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

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 extension of the approval for the information collection, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control Number 1205-0310, containing Form ETA-9035Labor Condition Application for Nonimmigrant Workers; Form ETA-9035ELabor Condition Application for Nonimmigrants Workers (electronic version); Form ETA-9035CPGeneral Instructions for the 9035 & 9035E; Wage and Hour Division (WHD) Form WH-4Nonimmigrant Worker Information Form; and other H-1B related information collection and retention requirements, which expire March 31, 2015. A copy of the proposed information collection request can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addressee section of this notice. The forms are used by employers in DOL's H-1B, H-1B1, and E-3 nonimmigrant temporary employment-based programs to request permission to bring foreign workers to the United States as nonimmigrants and for workers and interested persons to file complaints with DOL's Wage and Hour Division.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) will hold two additional public hearings on the Agency's proposed rule for Criteria and Procedures for Assessment of Civil Penalties.

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)] (PRA). The PRA helps ensure that respondents can provide requested data in the desired format with minimal reporting burden (time and financial resources), collection instruments are clearly understood and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, ETA is soliciting comments concerning the information collection request (ICR) to collect data about the TAACCCT Grant Program Reporting Requirements (expires March 31, 2015). Interested parties are encouraged to provide comments to the contact shown in the ADDRESSES section. Comments must be written to receive consideration, and they will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval of the final ICR. To help ensure appropriate consideration, comments should mention this grant program (OMB Control No. 1205-0489).

The Department, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance 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 (PRA) [44 U.S.C. 3505(c)(2)(A)]. PRA 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 the collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) is soliciting comments concerning the information collection activities associated with the random assignment evaluation of ETA-funded grants serving young offenders, specifically, the Face Forward Grants (FFG) Rounds I and II; and the High-Poverty, High-Crime Communities Grants (HPHCG). These grants are aimed at serving young adult offenders, juvenile offenders, and students in high-risk high schools; and provide specific supports and interventions, such as enrollment in school or job training programs as well as access to housing, the availability of adult mentors, mental health services, and supporting social services through referrals. The objective of the evaluation is to determine whether these grants improve youth educational and employment outcomes, and reduce recidivism.

In this notice, OSHA announces its final decision to expand the scope of recognition for SGS North America, Inc., as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL).

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Enhanced Transitional Jobs Demonstration,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for continued use, without change, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. Public comments on the ICR are invited.

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA), U.S. Department of Labor, announces the availability of approximately $100 million in grant funds authorized by Section 414(c) of the American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act of 1998 (ACWIA), as amended (codified at 29 U.S.C. 2916a), for the American Apprenticeship Initiative. These grants are financed by a user fee paid by employers to hire foreign workers into the United States under the H-1B nonimmigrant visa program. This initiative is intended to provide a catalyst in supporting a uniquely American Apprenticeship system that meets our country's particular economic, industry and workforce needs. American Apprenticeships (also referred to as Registered Apprenticeships) are innovative work-based learning and post-secondary earn-and-learn models that meet national standards for registration with the U.S. Department of Labor (or federally recognized State Apprenticeship Agencies). Grants funded by this initiative will support dynamic and sustainable public-private partnerships that: Support the expansion of quality and innovative American Apprenticeship programs into high-growth occupation(s) and industry(s), particularly those for which employers are using H-1B visas to hire foreign workers, and the related activities necessary to support such programs (see Appendix A or visit the Foreign Labor Certification Data Center); Create career pathways that encompass American Apprenticeship and align with other post-secondary educational offerings; Use strategies to significantly increase apprenticeship opportunities for job seekers and workers (particularly for women and other underrepresented populations in apprenticeship, including young men and women of color, people with disabilities; low-skilled populations; and veterans, including transitioning service members); and Leverage and develop public policies that increase demand for American Apprenticeship and support sustainability. The complete FOA and any subsequent FOA amendments in connection with this funding opportunity are described in further detail on ETA's Web site at https://www.doleta.gov/grants/ or on https://www.grants.gov. The Web sites provide application information, eligibility requirements, review and selection procedures, and other program requirements governing this funding opportunity.

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA), U.S. Department of Labor, announces the availability of approximately $12,000,000 in grant funds authorized by Section 171, Pilot and Demonstration Projects, of the Workforce Investment Act, to: (1) Test the effectiveness of expanding the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program for youth who have come in contact with the juvenile justice system for committing a status offense or a delinquent act (court- involved youth), and (2) add and test an additional job training component (DOL Job ChalleNGe) to the program for court-involved youth and youth that have had no contact with the juvenile justice system (non-court-involved youth). The purpose of this program is to improve the long-term labor market prospects of youth who successfully complete the six-month residential phase of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe program. The DOL Job ChalleNGe component will build on the Youth ChalleNGe program's eight core componentsacademic excellence, life coping skills, job skills, health and hygiene, responsible citizenship, community service, leadership/followership, and physical fitnessby emphasizing programming focused on improving program participants' employment outcomes. The complete FOA and any subsequent FOA amendments in connection with this solicitation are described in further detail on ETA's Web site at https://www.doleta.gov/grants/ or on https://www.grants.gov. The Web sites provide application information, eligibility requirements, review and selection procedures, and other program requirements governing this solicitation.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Forging Machines,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for continued use, without change, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. Public comments on the ICR are invited.

OSHA solicits public comments concerning its proposal to extend OMB approval of the information collection requirements specified in the Standard on Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories.

In this notice, OSHA announces the application of Traylor/ Skanska/Jay Dee Joint Venture (collectively ``Traylor JV'' or ``the applicant'') for a permanent variance and interim order from the provisions of OSHA standards that regulate work in compressed air environments and presents the Agency's preliminary finding to grant the permanent variance. OSHA invites the public to submit comments on the variance application to assist the Agency in determining whether to grant the applicant a permanent variance based on the conditions specified in this application.

Pursuant to Section 10 (a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (Public Law 92-463), as amended, and Section 166 (h)(4) of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) [29 U.S.C. 2911(h)(4)], notice is hereby given of the next meeting of the Native American Employment and Training Council (Council), as constituted under WIA. Despite our efforts to get this meeting notice published at least fifteen days before the first day of the meeting, we were unable to do so. The meeting notice was published in the Federal Register on December 5, 2014, and information about this meeting has been disseminated through the Employment and Training Administration's Web site and list serves.

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 ``National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997.'' A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the individual listed in the Addresses section of this notice.