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

The Federal Advisory Council on Occupational Safety and Health (FACOSH) will meet June 7, 2011, in Washington, DC. On January 12, 2011, the Secretary appointed one person to FACOSH. This Federal Register notice also announces this appointment.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Respirator Program Records,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for continued use in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. chapter 35).

OSHA is reopening the rulemaking record to allow interested persons, particularly small businesses, to comment on the information gathered and on issues raised during the small business teleconferences that the Agency and the Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy (SBA Office of Advocacy) co-sponsored on April 11-12, 2011. The purpose of the teleconferences was to gather information from small businesses about their experiences recording work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and how they believe they would be impacted by OSHA's proposed rule to revise its Recordkeeping regulations to restore a column on the OSHA 300 Log that employers would have to check if a case they already are required to record is an MSD. The record will remain open for 30 days for comment on these limited issues.

This Notice announces allotments for PY 2011 for WIA Title I Youth, Adults and Dislocated Worker Activities programs; final allotments for Employment Service (ES) activities under the Wagner- Peyser Act for PY 2011 and Workforce Information Grants allotments for PY 2011. The WIA allotments for States and the State 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. For Wagner-Peyser and Workforce Information Grants, amounts for outlying areas are provided in this Notice. ETA will release a separate TEGL and Notice in the Federal Register announcing the formulas and allotment levels related to the WIA funding for each of the outlying areas. At this time, we note only the overall WIA funds set aside for the outlying areas.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Escape and Evacuation Plans,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for continued use in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. chapter 35).

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``One-Stop Workforce Information Grant Plan and Annual Performance Report,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for continued use in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. chapter 35).

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Powered Platforms for Building Maintenance,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for continued use in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. chapter 35).

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 Federal Contract Compliance Programs is soliciting comments concerning its proposal to extend the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of the Non-construction Supply and Service Information Collection. A copy of the proposed information collection request can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addresses section of this Notice.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the revised Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Mine Accident, Injury & Illness Report and Quarterly Mine Employment and Coal Production Report,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for use in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. chapter 35).

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). This notice includes the following: D-11528, 2011-06, Wachovia Corporation and Its Current and Future Affiliates or Successors (collectively, Wachovia or the Applicant), D-11580, 2011-07, Robert W. Baird and Co. Incorporated and its Future Affiliates and Subsidiaries (collectively, Baird); D-11621, 2011-08, Security Benefit Mutual Holding Company (MHC) and Security Benefit Life Insurance Company (SBL, and together with MHC the Applicants); and D-11635, 2011-09, The Parvin Nahvi, M.D. Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Trust (the Plan).

The Department of Labor, in collaboration with the Department of Education, announces that four states are eligible to apply for Workforce Investment Act (WIA) (Pub. L. 105-220, 29 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.) incentive grant awards authorized by section 503 of the WIA.

The Department of Labor (Department), 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 (ETA) is soliciting comments on a new data collection for the GATE II Evaluation. 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.

OSHA solicits public comments concerning its proposal to extend OMB approval of the information collection requirements specified in the Standard on Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories.

In response to requests from interested parties, 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).

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: Miner's Claim for Benefits under the Black Lung Benefits Act (CM-911) and Employment History (CM- 911A). A copy of the proposed information collection request can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the ADDRESSES section of this Notice.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Request for Examination and/or Treatment,'' Form LS-1, to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for continued use in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. chapter 35).

Through this notice, the Employment and Training Administration (ETA), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL or the Department), announces the availability of approximately $240 million in funds for an H-1B Technical Skills Training Grants program. This grant program is designed to provide education, training, and job placement assistance in the occupations and industries for which employers are using H-1B visas to hire foreign workers, and the related activities necessary to support such training. H-1B technical skills training grants are financed by a user fee paid by employers to bring foreign workers into the United States under the H-1B nonimmigrant visa program. This technical skills training program was authorized under Section 414(c) of the American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act of 1998 (ACWIA), as amended (29 U.S.C. 2916a). Grant awards will be made only to the extent that funds are available. The Department will make awards to two types of training grants: those that provide On-the-Job Training (OJT) to all participants and those that use other training strategies. Of the awards granted through this Solicitation, at least $150 million will be awarded to grantees that provide OJT to all participants. Between the two types of grants awarded (OJT and other training strategies), DOL intends to fund at least $45 million to applicants proposing to provide training for occupations in the health care industry and at least $60 million to applicants that serve long-term unemployed individuals. While this Solicitation is open, DOL anticipates that additional funding will accrue for this grant program. Such additional funding may be made available for awards during the second round of funding, depending on the quality of applications received. The Department expects to award approximately 75-100 grants ranging from $1 million to $5 million with up to a 48-month period of performance. The Department will award grants to a partnership of private and public sector entities as defined in ACWIA. This partnership must include at least two entities from among the following groups: (1) Businesses or business-related nonprofit organizations, such as trade associations; (2) education and training providers, including community colleges and other community-based organizations; and (3) entities involved in administering the workforce investment system established under Title I of the WIA, and economic development agencies. The complete SGA is available in detail on ETA's Web site at http:/ /www.doleta.gov/grants/find_grants.cfm or on https://www.grants.gov. The Web sites provide application information, eligibility requirements, review and selection procedures and other program requirements governing this solicitation.