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

On June 8, 2005, the Department of Labor (DOL) published interim final regulations that govern its responsibilities under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000, as amended (EEOICPA or Act). Part B of the Act provides lump-sum payments of $150,000 and medical benefits to covered employees and, where applicable, to survivors of such employees, of the Department of Energy (DOE), its predecessor agencies and certain of its vendors, contractors and subcontractors. Part B also provides lump-sum payments of $50,000 and medical benefits to individuals found eligible by the Department of Justice (DOJ) for $100,000 under section 5 of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) and, where applicable, to their survivors. Part E of the Act provides variable lump-sum payments (based on a worker's permanent impairment and/or calendar years of qualifying wage-loss) and medical benefits for covered DOE contractor employees and, where applicable, provides variable lump-sum payments to survivors of such employees (based on a worker's death due to a covered illness and any calendar years of qualifying wage-loss). Part E also provides these same payments and benefits to uranium miners, millers and ore transporters covered by section 5 of RECA and, where applicable, to survivors of such employees. At the same time the Department published the interim final regulations, it also invited written comments and advice from interested parties regarding possible changes to those regulations. This document amends the interim final regulations based on comments that the Department received.

This notice informs interested persons of the first meeting of the Technical Study Panel (Panel) on the Utilization of Belt Air and the Composition and Fire Retardant Properties of Belt Materials in Underground Coal Mining. The public is invited to attend.

OSHA routinely conducts reviews of its existing safety and health standards to improve and update them. As part of this ongoing process, OSHA is issuing this ANPRM to initiate Phase III of the Standards Improvement Project (SIPs III). SIPs III is the third in a series of rulemaking actions intended to improve and streamline OSHA standards by removing or revising individual requirements within rules that are confusing, outdated, duplicative, or inconsistent. These revisions maintain or enhance employees' safety and health, while reducing regulatory burdens where possible. OSHA has already identified a number of provisions that are potential candidates for inclusion in SIPs III. These candidates include recommendations received from the public in other rulemakings. The purpose of this notice is to invite comment on these recommendations, as well as provide an opportunity for commenters to suggest other candidates that might be appropriate for inclusion in this rulemaking. OSHA will use the information received in response to this notice to help determine the scope of SIPs III.

This notice provides the proposed revised schedule of fees to be charged by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTLs). OSHA charges fees for specific types of services it provides to NRTLs. The fees charged to NRTLs first went into effect on October 1, 2000.

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 and Training Administration is soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension/reinstatement of the data retention required by 20 CFR 652.8(d)(5) of the Wagner-Peyser Act, which requires each state to retain applications and job orders for a minimum of one year. A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addressee section of this notice or at this Web site: https:// www.doleta.gov/OMBCN/OMBControlNumber.cfm.

Pursuant to the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR part 1500-08) implementing procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Department of Labor, Office of the Secretary (OSEC), in accordance with 29 CFR 11.11(d), gives final notice of the proposed construction of a new Job Corps Center at 6767 North 60th Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and that this construction will not have a significant adverse impact on the environment. In accordance with 29 CFR 11.11(d) and 40 CFR 1501.4(e)(2), a preliminary FONSI for the new Job Corps Center was published in the July 7, 2006 Federal Register (71 FR Page 38666- 38667). No comments were received regarding the preliminary FONSI. ETA has reviewed the conclusion of the environmental assessment (EA), and agrees with the finding of no significant impact. This notice serves as the Final Finding of No Significant Impact for the new Job Corps Center at 6767 North 60th Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The preliminary FONSI and the EA are adopted in final with no change.