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

This Notice announces states' allotments for PY 2008 (July 1, 2008-June 30, 2009) for WIA Title I Youth, Adults and Dislocated Worker Activities programs; additional PY 2008 funding from WIA section 173(e) for eligible states; final allotments for Employment Service (ES) activities under the Wagner-Peyser Act for PY 2008; Workforce Information Grants for PY 2008; and Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) allotments for FY 2008. The WIA allotments for states and the final allotments for the Wagner-Peyser Act are based on formulas defined in their respective statutes. The WIA allotments for the outlying areas are based on a formula determined by the Secretary. As required by WIA section 182(d), on February 17, 2000, a Notice of the discretionary formula for allocating PY 2000 funds for the outlying areas (American Samoa, Guam, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Northern Marianas, Palau, and the Virgin Islands) was published in the Federal Register at 65 FR 8236 (February 17, 2000). The rationale for the formula and methodology was fully explained in the February 17, 2000, Federal Register Notice. The formula for PY 2008 is the same as used for PY 2000 and is described in the section on Youth Activities program allotments. Comments are invited on the formula used to allot funds to the outlying areas.

The Federal Advisory Council on Occupational Safety and Health (FACOSH) will meet April 10, 2008, in Washington, DC.

The U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) awards funds to nonprofit organizations to provide training and educational programs for employers and employees about safety and health topics selected by OSHA. Nonprofit organizations, including community-based and faith-based organizations, that are not an agency of a State or local government are eligible to apply. Additionally, State or local government-supported institutions of higher education are eligible to apply in accordance with 29 CFR part 95. This notice announces grant availability for Susan Harwood Training Program grants. All information and forms needed to apply for this funding opportunity are published as part of this SGA or are available on the Grants.gov site.

The Pension Protection Act of 2006 amended the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code (Code) to require that sponsors of multiemployer defined benefit pension plans that are in, or will be in, endangered or critical status for a plan year provide notice of this status to participants, beneficiaries, the bargaining parties, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and the Department of Labor. This document contains a model notice that is intended to facilitate compliance with this notification requirement under ERISA and the Code.

OSHA solicits public comment concerning its proposal to extend OMB approval of the information collection requirements specified by the Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134).

OSHA is confirming the effective date of its direct final rule that revises a number of standards for general industry that refer to national consensus standards. The direct final rule states that it would become effective on March 13, 2008 unless OSHA receives significant adverse comment on these revisions by January 14, 2008. OSHA received no adverse comments by that date and, therefore, is confirming that the rule will become effective on March 13, 2008.

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.

This document contains a notice of pendency before the Department of Labor (the Department) of a proposed amendment to PTE 93- 31, an Underwriter Exemption.\1\ The Underwriter Exemptions are individual exemptions that provide relief for the origination and operation of certain asset pool investment trusts and the acquisition, holding and disposition by employee benefit plans (Plans) of certain asset-backed pass-through certificates representing undivided interests in those investment trusts. The proposed amendment to PTE 93-31, if granted, would provide a six month period to resolve certain affiliations between LaSalle Bank, N.A., the Trustee, and Bank of America, N.A. as members of the Restricted Group, as those terms are defined in the Underwriter Exemptions (the Proposed Amendment). The Proposed Amendment, if granted, would affect the participants and beneficiaries of the Plans participating in such transactions and the fiduciaries with respect to such plans.

OSHA is postponing the MACOSH meeting and the workgroup meetings originally scheduled for March 18-20, 2008, at the Wyndham Greenspoint Hotel, 12400 Greenspoint Drive, Houston, TX 77060. OSHA is planning to hold another MACOSH meeting in the coming months and will publish a notice of the rescheduled meeting in the Federal Register when arrangements for that meeting are completed.