Department of Labor 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), 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. Currently, DOL's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) is soliciting comments concerning the proposed collection of information for the Employment First Leadership State Mentoring Program Community of Practice Survey. A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.

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 the proposed extension to ET Handbook 336, 18th Edition: ``Unemployment Insurance (UI) State Quality Service Plan Planning (SQSP) and Reporting Guidelines'' which expires October 31, 2014.

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL, or the Department), announces the availability of approximately $450 million in grant funds authorized for the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) Grant Program. The TAACCCT program seeks to increase the number of workers who attain certificates, degrees, and other industry-recognized credentials, helping to meet President Obama's college graduation goal of increasing the percentage of adults with a post-secondary credential by 2020. The overarching goals of the program are to: (1) Increase attainment of degrees, certifications, certificates, diplomas, and other industry-recognized credentials that match the skills needed by employers to better prepare workers eligible for training under the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for Workers Program (``TAA-eligible workers'') of chapter 2 of title II of the Trade Act of 1974, 19 U.S.C. 2271-2323, and other adults for high-wage, high-skill employment or re- employment in growth industry sectors; (2) introduce or replicate innovative and effective methods for designing and delivering instruction that address specific industry needs and lead to improved learning, completion, and other outcomes for TAA-eligible workers and other adults; and (3) demonstrate improved employment outcomes. The Department intends to make grant awards to eligible single institution applicants ranging from approximately $2,260,000 to $2,500,000, up to a total of approximately $150 million. Under this SGA, DOL intends to make approximately 15 to 25 grant awards to consortia of eligible institutions, up to a total of approximately $300 million in grant awards to consortium applicants. The Department will provide two tiers of funding for consortium grant awards, based on the number of institutions in the consortium. The complete SGA and any subsequent SGA 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.

Pursuant to the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR part 1500-08) implementing procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Department of Labor, ETA, in accordance with 29 CFR 11.11(d), gives final notice of the proposed facility improvements at the Treasure Lake Job Corps Center, and that this project will not have a significant adverse impact on the environment. Public scoping was initiated with a notice in the Lawton Constitution in Lawton, Oklahoma on July 16, 2013. The scoping period extended for 30 days, ending on August 16, 2013. No public responses were received. No changes to the text of the environmental assessment (EA) have been made. Implementation of the selected alternative will not have significant impacts on the human environment. The determination is sustained by the analysis in the EA, agency consultation, the inclusion and consideration of public review, and the capability of mitigations to reduce or avoid impacts. Any adverse environmental impacts that could occur are no more than minor in intensity, duration and context and less-than-significant. As described in the EA, there are no highly uncertain or controversial impacts, unique or unknown risks, significant cumulative effects or elements of precedence. There are no previous, planned, or implemented actions, which in combination with the selected alternative would have significant effects on the human environment. Requirements of NEPA have been satisfied and preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement is not required.

Pursuant to the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR part 1500-08) implementing procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Department of Labor, ETA, in accordance with 29 CFR 11.11(d), gives final notice of the proposed construction of the Medical/Dental Building at the Tongue Point Job Corps Center, and that this project will not have a significant adverse impact on the environment. Public scoping was initiated with a notice in the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon on July 25, 2013. The scoping period extended for 30 days, ending on August 25, 2013. No public responses were received. No changes to the text of the environmental assessment (EA) have been made. Implementation of the selected alternative will not have significant impacts on the human environment. The determination is sustained by the analysis in the EA, agency consultation, the inclusion and consideration of public review, and the capability of mitigations to reduce or avoid impacts. Any adverse environmental impacts that could occur are no more than minor in intensity, duration and context and less-than-significant. As described in the EA, there are no highly uncertain or controversial impacts, unique or unknown risks, significant cumulative effects or elements of precedence. There are no previous, planned, or implemented actions, which in combination with the selected alternative would have significant effects on the human environment. Requirements of NEPA have been satisfied and preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement is not required.

Pursuant to the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR part 1500-08) implementing procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Department of Labor, ETA, in accordance with 29 CFR 11.11(d), gives final notice of the proposed construction of the Phase II project at the Detroit Job Corps Center, and that this project will not have a significant adverse impact on the environment. Public scoping was initiated with a notice in the Southfield Sun in Detroit, Michigan on August 21, 2013. The scoping period extended for 30 days, ending on September 20, 2013. No public responses were received. No changes to the text of the environmental assessment (EA) have been made. Implementation of the selected alternative will not have significant impacts on the human environment. The determination is sustained by the analysis in the EA, agency consultation, the inclusion and consideration of public review, and the capability of mitigations to reduce or avoid impacts. Any adverse environmental impacts that could occur are no more than minor in intensity, duration and context and less-than-significant. As described in the EA, there are no highly uncertain or controversial impacts, unique or unknown risks, significant cumulative effects or elements of precedence. There are no previous, planned, or implemented actions, which in combination with the selected alternative would have significant effects on the human environment. Requirements of NEPA have been satisfied and preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement is not required.

In this notice, OSHA announces the application of Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., for expansion of its recognition as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) under 29 CFR 1910.7 and presents the Agency's preliminary finding to grant the application. Additionally, OSHA proposes incorporating two new test standards into the NRTL Program's list of appropriate test standards.

With this notice, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (``OSHA'' or the ``Agency'') is revoking permanent variances that it granted between 1973 and 2010 to 24 companies engaged in chimney construction (hereafter, ``previous variances''). The previous variances provided the companies with an alternative means of complying with provisions of OSHA standards regulating boatswains' chairs, personnel platforms, and hoist towers.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Ethylene Oxide Standard,'' 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 is implementing a court-ordered remand of certain portions of the standard for vertical tandem lifts (VTLs). This final rule implements the remand by: Limiting the application of the corner- casting and interbox-connector inspection requirements to shore-to-ship VTLs; and removing the tandem lifts of platform containers from the scope of the VTL standard.

On November 20, 2013, OSHA published in the Federal Register a direct final rule that revised records contained in the Mechanical Power Press Standard. OSHA stated in that document that it would withdraw the companion proposed rule and confirm the effective date of the final rule if the Agency received no significant adverse comments on the direct final rule or the proposal. Since OSHA received no such significant adverse comments on the direct final rule or the proposal, the Agency now confirms that the direct final rule became effective as a final rule on February 18, 2013.

Pursuant to Section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (Pub. L. 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.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is soliciting public comments concerning a proposed revision to the information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Nondiscrimination Compliance Information Reporting Under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998.'' This comment request is part of continuing Departmental efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.

In accordance with Section 743 of Division C of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-117), the Department of Labor (DOL) is publishing this notice to advise the public of the availability of its FY 2013 Service Contract Inventory. This inventory provides information on service contract actions over $25,000 made in FY 2013. The information is organized by function to show how contracted resources are distributed throughout the agency. The inventory has been developed in accordance with guidance issued on November 5, 2010, by the Office of Management and Budget's Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP). OFPP's guidance is available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/procurement /memo/ service-contract-inventories-guidance-11052010.pdf. The Department of Labor has posted its inventory and a summary of the inventory on the agency's Web site at the following link: https://www.dol.gov/dol/ aboutdol/main.htm#inventory.

The Department of Labor (DOL), in collaboration with the Department of Education (ED), announces that eight States are eligible to apply for WIA (Pub. L. 105-220, 29 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.) incentive grant awards authorized by section 503 of the WIA.

In this notice, OSHA announces the application of Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., for expansion of its recognition as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) under 29 CFR 1910.7 and presents the Agency's preliminary finding to grant the application. Additionally, OSHA proposes incorporating two new test standards into the NRTL Program's list of appropriate test standards.

OSHA last issued rules for the construction of transmission and distribution installations in 1972. Those provisions are now out of date and inconsistent with the more recently promulgated general industry standard covering the operation and maintenance of electric power generation, transmission, and distribution lines and equipment. OSHA is revising the construction standard to make it more consistent with the general industry standard and is making some revisions to both the construction and general industry requirements. The final rules for general industry and construction include new or revised provisions on host employers and contractors, training, job briefings, fall protection, insulation and working position of employees working on or near live parts, minimum approach distances, protection from electric arcs, deenergizing transmission and distribution lines and equipment, protective grounding, operating mechanical equipment near overhead power lines, and working in manholes and vaults. The revised standards will ensure that employers, when appropriate, must meet consistent requirements for work performed under the construction and general industry standards. The final rule also revises the general industry and construction standards for electrical protective equipment. The existing construction standard for the design of electrical protective equipment, which applies only to electric power transmission and distribution work, adopts several national consensus standards by reference. The new standard for electrical protective equipment, which matches the corresponding general industry standard, applies to all construction work and replaces the incorporation of out-of-date consensus standards with a set of performance-oriented requirements that is consistent with the latest revisions of the relevant consensus standards. The final construction rule also includes new requirements for the safe use and care of electrical protective equipment to complement the equipment design provisions. Both the general industry and construction standards for electrical protective equipment will include new requirements for equipment made of materials other than rubber. OSHA is also revising the general industry standard for foot protection. This standard applies to employers performing work on electric power generation, transmission, and distribution installations, as well as employers in other industries. The final rule removes the requirement for employees to wear protective footwear as protection against electric shock.