Department of Labor 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Application for Waiver of Surface Facilities Requirements,'' 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 Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Employee Retirement Income Security Act Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption 96-62, Process for Expedited Approval of an Exemption for Prohibited Transaction,'' 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 Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Employee Retirement Income Security Act Class Exemption 77-4 for Certain Transactions between Investment Companies and Employee Benefit 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).

OSHA solicits public comments concerning its proposal to extend OMB approval of the information collection requirements contained in the Standard on Excavations (Design of Cave-in Protection Systems) (29 CFR part 1926, subpart P).

The Department of Labor (DOL), 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 Employment and Training Administration is soliciting comments concerning the addition of seven new questions to the National Agricultural Workers Survey (NAWS) regarding: (1) The amount of time per day farm workers are engaged working in specific crops and tasks, and (2) farm workers' clothes laundering and hygiene practices. The information obtained from these questions will improve the Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs' (EPA/ OPP) ability to assess farm workers' risk to pesticide exposure. There are no known national-level studies that assess the length of the work day for specific crop-task combinations. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) authorization for the current NAWS questionnaire will expire on October 31, 2013. A copy of the proposed information collection request can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addressee section of this notice.

This document announces that certain technical revisions to the Schedule MB (Multiemployer Defined Benefit Plan and Certain Money Purchase Plan Actuarial Information) and the Schedule SB (Single- Employer Defined Benefit Plan Actuarial Information) of the Form 5500 Annual Return/Report of Employee Benefit Plan have been adopted in IRS Notice 2010-83 (2010-51 I.R.B. 862) and IRS Notice 2011-3 (2011-2 I.R.B. 263) to reflect funding relief alternatives retroactively available to defined benefit pension plans under the Preservation of Access to Care for Medicare Beneficiaries and Pension Relief Act of 2010 (Pension Relief Act). The information that would be required either by way of amendment of the 2008 or 2009 Annual Return/Report or providing an attachment to the 2009 or 2010 Annual Return/Report in accordance with the IRS Notices, will also be added to the 2011 and later Schedule MB (Multiemployer Defined Benefit Plan and Certain Money Purchase Plan Actuarial Information) and the Schedule SB (Single- Employer Defined Benefit Plan Actuarial Information) of the Form 5500 Annual Return/Report of Employee Benefit Plan. Compliance with the Schedule SB and Schedule MB, as modified, will satisfy the pertinent Form 5500 actuarial information reporting requirements for the Department of Labor.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is extending the comment period on the proposed rule addressing Pattern of Violations (POV). This extension gives commenters additional time to review and comment on the proposed rule.

This notice announces a change in benefit period eligibility under the EB program for Michigan. The following changes have occurred since the publication of the last notice regarding the State's EB status: Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on March 10, 2011, Michigan no longer meets the 110% criteria to remain ``on'' in the EB program. As a result, the payable period for Michigan in the EB program will conclude April 2, 2011. The trigger notice covering state eligibility for the EB program can be found at: https://ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/claims_arch.asp.

Announcement regarding Pennsylvania's triggering ``off'' Tier Four of Emergency Unemployment Compensation 2008 (EUC08). Public Law 111-312 extended provisions in Public Law 111-92 which amended prior laws to create a Third and Fourth Tier of benefits within the EUC08 program for qualified unemployed workers claiming benefits in high unemployment states. The Department of Labor produces a trigger notice indicating which states qualify for EUC08 benefits within Tiers Three and Four and provides the beginning and ending dates of payable periods for each qualifying state. The trigger notice covering state eligibility for the EUC08 program can be found at: https:// ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/claimsarch.asp. Based on data published March 10, 2011, by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the following trigger change has occurred for Pennsylvania in the EUC08 program: The seasonally-adjusted total unemployment rate for the 3- month period ending January 2011 for Pennsylvania fell below the 8.5% threshold to remain ``on'' Tier Four of the EUC08 program. As a result, the payable period for Pennsylvania in Tier Four of the EUC08 program will conclude April 2, 2011, and the maximum potential entitlement of 47 weeks will decrease to a maximum potential entitlement of 34 weeks in the EUC08 program.

The Department of Labor (Department or DOL), 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 required 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 Department is soliciting comments concerning its proposal to collect information on employees' and employers' experience with family and medical leave under the Family Medical Leave Act. A copy of the proposed ICR can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addressee section of this notice.

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 ``Report on Current Employment Statistics.'' 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.

The U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) seeks to ensure high quality online OSHA Outreach Training Program training courses for all participants. This notice announces the opportunity for interested organizations to submit applications to be authorized to deliver 10-hour and/or 30-hour OSHA Outreach Training Program courses in the construction industry, general industry, and maritime industry in an online format. Current OSHA- authorized online training providers must submit an application in order to be considered to offer online Outreach Training Program courses. Past performance will be considered as a factor in the selection process. Applications will only be accepted during the solicitation period and will be rated on a competitive basis. Complete application instructions are contained in this notice.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Recordkeeping and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illnesses,'' 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).

Pursuant to section 10 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463; 5 U.S.C. App. 2), notice is hereby given to announce an open meeting of the Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship (ACA) being held on May 16-17, 2011, in Washington, DC. The ACA, an advisory board to the Secretary of Labor, is a discretionary Committee established by the Secretary of Labor, in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as amended 5 U.S.C., App. 2, and it's implementing regulations (41 CFR parts 101-6 and 102-3). All meetings of the ACA are open to the public. Time and Date: The meeting will begin at approximately 12:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Monday, May 16, 2011, and continue until approximately 5 p.m. The meeting will reconvene on Tuesday, May 17, 2011, at approximately 8:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time and adjourn at approximately 5 p.m.

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 Office of Workers' Compensation Programs is soliciting comments concerning the proposed collection: Rehabilitation Action Report (OWCP-44). A copy of the proposed information collection request can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addresses section of this Notice.