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

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.

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 Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) is soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of the currently approved information collection request for the ``Federal Contractor Veterans' Employment Report VETS-100'' and the ``Federal Contractor Veterans' Employment Report VETS-100A.'' A copy of the proposed information collection request can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the ADDRESSES section of this Notice. There have been no changes to the current VETS-100 and the VETS-100A Reports. Each report has the same number of reporting elements.

OSHA solicits public comments concerning its proposal to extend OMB approval of the information collection requirements specified in the OSHA-7 Form.

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. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is soliciting comments concerning the proposed revision of the ``Consumer Price Index Commodities and Services Survey.'' A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the individual listed below in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.

This notice is a request for information from the public to assist the Department of Labor (``Department'') in issuing guidelines concerning the use of electronic voting systems in union officer elections. ``Electronic voting systems'' is meant to include: Electronic voting machines used for casting votes at polling sites; electronic voting from remote site personal computers via the Internet; and electronic voting from remote site telephones. ``Electronic voting systems'' is not meant to include electronic tabulation systems where votes are cast non-electronically but counted electronically (such as punch card voting or optical scanning systems). Title IV of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 (``LMRDA'') establishes democratic standards for the conduct of union officer elections. The LMRDA does not, however, require a particular method or system of voting. Labor organizations are free to establish their own methods or systems of voting for officer elections as long as they are consistent with lawful provisions in the union's constitution and bylaws and the provisions of Title IV of the LMRDA. Labor organizations and other interested parties have sought guidance from the Department regarding the LMRDA compliance of electronic voting systems. This request for information seeks public comment to assist the Department in the consideration and issuance of such guidance.

In accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5. U.S.C., App. 2), and after consultation with the General Services Administration, the Secretary of Labor intends to reestablish the Maritime Advisory Committee for Occupational Safety and Health. The Committee will better enable OSHA to perform the duties imposed by the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 655, 656). Authority to establish this Committee is found in Sections 6(b)(1) and 7(b) of the OSH Act, Section 41 of the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (33 U.S.C. 941), Secretary of Labor's Order 42010 (75 FR 55355, Sept. 10, 2010), and 29 CFR part 1912. The Committee is diverse and balanced, both in terms of segments of the maritime industry represented (e.g., shipyard employment, longshoring, and marine terminal industries), and in the views or interests represented by the members.

This notice announces a change in benefit period eligibility under the EB Program for Puerto Rico. The following change has occurred since the publication of the last notice regarding the State's EB status: Puerto Rico's 13-week IUR has fallen below the 6% threshold and does not equal or exceed 120% of the average rate in the two prior years. As a result of data reported for the week ending November 27, 2010, Puerto Rico has triggered off of EB. Puerto Rico's payable period in the Federal-State Extended Benefit program will conclude December 18, 2010, and Puerto Rico will enter a mandatory 13 week ``off'' period.

This notice is to announce that the Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (ETA) will no longer publish the full text of Solicitation of Grant Applications (SGAs) in the Federal Register. ETA will publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity in the Federal Register, and the full texts of all ETA SGAs will be posted at the government-wide Web site, https://www.grants.gov, in accordance with the policy directive issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). An applicant for funding may access the full SGA associated with a synopsis posted at https://www.grants.gov by following the universal resource locator (URL) link included in the synopsis, or by visiting ETA's Web site at https://www.doleta.gov.

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 continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to assure 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 Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is soliciting comments concerning the extension of the information collection for notification, investigation, and reporting of accidents, injuries, illnesses, and fatalities at mines; mine employment; and coal production.

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 Employment and Training Administration is soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of the report for the Interstate Arrangement for Combining Employment and Wages, Form ETA 586. 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.