Department of Labor December 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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. 3505(c)(2)(A)]. The 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 the collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently the Office of the Solicitor is soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of the information collection request (ICR) for applications to obtain awards in administrative proceedings subject to the Equal Access to Justice Act.

This notice sets forth final procedural guidelines (``Guidelines'') for the development and maintenance of a list of goods from countries that the Bureau of International Labor Affairs (``ILAB'') has reason to believe are produced by child labor or forced labor in violation of international standards (``List''). The Guidelines establish the process for public submission of information, and the evaluation and reporting process to be used by the U.S. Department of Labor's (``DOL'') Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor, and Human Trafficking (``Office'') in maintaining and updating the List. DOL is required to develop and make available to the public the List pursuant to the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005. This notice also requests information on the use of child labor and/or forced labor in the production of goods internationally, as well as information on government, industry, or third-party actions and initiatives to address these problems. This information will be used by DOL as appropriate in developing the initial List.

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 revision of the ``Current Population Survey (CPS).'' 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 is proposing to include the protocol for the abbreviated Bitrex[supreg] qualitative fit test (``ABQLFT'') in its Respiratory Protection Standard; the proposed protocol would apply to employers in general industry, shipyard employment, and the construction industry. The proposed ABQLFT protocol consists of seven exercises described in the existing Bitrex[supreg] qualitative fit-testing protocol specified in OSHA's Respiratory Protection Standard. However, each of the exercises in the proposed ABQLFT protocol lasts 15 seconds, compared to 60 seconds for exercises in the existing Bitrex[supreg] qualitative fit-testing protocol. This proposal describes the test sensitivity, predictive value of a pass, test specificity, and predictive value of a fail for the ABQLFT protocol, and requests the public to comment on whether this evidence supports OSHA including the ABQLFT in the Respiratory Protection Standard.

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 continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA 95). 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 Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) is soliciting comments concerning the extension without change of the information collection request (ICR) included in the suspension of pension benefits regulation issued pursuant to the authority of section 203(a)(3)(B) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), which governs the circumstances under which pension plans may suspend pension benefit payments to retirees who return to work, or of participants who continue to work beyond normal retirement age (29 CFR 2530.203-3). A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addresses section of this notice.

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 continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA 95). 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 Employee Benefits Security Administration is soliciting comments on the proposed extension of the information collection provisions of Prohibited Transaction Exemption 98-54 (PTE 98-54). A copy of the information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the individual shown in the Addresses section of this notice.

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 other Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA 95) (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 Employee Benefits Security Administration is soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of a currently approved collection of information, Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption 81-8 on investment of plan assets in certain types of short- term investments. A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addresses section of this notice.

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 (PRA 95) (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). 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 Employee Benefits Security Administration is soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of a currently approved collection of information included in the Delinquent Filer Voluntary Compliance Program. A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the individual listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), is proposing to amend the current standard for the quantity and location of firefighting equipment and materials underground to ensure that they are readily available to quickly extinguish a fire. In lieu of the current requirements for rock dust and other firefighting materials, this proposed rule would allow the use of portable fire extinguishers in working sections of underground anthracite coal mines that have no electrical equipment at the face and produce less than 300 tons of coal per shift. The rule also would require an additional fire extinguisher in lieu of rock dust at temporary electrical installations in all underground coal mines.

OSHA proposes to revise the standards on general working conditions in shipyard employment. The proposed revisions would update existing requirements to reflect advances in industry practices and technology. The proposal also would cross reference general industry standards either that are already applicable to shipyard employment or that OSHA intends to apply. Finally, OSHA proposes to add provisions that would provide protection from hazards not addressed by existing standards, including provisions on the control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout).

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is reopening the comment period for the Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) on sealing of abandoned areas of underground coal mines to provide commenters time to review and submit comments on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Draft Report ``CFD [Computational Fluid Dynamics] Study and Structural Analysis of the Sago Mine Accident'' (Report).

Pursuant to section 10 (a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (Public Law 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 (NAETC), as constituted under WIA. Time and Date: The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on Tuesday, January 8, 2008, and continue until 4:45 p.m. that day. The meeting will reconvene at 9 a.m. EST on Wednesday, January 9, 2008, and adjourn at approximately 4:45 p.m. on that day. The period from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on January 9, 2008, will be reserved for participation and presentations by members of the public. Place: All sessions will be held at the United States Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Room N3437-A, B, and C, Washington, DC 20210. Status: The meeting will be open to the public. Members of the public not present may submit a written statement on or before December 28, 2007, to be included in the record of the meeting. Statements are to be submitted to Mr. Craig Lewis, Designated Federal Official (DFO), U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room S-4209, Washington, DC 20210. Members of the public not present may also participate in the public comment period by conference call. The number to call is (888) 790-3107 and the participant pass code is: 6858974. A conference monitor will facilitate calls to the meeting. Members of the public who will be in attendance should call Mr. Craig Lewis at (202) 693-3384 at least two business days before the meeting so a representative can be scheduled to clear entrance to the facility. Persons who need special accommodations should contact Mr. Craig Lewis at (202) 693-3384 at least two business days before the meeting. Matters To Be Considered: The formal agenda will focus on the following topics: (1) U.S. Department of Labor Update; (2) The Employment and Training Administration's Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development Initiative; (3) Indian and Native American Program Update; (4) Program Year 2006 Performance; (5) Fiscal Year 09 Funding; (6) Solicitation for Grant Application Update; (7) Technical Assistance Process; (8) Two Year Planning Guidance; (9) Workgroup Reports; and (10) Council Recommendations.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration announces ACCSH membership, including representation categories and terms; work group meetings January 23, 2008; and a full committee meeting on January 24-25, 2008. ACCSH is meeting to address construction safety and health issues.

OSHA solicits public comment concerning its proposal to extend OMB approval of the information collection requirements specified in the Underground Construction Standard (29 CFR 1926.800).