Department of Labor 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document provides the final text of regulations governing employee protection (or ``whistleblower'') claims under the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982 (STAA), as amended, implementing statutory changes to STAA enacted into law on August 3, 2007, as part of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007. On August 31, 2010, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published an interim final rule (IFR) for STAA whistleblower complaints in the Federal Register and requested public comment on the IFR. This final rule implements changes to the IFR in response to comments received, where appropriate. This final rule also finalizes changes to the procedures for handling whistleblower complaints under STAA that were designed to make them more consistent with OSHA's procedures for handling retaliation complaints under Section 211 of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, and other whistleblower provisions. It also sets forth interpretations of STAA.

The Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health requests nominations for membership on NACOSH. The terms of four NACOSH members will expire on December 8, 2012.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) proposal titled, ``YouthBuild Site Visit Protocols,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for use in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995.

This notice announces the application of TUV Rheinland of North America, Inc., for expansion of its recognition as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory, and presents the Agency's preliminary finding to grant this request. This preliminary finding does not constitute an interim or temporary approval of this application.

OSHA is correcting a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) with regard to the construction industry head protection standards to eliminate confusion resulting from a drafting error. OSHA published the NPRM on June 22, 2012 (77 FR 37617). OSHA also is publishing a correction to the direct final rule that it published the same day in the Federal Register (77 FR 37587).

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. 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 is soliciting comments concerning the extension of the information collection for 30 CFR 57.22204. OMB last approved this information collection request on January 8, 2010. The package expires on January 31, 2013.

This proposed rule is a companion to the Department of Labor (Department) Employee Benefits Security Administration's direct final rule (published today in the ``Rules and Regulations'' section of the Federal Register) amending the Department's fiduciary-level fee disclosure regulation under section 408(b)(2) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to revise the mailing address and enhance the web-based submission procedure for notices filed under the regulation's fiduciary class exemption provision. The Department is publishing this amendment as a direct final rule without prior proposal because the Department views this as highly technical and anticipates no significant adverse comment. The Department has explained its reasons in the preamble to the direct final rule. If the Department receives no significant adverse comment during the comment period, no further action on this proposed rule will be taken. If, however, the Department receives significant adverse comment, the Department will withdraw the direct final rule and it will not take effect. In that case, the Department will address all public comments in a subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. The Department will not institute a second comment period on this rule. Any parties interested in commenting must do so during this comment period.

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: Overpayment Recovery Questionnaire (OWCP-20). A copy of the proposed information collection request can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the ADDRESSES section of this Notice.