Department of Labor 2017 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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 (PRA). 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 impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of approval for the current information collection requirements of Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.

In this notice, OSHA announces its final decision to expand the scope of recognition for MET Laboratories, Inc., as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL). Additionally, OSHA announces its final decision to add two new test standards to the NRTL Program's List of Appropriate Test Standards.

On January 23, 2017, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) published a final rule in the Federal Register amending the Agency's standards for the examination of working places in metal and nonmetal mines. MSHA is proposing to delay the effective date of the Agency's final rule to March 2, 2018. This extension would offer additional time for MSHA to provide stakeholders training and compliance assistance.

In this notice, OSHA announces its final decision to expand the scope of recognition for Curtis-Strauss LLC as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL).

On August 31, 2017, the Department of Labor (DOL) will submit the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) sponsored information collection request (ICR) revision titled, ``Notice of Recurrence,'' 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 August 31, 2017, the Department of Labor (DOL) will submit the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Underground Construction 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). Public comments on the ICR are invited.

This document proposes to extend the special transition period under sections II and IX of the Best Interest Contract Exemption and section VII of the Class Exemption for Principal Transactions in Certain Assets Between Investment Advice Fiduciaries and Employee Benefit Plans and IRAs. This document also proposes to delay the applicability of certain amendments to Prohibited Transaction Exemption 84-24 for the same period. The primary purpose of the proposed amendments is to give the Department of Labor the time necessary to consider possible changes and alternatives to these exemptions. The Department is particularly concerned that, without a delay in the applicability dates, regulated parties may incur undue expense to comply with conditions or requirements that it ultimately determines to revise or repeal. The present transition period is from June 9, 2017, to January 1, 2018. The new transition period would end on July 1, 2019. The proposed amendments to these exemptions would affect participants and beneficiaries of plans, IRA owners and fiduciaries with respect to such plans and IRAs.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Employee Retirement Income Security Act Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption 1981-8, Investment of Plan Assets in Certain Types of Short-Term Investments,'' 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. Public comments on the ICR are invited.

On August 31, 2017, the Department of Labor (DOL) will submit the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Interstate Arrangement for Combining Employment and Wages,'' 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 OSHA's standard for cranes and derricks used in construction work, crane operators are to be certified by November 10, 2017. Until that date, employers also have duties under the standard to ensure that crane operators are trained and competent to operate the crane safely. The Agency delayed the deadline for operator certification by three years to November 10, 2017, and extended the existing employer duties for the same period. The Agency is proposing to delay the deadline and extend the existing employer duty to ensure that operators of equipment covered by this standard are competent to operate the equipment safely for one year to November 17, 2018.

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

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Request for Examination and/or Treatment,'' 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.

The Department of Labor (DOL), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management (OASAM) is soliciting comments concerning a proposed extension for the authority to conduct the information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Nondiscrimination Compliance Information Reporting.'' 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).

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act Pre-Hearing Statement,'' 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.

Currently, the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs is soliciting comments concerning the proposed collection: Agreement and Undertaking (OWCP-1). A copy of the proposed information collection request can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addresses section of this Notice. 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.

This notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda of a

VETS is publishing this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM)

OSHA solicits comments concerning its proposal to extend OMB approval of the information collection requirements specified in the Mechanical Power Presses Standard for General Industry.

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) notice is hereby given of the next meeting of the Native American Employment and Training Council (Council), as constituted under WIOA.

OSHA is soliciting public comments concerning its proposal to extend OMB approval of the information collection requirements specified in the Standard on Material Hoists, Personnel Hoists, and Elevators.

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. 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 ``The Consumer Expenditure Surveys: The Quarterly Interview and the Diary.'' A copy of the proposed information collection request can be obtained by contacting the individual listed below in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) sponsored information collection request (ICR) revision titled, ``Claim for Continuance of 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. 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 (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 is soliciting comments concerning the proposed collection: Claim for Compensation (CA-7); Authorization for Examination and/or Treatment (CA-16); Duty Status Report (CA-17); Attending Physician's Report (CA- 20); Request for the Services of an Attendant (CA-1090); Referral to a Medical Specialist (CA-1305); OWCP Requirements for Audiological Examination (CA-1087); Referral for a Complete Audiologic and Otologic Examination (CA-1331); Outline for Audiologic Examination (CA-1332); Work Capacity Evaluation, Psychiatric/Psychological Conditions (OWCP- 5a); Work Capacity Evaluation, Cardiovascular/Pulmonary Conditions (OWCP-5b); and Work Capacity Evaluation, Musculoskeletal Conditions (OWCP-5c). 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 Department of Labor (DOL or Department), as part of its effort to streamline information collection, clarify statutory and regulatory requirements, and provide greater transparency and oversight in the H-1B, H-1B1, and E-3 nonimmigrant visa application processes, 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. 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 May 31, 2018. 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 Form ETA-9035/9035E must be used by employers seeking to employ a foreign worker in a specialty occupation or as a fashion model of distinguished merit and ability under the H-1B, H-1B1, and E-3 nonimmigrant visa classifications. The Form ETA-9035/9035E must be certified by the DOL before the Department of Homeland Security's United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) may approve a petition authorizing admission of a foreign worker under the visa classification. The Form WH-4 is used to request that DOL's Wage and Hour Division initiate an investigation related to alleged violations of H-1B, H-1B1 and E-3 program requirements.