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

The U.S. 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 revision of the collection of information on the registered apprenticeship program (ETA Form 671) under Title 29 CFR Part 29 (Labor Standards for the Registration of Apprenticeship Programs). 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 by accessing: https://www.doleta.gov/OMBCN/ OMBControlNumber.cfm.

OSHA is scheduling informal public hearings on the proposed rule on general working conditions in shipyard employment.

This technical amendment updates MSHA's listing of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control numbers for the Agency's standards and regulations. MSHA is prohibited from conducting a collection of information unless the Agency displays a currently valid OMB control number. This consolidated listing assists the public in searching for current MSHA standards and regulations that include information collection, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements approved by OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, is conducting a pre-clearance consultation 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 consultation is undertaken 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 measures to improve program performance in the labor certification program for temporary employment of nonimmigrant aliens in agriculture in the United States. 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.

OSHA solicits comments concerning its proposal to extend OMB approval of the information collection requirements contained in the Forging Machines Standard (29 CFR 1910.218). The paperwork provisions of the Standard specify requirements for developing and maintaining inspection records, and identifying manually operated valves and switches.

This notice announces the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's final decision to deny the renewal of recognition of Electrical Reliability Services, Inc. (formerly Electro-Test, Inc.) (ETI) as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory under 29 CFR 1910.7.

ETA announces the availability of approximately $10 million in grant funds under the TBL Initiative to be awarded through a competitive process. The purpose of the Initiative is to expand access to training resulting in an increased number of workers trained, particularly in high-growth, high-demand occupations, and to meet the needs of industry for skilled employees. This SGA is designed to expand the vital role of TBL in helping workers quickly acquire the training and skills they need to be successful in today's global economy, and thereby increase the nation's economic competitiveness and growth. Desired outcomes include an increased amount of workforce training available online and/or enhanced with TBL, and an increased number of people trained in high-growth jobs through the use of TBL methods. Funds will be awarded to public, private for-profit, and private non-profit organizations, including educational institutions and registered apprenticeship sponsors. Partnership with the publicly- funded workforce investment system is required. This solicitation provides background information and describes the application submission requirements, outlines the process that eligible entities must use to apply for funds covered by this solicitation, and details how grantees will be selected.

This document extends the period for comments on the proposed rule published on May 12, 2008 (73 FR 27346). The proposed rule would make several revisions to the current Form LM-2, which is used by the largest labor organizations to file their annual financial reports under the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959, as amended, and would establish a procedure and standards by which the Secretary of Labor may revoke a particular labor organization's privilege to file a simplified annual report, Form LM-3, for a limited time where appropriate, after investigation, due notice and opportunity for a hearing. The comment period, which was to expire on June 26, 2008, is extended to July 11, 2008.