Department of Labor June 21, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Maintenance of Incombustible Content of Rock Dust in Underground Coal Mines
Document Number: 2011-15247
Type: Rule
Date: 2011-06-21
Agency: Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration
This final rule replaces the Mine Safety and Health Administration's Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) pursuant to section 101(b) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977. The final rule adopts the requirements contained in the ETS. Under the final rule, mine operators must maintain the incombustible content of combined coal dust, rock dust, and other dust to at least 80 percent in underground areas of bituminous coal mines. The final rule further requires that the incombustible content of such combined dust be increased 0.4 percent for each 0.1 percent of methane present. Accumulations of coal dust can ignite, resulting in an explosion, or after an explosion, they can intensify flame propagation, increasing the severity of explosions. The final rule, like the ETS, reduces both the potential for a coal mine explosion and the severity of explosions should they occur.
Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act; Interpretation of the “Advice” Exemption
Document Number: 2011-14357
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2011-06-21
Agency: Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards
The Office of Labor-Management Standards of the Department of Labor (Department) is proposing revisions to the Form LM-10 Employer Report and to the Form LM-20 Agreements and Activities Report, which are required under section 203 of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 (LMRDA or Act), 29 U.S.C. 433. These reports cover agreements or arrangements between employers and labor relations consultants whereby the consultant undertakes activities to persuade employees concerning their rights to organize and bargain collectively. The Department proposes to revise its interpretation of the ``advice'' exemption to such reporting, by limiting the definition of what activities constitute ``advice'' under the exemption, and thus expanding those circumstances under which reporting is required of employer-consultant persuader agreements. The Department also proposes to revise the forms and instructions to make them more user-friendly and require more detailed reporting on employer and consultant agreements, as well as to require that Forms LM-10 and LM-20 be filed electronically. The Department invites comments on any aspect of this proposed rule.
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