Department of Labor January 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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. 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 or by accessing: https://www.doleta.gov/ombcn/ ombcontrolnumber.cfm.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) enforces mine operator compliance with mandatory safety and health standards that protect miners and improve safety and health conditions in U.S. Mines. This Federal Register Notice (FR Notice) notifies the public that it has investigated and issued a final decision on certain mine operator petitions to modify a safety standard.

This notice announces the application of Intertek Testing Services NA, Inc., (ITSNA) for expansion of its recognition and presents the Agency's preliminary finding to grant this request. This preliminary finding does not constitute an interim or temporary approval of this application. This notice also announces the voluntary termination of recognition of Entela, Inc. (ENT), which was purchased by ITSNA's parent company and is now affiliated with ITSNA.

Section 101(c) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 and 30 CFR Part 44 govern the application, processing, and disposition of petitions for modification. This notice is a summary of petitions for modification filed by the parties listed below to modify the application of existing mandatory safety standards published in Title 30 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

On November 28, 2007, OSHA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) titled ``Confined Spaces in Construction.'' The period for submitting written comments is being extended 30 days to allow parties affected by the rule more time to review the proposed rule and collect information and data necessary for comments.

Under the President's High Growth Job Training Initiative (HGJTI), DOL/ETA, announces the availability of approximately $10 million in grant funds for high-impact regional approaches to meet the workforce challenges of the energy industry and/or address the shortage of construction and skilled trade workers needed to maintain and expand the energy industry infrastructure. The President's HGJTI is a strategic effort to prepare workers for new and increasing job opportunities in high-growth, high-demand, and economically vital industries and sectors of the American economy. Through the initiative, ETA identifies high-growth, high-demand industries, evaluates the skill needs of those industries, and funds local and national partnership-based demonstration projects that: (a) Address industry-specific workforce challenges within the context of regional talent and economic development strategies; and (b) prepare workers for good jobs with career pathways in these rapidly expanding or transforming industries. ETA will broadly disseminate the products, models, and effective approaches that result from HGJTI investments to employers, education and training providers, and the workforce system, building their capacity to respond to employers' workforce needs in high-growth, high-demand industries that are a part of regional economies. Grant funds awarded under this Solicitation for Grant Applications (SGA) should be used to implement and replicate high-impact, industry- driven training solutions that address identified workforce challenges in the energy industry or in the construction and skilled trade occupations that support the energy industry. Each solution must take place in the context of a regional talent development strategy designed to contribute to a strong regional economy. The solutions must be developed and implemented by a strategic regional partnership, which includes leaders from the workforce investment system, business and industry, and the education and training community, as well as other public and private sector partners that bring critical assets to the joint venture. Proposed solutions should take full advantage of existing workforce development models, promising practices, and tools. Solutions must implement an existing promising solution, model, or approach and take it to scale in the region, or adapt a solution that has been demonstrated to have positive impact on the identified workforce development challenges in another region. Applicants may be public, private for-profit, or private non-profit organizations. It is anticipated that average individual awards will fall within the range of $500,000 to $1 million. Addresses: Mailed applications must be addressed to the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Division of Federal Assistance, Attention: Ariam Ferro, Grants Management Specialist, Reference SGA/DFA PY-07-07, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room N4716, Washington, DC 20210. Applicants may alternatively apply online through Grants.gov (https://www.grants.gov) and further information about applying online can be found in Part IV (3) of this solicitation. Telefacsimile (FAX) applications will not be accepted. Applicants are advised that U.S. Postal Service mail delivery in the Washington area may be delayed due to mail decontamination procedures. Hand delivered proposals will be received at the above address. Supplementary Information: This solicitation consists of eight parts: Part I provides the funding opportunity description: It contains background information on the HGJTI and workforce challenges facing the energy sector, including the shortage of construction and skilled trade workers; describes ETA's approach to talent development in the context of regional economies; and provides a description of the critical elements for this solicitation. Part II describes the award amount and performance period of the award. Part III describes eligible applicants and other grant specifications. Part IV provides information on the application and submission process and various funding restrictions. Part V describes the criteria against which applications will be reviewed and explains the proposal review and selection process. Part VI provides award administration information. Part VII contains ETA agency contact information. Part VIII lists additional resources of interest to applicants and other information.

On December 10, 2007, OSHA published a Federal Register notice inviting interested parties to submit nominations for membership on FACOSH. In that notice, OSHA set a submission deadline of January 9, 2008. OSHA is reopening the record to allow additional time for interested parties to submit nominations.

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 (ERISA or 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 Employment and Training Administration published a document in the Federal Register on January 4, 2008, announcing the availability of funds and solicitation for grant applications (SGA) for the Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians under section 166 of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) for Program Years (PY) 2008 and 2009. This notice is an amendment to the SGA and it amends ``Announcement Type'' and the ``Application and Submission'' Information section to correct the Funding Opportunity Number.

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 its proposal to extend OMB approval of the information collection: Rehabilitation Plan and Award (OWCP-16). A copy of the information collection request can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addresses section of this Notice.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, as amended), notice is hereby given of a meeting of the Labor Advisory Committee for Trade Negotiation and Trade Policy. Date, Time, Place: February 8, 2008; 2 p.m.-4 p.m.; USTR Annex Building, Rooms 1 and 2, 1724 F St., NW., Washington, DC. Purpose: The meeting will include a review and discussion of current issues which influence U.S. trade policy. Potential U.S. negotiating objectives and bargaining positions in current and anticipated trade negotiations will be discussed. Pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 2155(f) it has been determined that the meeting will be concerned with matters the disclosure of which would seriously compromise the Government's negotiating objectives or bargaining positions. Accordingly, the meeting will be closed to the public. See section 10(d) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. app., and section (c)(9)(B) of the Government in the Sunshine Act, 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(9)(B).