Department of Labor 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document proposes to amend the Department of Labor's ``participant-level fee disclosure'' regulation by making a technical adjustment to an annual timing requirement. In the ``Rules and Regulations'' section of this issue of the Federal Register, we are making this same amendment as a direct final rule. If we receive no significant adverse comment, the direct final rule will go into effect and we will not take further action on this proposed rule. If, however, we receive significant adverse comment, we will withdraw the direct final rule and it will not take effect. In that case, we will address all public comments in a subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. We 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 (DOL) is submitting the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Bloodborne Pathogens 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.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) revision titled, ``Occupational Safety and Health Act Variance Regulations,'' 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.). Public comments on the ICR are invited.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration announces that OMB extended its approval for a number of information collection requirements found in sections of 29 CFR parts 1910, 1915, and 1926. OSHA sought approval of these requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA-95), and, as required by that Act, is announcing the approval numbers and expiration dates for these requirements. In addition, OSHA announces that OMB approved a revision to the Recordkeeping and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (29 CFR part 1904) Information Collection Request (ICR) (paperwork package) and the collection of information requirements contained in the Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution Standard for Construction and General Industry and Electrical Protective Equipment for Construction and General Industry final rule.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Servicing Multi-Piece and Single Piece Rim Wheels 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.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) sponsored information collection request (ICR) revision titled, ``National Compensation Survey,'' 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.). Public comments on the ICR are invited.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) sponsored information collection request (ICR) revision titled, ``Local Area Unemployment Statistics Program,'' 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.). Public comments on the ICR are invited.

Parties to claims arising under the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act and its extensions (LHWCA or Act) and entities required to have insurance pursuant to the Act frequently correspond with the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) and each other. The current regulations require that some of these communications be made in paper form via a specific delivery mechanism such as certified mail, U.S. mail or hand delivery. As technologies improve, other means of communicationincluding electronic methods may be more efficient and cost-effective. Accordingly, this proposed rule would broaden the acceptable methods by which claimants, employers, and insurers can communicate with OWCP and each other.

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as amended (5 U.S.C. App. 2), the North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation (NAALC), and the Labor Chapters of U.S. Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), the Secretary of Labor has determined that the renewal of the charter of the National Advisory Committee for Labor Provisions of U.S. Free Trade Agreements (NAC) is necessary and in the public interest and will provide information that cannot be obtained from other sources. The committee shall provide its views to the Secretary of Labor through the Bureau of International Labor Affairs of the U.S. Department of Labor, which is the point of contact for the NAALC and the Labor Chapters of U.S. FTAs. The committee shall comprise twelve members, four representing the labor community, four representing the business community, and four representing the public. Purpose: In accordance with the provisions of the FACA, Article 17 of the NAALC, Article 17.4 of the United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement, Article 18.4 of the United States-Chile Free Trade Agreement, Article 18.4 of the United States-Australia Free Trade Agreement, Article 16.4 of the United States-Morocco Free Trade Agreement, Article 16.4 of the Central America-Dominican Republic- United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), Article 15.4 of the United States-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement, Article 16.4 of the United States-Oman Free Trade Agreement, Article 17.5 of the United States- Peru Trade Promotion Agreement, Article 17.5 of the United States- Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement, Article 19.5 of the United States- Korea Free Trade Agreement, and Article 16.5 of the United States- Panama Trade Promotion Agreement, the Secretary of Labor has determined that the renewal of the charter of the NAC is necessary and in the public interest and will provide information that cannot be obtained from other sources. The Bureau of International Labor Affairs of the U.S. Department of Labor serves as the U.S. point of contact under the FTAs listed above. The committee shall provide its advice to the Secretary of Labor through the Bureau of International Labor Affairs concerning the implementation of the NAALC and the Labor Chapters of U.S. FTAs. The committee may be asked to provide advice on the implementation of labor provisions of other FTAs to which the United States may be a party or become a party. The committee should provide advice on issues within the scope of the NAALC and the Labor Chapters of the FTAs, including cooperative activities and the labor cooperation mechanism of each FTA as established in the Labor Chapters and the corresponding annexes. The committee may be asked to provide advice on these and other matters as they arise in the course of administering the labor provisions of other FTAs. The committee shall comprise 12 members, four representing the labor community, four representing the business community, and four representing the public. Unless already employees of the United States Government, no members of the committee shall be deemed to be employees of the United States Government for any purpose by virtue of their participation on the committee. Members of the committee will not be compensated for their services or reimbursed for travel expenses.

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, the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) is soliciting comments concerning the collection of data about Form ETA- 9127, Foreign Labor Certification Quarterly Activity Report (OMB Control Number 1205-0457), which expires May 31, 2015. The Form ETA- 9127 solicits information from State Workforce Agencies (SWAs) who are recipients of foreign labor certification grants about program-related activities performed by SWA staff in accordance with the specific fiscal year annual plans. These activities include reviewing and transmitting H-2A and H-2B job orders, conducting H-2A prevailing wage and prevailing practice surveys, and performing H-2A related housing inspections of facilities offered to agricultural workers.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Furnishing Documents to the Secretary of Labor on Request Under ERISA Section 104(a)(6),'' 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.

This notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda of a forthcoming meeting of the ACVETEO. The ACVETEO will discuss the VETS core programs and services regarding efforts that assist veterans seeking employment and raise employer awareness as to the advantages of hiring veterans. There will be an opportunity for persons or organizations to address the committee. Any individual or organization that wishes to do so should contact Mr. Timothy Green at 202-693-4723. Individuals who will need accommodations for a disability in order to attend the meeting (e.g., interpreting services, assistive listening devices, and/or materials in alternative format) should notify the Advisory Committee no later than Friday, March 20, 2015 by contacting Mr. Gregory Green at 202-693-4734. Requests made after this date will be reviewed, but availability of the requested accommodations cannot be guaranteed. The meeting site is accessible to individuals with disabilities. This Notice also describes the functions of the ACVETEO. Notice of this meeting is required under Section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. This document is intended to notify the general public.

The Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) is announcing an opportunity for the public to comment on the proposed collection of certain 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. This notice solicits comments on one (1) collection of information: VETS 201 entitled ``Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Chapter 31) Tracking Report'' and identified by VETS ICR No. 1293-0009 and OMB Control No. 1293-0009. The information collection contained in this notice is an extension without revision. VETS is soliciting comments on the continuation of the approved information collections.

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 required 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 proposed extension, with change on Resource Justification Model.

Each year, the Department of Defense issues a Schedule of Remuneration that may be used by states, as needed, for UCX purposes. States must use the schedule to determine Federal military wages for UCX ``first claims'' only when the Federal Claims Control Center (FCCC) responds to a request for information indicating that there is no Copy 5 of the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214) for an individual under the social security number provided. A response from the FCCC that indicates ``no DD214 on file'' will prompt the state to start the affidavit process and to use the attached schedule to calculate the Federal military wages for an unemployment insurance or UCX monetary determination. The schedule applies to UCX ``first claims'' filed beginning with the first day of the first week that begins on or after January 1, 2015, pursuant to the UCX program regulations (see 20 CFR 614.12(c)). States must continue to use the existing schedule for UCX ``first claims'' filed before the effective date of the revised schedule.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Affordable Care Act Section 2715 Summary Disclosures,'' 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 Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) sponsored information collection request (ICR) revision titled, ``Notice of Controversion of Right to Compensation,'' 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.). Public comments on the ICR are invited.

ACCSH will hold a special meeting March 31-April 1, 2015, in Washington, DC, to consider a proposed rule to revise OSHA's crane operator qualification requirement in the Cranes and Derricks in Construction standard.

The Department of Labor (DOL or the Department), 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 (PRA) [44 U.S.C. 3505(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to ensure that required 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 Department notes that a Federal agency cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it is approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the PRA and the related materials display a currently valid OMB control number. Also, notwithstanding any other provisions of law, no person shall be subject to penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if the related materials do not display a currently valid OMB control number. See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6. A copy of the proposed ICR can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the ADDRESSES section.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Vertical Tandem Lifts for Marine Terminals,'' 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 Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) proposal titled, ``Unemployment Insurance Supplemental Budget Request Activities,'' 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.). Public comments on the ICR are invited.