Department of Labor May 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Secretary of Labor signed the annual certifications under the Federal Unemployment Tax Act, 26 U.S.C. 3301 et seq., thereby enabling employers who make contributions to state unemployment funds to obtain certain credits against their liability for the federal unemployment tax. By letter the certifications were transmitted to the Secretary of the Treasury. The letter and certifications are printed below.

MSHA reviewed the requirements of the International Electrotechnical Commission's (IEC) standards for Electrical Apparatus for Explosive Gas Atmospheres to determine if they are equivalent to the Agency's applicable product approval requirements or can be modified to provide at least the same degree of protection as those requirements. MSHA has determined that the IEC's standards for explosion-proof enclosures, with modifications, provide the same degree of protection as MSHA's applicable product approval requirements. Applicants may request that MSHA grant product approval for explosion- proof (flameproof) enclosures based on compliance with the IEC standards provided MSHA's specified list of modifications is also addressed in the submitted design.

This Interpretive Bulletin sets forth a statement of the Secretary of Labor's interpretation of Section 110(c) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine Act), 30 U.S.C. 820(c), as it relates to agents of Limited Liability Companies (LLCs). The Interpretive Bulletin is considered an interpretive rule and provides an explanation of the Secretary's interpretation of Section 110(c) and the rationale supporting that interpretation. For the reasons set forth below, the Secretary's interpretation is that Section 110(c) of the Mine Act is applicable to agents of LLCs. The effect of the Secretary's interpretation is that agents of LLCs may be held personally liable under Section 110(c) of the Mine Act if they knowingly authorize, order, or carry out a violation of any mandatory health or safety standard under the Act or a violation of or failure or refusal to comply with any order issued under the Act or any order incorporated in a final decision issued under certain provisions of the Act.

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 extension of the ``BLS Occupational Safety and Health Statistics (OSHS) Cooperative Agreement Application Package.'' 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.