Department of Labor 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On August 6, 2002, President Bush signed into law the Trade Adjustment Assistance Reform Act of 2002 (the Reform Act), which amended the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (Act or Trade Act). The Reform Act reauthorized the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program through fiscal year 2007 and made significant amendments to the TAA program, including the addition of Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance for Older Workers (Alternative TAA or ATAA). These amendments generally took effect on November 4, 2002, and required that the Department establish the ATAA program ``[n]ot later than one year after the date of the enactment of the [Reform Act]''. The Department is implementing the TAA amendments, including the introduction of ATAA, through three separate rulemakings. This proposed rule implements the ATAA program, a demonstration project for older workers. On August 25, 2006, the Department published a proposed rule governing the payment of TAA and the provision of related employment services. The Department will publish a third proposed rule governing TAA and ATAA certifications of worker groups adversely affected by trade.

On September 15, 2004, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a new fire protection final rule for shipyards that incorporated by reference 19 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards. Ten of those NFPA standards had been updated by NFPA since the fire protection rule was proposed and an additional NFPA standard has been updated since the final rule was published. In today's Federal Register, OSHA is publishing a direct final rule (DFR) replacing the references to the 11 older NFPA standards in OSHA's fire protection standard for shipyards with their most recent versions. If OSHA does not receive significant adverse comment on the DFR, the updated versions of the NFPA standards will replace their older versions in OSHA's fire protection standard for shipyards on the effective date stated in the DFR. If significant adverse comment on the updated versions is received, OSHA will withdraw the DFR and proceed with rulemaking on this proposed rule. However, if significant adverse comments are received regarding certain provisions included in the DFR, but not others, OSHA may finalize those changes that did not receive significant adverse comment, and conduct further rulemaking under the proposed rule for the changes that did receive significant adverse comment. A subsequent Federal Register document will be published to announce OSHA's action.

OSHA solicits public comments concerning its proposal to extend OMB approval of the information collection requirements contained in its Ethylene Oxide (EtO) Standard (29 CFR 1910.1047). The Standard protects employees from the adverse health effects that may result from occupational exposure to EtO, including carcinogenic, mutagenic, genotoxic, reproductive, neurologic, and sensitization hazards to employees.

This notice announces the applications of SGS U.S. Testing Company, Inc., (SGSUS) for renewal and expansion of its recognition, and presents the Agency's preliminary finding in favor of granting these requests. This preliminary finding does not constitute an interim or temporary approval of these applications.

This notice announces the application of Canadian Standards Association (CSA) for expansion of its recognition, and presents the Agency's preliminary finding in favor of granting this request. This preliminary finding does not constitute an interim or temporary approval of this application.