Department of Labor May 2017 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) sponsored information collection request (ICR) revision titled, ``Claim Adjudication Process for Alleged Presence of Pneumoconiosis,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for use in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995. Public comments on the ICR are invited.

On May 31, 2017, the Department of Labor (DOL) will submit the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) sponsored information collection request (ICR) revision titled, ``Request for Information on Earnings, Dual Benefits, Dependents, and Third-Party Settlements,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for use in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995. Public comments on the ICR are invited.

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. 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 is properly assessed. Currently, the Department of Labor is soliciting comments concerning the collection of data about the Survey of Employer Policies on the Employment of People with Disabilities. A copy of the proposed Information Collection Request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the office listed in the addressee section of this notice.

The Department of Labor (DOL), Employment and Training Administration (ETA) is soliciting comments concerning a proposed extension for the authority to conduct the information collection request (ICR) titled, ``ETA 902 Disaster Unemployment Assistance Activities.'' This comment request is part of continuing Departmental efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

Title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) requires the U.S. Secretary of Labor (Secretary) to update and publish the LLSIL tables annually, for uses described in the law (including determining eligibility for youth). WIOA defines the term ``low income individual'' as one who qualifies under various criteria, including an individual in a family with total family income for a six-month period that does not exceed the higher level of the poverty line or 70 percent of the LLSIL. This issuance provides the Secretary's annual LLSIL for 2017 and references the current 2017 Health and Human Services ``Poverty Guidelines.''

In this notice, OSHA announces the application of Curtis- Strauss LLC for expansion of its recognition as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) and presents the Agency's preliminary finding to grant the application. Additionally, this notice proposes to add a new recognized testing standard to the NRTL Program's List of Appropriate Test Standards.

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). 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, the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs is soliciting comments concerning the proposed collection: Notice of Recurrences (CA-2a). A copy of the proposed information collection request can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the ADDRESSES section of this Notice.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration is delaying the effective date of the Agency's final rule that amends existing standards for examination of working places in metal and nonmetal mines. The effective date of that rule is extended to October 2, 2017. This extension offers additional time for MSHA to provide stakeholders training and compliance assistance.

OSHA solicits public comments concerning its proposal to extend the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval of the information collection requirements specified in its Grantee Quarterly Progress Report.

In this notice, OSHA announces the application of TUV Rheinland of North America, Inc., for expansion of its recognition as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) and presents the Agency's preliminary finding to grant the application.

This notice is a summary of petitions for modification submitted to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) by the parties listed below.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) sponsored information collection request (ICR) proposal titled, ``State Exchange on Employment and Disability Initiative Evaluation,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for use in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995. Public comments on the ICR are invited.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Mine Safety and Health Administration sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Qualification/Certification Program Request for Mine Safety and Health Administration Individual Identification Number,'' 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). Public comments on the ICR are invited.

Under the Congressional Review Act, Congress has passed, and the President has signed a public law disapproving the Employment and Training Administration's (ETA's) final rule establishing appropriate occupations for State drug testing of unemployment compensation claimants. ETA published the final rule on August 1, 2016, and the rule became effective on September 30, 2016. Because the public law invalidates the rule, ETA is hereby removing it from the Code of Federal Regulations.

Under the Congressional Review Act, Congress has passed, and the President has signed, Public Law 115-21, a resolution of disapproval of OSHA's final rule titled, ``Clarification of Employer's Continuing Obligation to Make and Maintain an Accurate Record of each Recordable Injury and Illness.'' OSHA published the rule, which contained various amendments to OSHA's recordkeeping regulations, on December 19, 2016. The amendments became effective on January 18, 2017. Because Public Law 115-21 invalidates the amendments to OSHA's recordkeeping regulations contained in the rule promulgated on December 19, 2016, OSHA is hereby removing those amendments from the Code of Federal Regulations.

This notice announces the opportunity for interested non- profit organizations, including qualifying educational institutions, trade associations, labor unions, and community-based and faith-based organizations that are not an agency of a state or local government to submit applications to become an OSHA Training Institute Education Center and deliver standard classroom instruction on a regional basis. State or local government-supported institutions of higher education are eligible to apply. Eligible organizations can apply independently or in partnership with other eligible organizations, but in such a case, a lead organization must be identified along with a list of any consortium partners. Current OSHA-authorized OSHA Training Institute Education Centers required to renew their status must submit a new application in order to maintain their OSHA Training Institute Education Center status. If the corporate identity of an applicant, or its membership have changed, the new entity must submit an application. Applications will only be accepted during the solicitation period and will be rated on a competitive basis. Complete application instructions are contained in this notice. This notice also contains information on a proposal conference designed to provide potential applicants with information about the OSHA Training Institute Education Centers Program. The conference will clarify OSHA expectations for OSHA Training Institute Education Centers, courses and methods of instruction, as well as administrative and program requirements for OSHA Training Institute Education Centers and the OSHA Outreach Training Program. Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend the proposal conference. OSHA will enter into five-year, non-financial cooperative agreements with successful applicants. These authorization agreements are intended solely to facilitate the ongoing monitoring and evaluation of safety training provided by authorized OSHA Training Institute Education Centers. These cooperative agreements will not constitute a grant or financial assistance instrument, and OSHA will provide no compensation to authorized OSHA Training Institute Education Centers. Such non-financial cooperative agreements are renewable, at the Government's sole option, for one five-year period, if the organization has performed satisfactorily during the initial term.