Department of Labor January 14, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice is to designate Certifying Officers to carry out functions under the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program under chapter 2 of title II of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2271 et seq.), and the implementing regulations at 29 CFR part 90. Background: The TAA program operates under the Trade Act of 1974, as amended, to provide assistance to domestic workers adversely affected in their employment by certain types of foreign trade. The Trade and Globalization Adjustment Assistance Act of 2009 amended the Trade Act of 1974, expanded TAA coverage to more workers and firms, including workers and firms in the service sector; made benefits available to workers whose jobs have been off-shored to any country, as opposed to only covering certain shifts in production; and improved workers' training opportunities and opportunities for health insurance coverage. The new law also included additional funding for employment services and case management, extended income support, increased funding for training, and provided for earlier access to training. Workers become eligible for program benefits only if the worker group is certified under the Act as eligible to apply for adjustment assistance. From time to time the agency issues an Order designating or redesignating officials of the agency authorized to act as Certifying Officers, responsible for reviewing and signing adjustment assistance determinations. This also is done when current Certifying Officials retire or leave and/or when there is a need to designate new Certifying Officials. Employment and Training Order No. 1-11 was issued to revise the listing of officials designated as Certifying Officers, superseding the previous Order. The Employment and Training Order No. 1-11 is published below.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is extending the comment period on the proposed rule addressing Lowering Miners' Exposure to Respirable Coal Mine Dust, Including Continuous Personal Dust Monitors. This extension gives commenters additional time to review and comment on the proposed rule. The proposal was published on October 19, 2010 (75 FR 64412), and is available on MSHA's Web site at https://www.msha.gov/REGS/FEDREG/PROPOSED/2010Prop/2010-25249. pdf.

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 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.