration is soliciting comments concerning the proposed collection: Application for Federal Certificate of Age (WH-14). A copy of the proposed information collection request can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addresses section of this Notice.

On April 2, 2004, the Mine Safety and Health Administration published a final rule revising underground coal mine ventilation standards to allow the use of air traveling in the belt entry to ventilate working sections or areas where mechanized mining equipment is being installed or removed. The International Union, United Mine Workers of America and Jim Walter Resources, Inc. challenged the rule. On May 24, 2005, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued an opinion denying the Union's petition for review and granting the petition of Jim Walter Resources, Inc. Jim Walter Resources, Inc.'s petition challenged the Secretary of Labor's promulgation of 30 Code of Federal Regulations section 75.350(a)(2), which, under certain circumstances, set a velocity cap of 500 feet per minute in the belt entry of underground coal mines. This document provides notice of, and effectuates, the Court's opinion to vacate paragraph (a)(2) of section 75.350 and remand the matter to the Secretary of Labor.

OSHA solicits public comment concerning its request for an extension of the information collection requirements contained in its onsite consultation agreements (29 CFR 1908).

In notice document 05-10621 beginning on page 30801 in the issue of Friday, May 27, 2005, make the following modifications: On page 30801, in the first column, first sentence of the ``Summary'', the language ``The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of International Labor Affairs, will award up to U.S. $5 million through one or more cooperative agreements to an organization or organizations* * *'', should be changed to read. ``The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of International Labor Affairs, will award up to U.S. $6 million through one or more cooperative agreements to an organization or organizations* * *'' On page 30805, in the third column, first sentence of the second paragraph of Section II ``Award Information'', the language, ``Up to U.S. $5 million will be awarded under this solicitation'', should be changed to read, ``Up to U.S. $6 million will be awarded under this solicitation''.

The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is soliciting comments concerning the proposed reinstatement of the ``Current Population Survey (CPS) Displaced Worker, Job Tenure, and Occupational Mobility Supplement,'' to be conducted in January 2006. A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the individual listed below in the Addresses section of this notice.

OSHA intends to re-charter the Maritime Advisory Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (MACOSH), which expires in April 2005. MACOSH advises the Secretary of Labor on matters relating to occupational safety and health programs, new initiatives, and standards for the maritime industries of the United States which include Longshoring, Marine Terminals, and Shipyards. The Committee will consist of 15 members and will be chosen from among a cross-section of individuals who represent the following interests: employers, employees; Federal and State safety and health organizations; professional organizations specializing in occupational safety and health; and national standards setting groups. OSHA invites persons interested in serving on MACOSH to submit their names for consideration for committee membership.

This document makes correcting amendments to four existing standards that are affected by an MSHA rulemaking concerning emergency evacuations in underground coal mines. The rule revised and renumbered an existing standard, but did not update cross-references to that standard. This document updates these cross-references, and makes a non-substantial correction to the wording in a separate reference.