Department of Labor 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) is announcing an opportunity for public comment on a proposed collection of information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A).) In this notice, VETS is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information collection request for the VETS USERRA/VP Form 1010.

This notice announces the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's final decision expanding the recognition of SGS North America, Inc., formerly SGS U.S. Testing Company, Inc., as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory under 29 CFR 1910.7.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Focus Groups and Survey Regarding Pension Benefit Statements,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for use in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

The Department of Labor (Department), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance consultation program to provide the 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 [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps 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, ETA is soliciting comments concerning the collection of data about Form ETA 9033 Attestation by Employers Using Alien Crewmembers for Longshore Activities in U.S. Ports (OMB Control Number 1205-0309), which expires October 31, 2013, and Form ETA 9033A, Attestation by Employers Using Alien Crewmembers for Longshore Activities in the State of Alaska (currently under OMB Control Number 1205-0352), which expires October 31, 2014. These forms are used by employers to request permission to use foreign crewmen at U.S. Ports for longshore work.

The Department of Labor (Department), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance consultation program to provide the 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 [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps 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. As all of the ARRA HGEI grants will no longer be active once the current OMB-approved collection no. 1205-0478 expires on November 30, 2013, ETA is soliciting comments concerning the collection of data for the active Green Jobs Innovation Fund (GJIF) grants.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is reopening the rulemaking record for MSHA's existing rule on Refuge Alternatives for the limited purpose of obtaining comments on the frequency for motor task (also known as ``hands-on'' training), decision-making, and expectations training for miners to deploy and use refuge alternatives in underground coal mines. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit remanded a training provision in the Refuge Alternatives rule, directing MSHA to explain the basis for requiring motor task (hands-on), decision-making, and expectations training annually rather than quarterly or to reopen the record and allow public comment. MSHA will review the comments to determine an appropriate course of action for the Agency in response to comments. MSHA will publish its response in the Federal Register addressing the public comments and either explaining the reason that it is leaving the existing rule unchanged or modifying the rule as the result of the public comment process.

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 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, ETA is soliciting comments concerning the collection of data about Job Corps Placement Record [OMB Control No. 1205-0035, expires January 2014]: ETA 678 form, Job Corps Placement and Assistance Record. ETA form 678 currently captures information about a student's training and subsequent placement in a job, higher education or the military, as well as the name of the placement provider agency. Data generated from the form ETA 678 is used to evaluate overall placement outcomes. This form is critical to the program's evaluation process. It is the only form which documents a student's post-center placement status. This form is completed by either a Job Corps center records staff or a Career Transition Specialist for each student. Job Corps is not proposing any changes to ETA 678 form, Job Corps Placement Record. 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 comments concerning its proposal to obtain OMB approval of the information collection requirements contained in the OSHA Training Institute Education Centers Program and the OSHA Outreach Training Program.

OSHA solicits public comments concerning its proposal to extend OMB approval of the information collection requirements specified in the Occupational Exposure to Noise Standard (29 CFR 1910.95). The information collection requirements specified in the Noise Standard protect workers from suffering material hearing impairment.

The U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), is making $550,000 available in grant funds for educational and training programs to help identify, avoid, and prevent unsafe working conditions in and around mines. The focus of these grants for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 will be on training and training materials for mine emergency preparedness and mine emergency prevention for all underground mines. Applicants for the grants may be States and nonprofit (private or public) entities. The number of grants awarded will be determined by MSHA's evaluation of grant applications. The amount of each individual grant will be at least $50,000.00. The maximum amount for a 12-month period of performance is $150,000. MSHA will not be awarding renewal (two- year) grants in FY 2013 under this solicitation for grant applications (SGA). This notice contains all of the information needed to apply for grant funding, including for those eligible grantees which were awarded a 2012 renewal grant.

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 request for a new OMB control number for the ``Eating and Health Supplement to the American Time Use 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.