Department of Labor August 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is amending the regulations governing employee protection (or ``whistleblower'') claims under the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982 (STAA), 49 U.S.C. 31105. The amendments clarify and improve procedures for handling STAA whistleblower complaints and implement statutory changes enacted into law on August 3, 2007, as part of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (9/11 Commission Act), Public Law 110-53, 121 Stat. 266. These changes to the STAA whistleblower regulations also make the procedures for handling retaliation complaints under STAA more consistent with OSHA's procedures for handling retaliation complaints under Section 211 of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 (ERA), 42 U.S.C. 5851 and other whistleblower provisions.

The National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health (NACOSH) will meet September 14 and 15, 2010, in Washington, DC. In conjunction with the NACOSH meeting, its Gulf Oil Spill Subgroup will meet.

This document contains a proposed rule that, if adopted, would supersede the existing procedure governing the filing and processing of applications for administrative exemptions from the prohibited transaction provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the Code), and the Federal Employees' Retirement System Act of 1986 (FERSA). The Secretary of Labor is authorized to grant exemptions from the prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA, the Code, and FERSA and to establish an exemption procedure to provide for such relief. The proposed rule would clarify and consolidate the Department of Labor's exemption procedures and provide the public with a more comprehensive description of the prohibited transaction exemption process.

The Department of Labor (DOL) hereby announces the submission of the following public information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. chapter 35). A copy of this ICR, with applicable supporting documentation, including, among other things, a description of the likely respondents, proposed frequency of response, and estimated total burden may be obtained from the RegInfo.gov Web site at https:// www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain or by contacting Linda Watts Thomas on 202-693-4223 (this is not a toll-free number) and e-mail to: DOL_ PRA_PUBLIC@dol.gov.

OSHA solicits comments concerning its proposal to extend the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval of the information collection requirements contained in the Portable Fire Extinguishers Standard (Annual Maintenance Certification Record) (29 CFR 1910.157(e)(3)).

OSHA solicits public comment concerning its proposal to extend the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval of the information collection requirements specified for its Grantee Quarterly Progress Report.

The Department of Labor (the Department), in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA 95) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and continuing collections of information. This helps the Department assess the impact of its information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. It also helps the public understand the Department's information collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format. The Employee Benefits Security Administration is soliciting comments on the proposed extension of the information collection provisions of its regulation relating to loans to plan participants and beneficiaries who are parties in interest with respect to the plan (29 CFR 2550.408b-1). A copy of the information collection request (ICR) may be obtained by

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 Office of Workers' Compensation Programs is soliciting comments concerning the proposed collection: Operator Response to Schedule for Submission of Additional Evidence (CM-2970) and Operator Response to Notice of Claim (CM-2970A). A copy of the proposed information collection request can be obtained by contacting the office

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 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 collection of data about OMB 1205-0030 (October 31, 2010).

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 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 collection of data about Job Corps Placement and Assistance Record [OMB Control No. 1205- 0035, expires 09/30/2010]: ETA 678 form, Job Corps Placement and Assistance Record. ETA form 678 currently captures information about a student's training and subsequent placement in a job, higher education or the military, as well as the name of the placement provider agency. It is used to evaluate overall program effectiveness. This form is critical to the program's evaluation process. It is the only form which documents a student's post-center status. This form is completed by either a Job Corps center records staff or a career transition specialist for each student.