Department of Labor May 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), is making $1,000,000 available in grant funds for education and training programs to help identify, avoid, and prevent unsafe working conditions in and around mines. The focus of these grants for Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 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, not to exceed 20 grants. The amount of each individual grant will be at least $50,000.00 and the maximum individual award will be $250,000. MSHA will not be awarding renewal (two-year) grants in FY 2014 under this solicitation for grant applications (SGA). This notice contains all of the information needed to apply for grant funding.

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 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-9089, Application for Permanent Employment Certification (OMB Control Number 1205-0451), which expires August 31, 2014. The form is used in DOL's employment-based immigration program by employers to request permission to bring foreign workers to the United States as immigrants, and in the Department of Homeland Security's National Interest Waiver (NIW) program by individuals applying for a waiver of the job offer requirement if the waiver is deemed to be in the national interest.

This notice is to advise interested persons that on Wednesday, June 11, 2014, OSHA will conduct a public meeting to discuss proposals in preparation for the 27th session of the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (UNSCEGHS) to be held July 2 to 4, 2014 in Geneva, Switzerland. OSHA, along with the U.S. Interagency GHS (Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals) Coordinating Group, plans to consider the comments and information gathered at this public meeting when developing the U.S. Government positions for the UNSCEGHS meeting. Also, on Wednesday, June 11, 2014, the Department of Transportation (DOT), Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) will conduct a public meeting (See Docket No. PHMSA-2014-0033) to discuss proposals in preparation for the 45th session of the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (UNSCOE TDG) to be held June 23 to July 2, 2014, in Geneva, Switzerland.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is revising the Agency's existing standards on miners' occupational exposure to respirable coal mine dust in order to: Lower the existing exposure limits; provide for full-shift sampling; redefine the term ``normal production shift''; and add reexamination and decertification requirements for persons certified to sample for dust, and maintain and calibrate sampling devices. In addition, the rule provides for single shift compliance sampling by MSHA inspectors, establishes sampling requirements for mine operators' use of the Continuous Personal Dust Monitor (CPDM), requires operator corrective action on a single, full- shift operator sample, changes the averaging method to determine compliance on operator samples, and expands requirements for medical surveillance of coal miners. Chronic exposure to respirable coal mine dust causes lung diseases that can lead to permanent disability and death. The final rule will greatly improve health protections for coal miners by reducing their occupational exposure to respirable coal mine dust and by lowering the risk that they will suffer material impairment of health or functional capacity over their working lives.