Department of Labor – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Section 101(c) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 and 30 CFR part 44 govern the application, processing, and disposition of petitions for modification. This notice is a summary of petitions for modification submitted to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) by the parties listed below to modify the application of existing mandatory safety standards codified in Title 30 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

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 the OSHA-7 Form.

On September 30, 2013, President Obama continued the President's Committee on the International Labor Organization (ILO) for two years through September 30, 2015 (E.O. 13652, 78 FR 61817 (September 30, 2013)). In response, and pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as amended (5 U.S.C. App. 2), the Secretary of Labor approved on January 14, 2014, renewal of the committee's charter. Purpose: The President's Committee on the International Labor Organization was established in 1980 by Executive Order 12216 to monitor and assess the work of the ILO and make recommendations to the President regarding United States policy towards the ILO. The committee is chaired by the Secretary of Labor and the Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs is responsible for providing the necessary support for the committee. The committee is comprised of seven members: The Secretary of Labor (chair), the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Commerce, the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, and one representative each from organized labor and the business community, designated by the Secretary. The labor and business members are the presidents of the most representative organizations of U.S. workers and employers engaged in ILO matters.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Job Corps Enrollee Allotment Determination,'' 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.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Benefit Appeals Report,'' 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.

The U.S. Department of Labor (Department) produces trigger notices indicating which states qualify for EUC08 benefits, and provides the beginning and ending dates of payable periods for each qualifying state. The trigger notices covering state eligibility for this program can be found at: https://ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/claims arch.asp. The following changes have occurred since the publication of the last notice regarding states' EUC08 trigger status: Colorado triggers ``off'' Tier 3 of EUC08 effective 12/14/ 2013. Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on November 22, 2013, the three month average, seasonally adjusted total unemployment rate in Colorado was 6.9%, falling below the 7.0% trigger rate threshold necessary to remain ``on'' Tier 3 of EUC08. The week ending December 14, 2013, will be the last week in which EUC08 claimants in Colorado who have exhausted Tier 2, and are otherwise eligible, can establish Tier 3 eligibility. Florida triggers ``off'' Tier 3 of EUC08 effective 12/14/ 2013. Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on November 22, 2013, the three month average, seasonally adjusted total unemployment rate in Florida was 6.8%, falling below the 7.0% trigger rate threshold necessary to remain ``on'' Tier 3 of EUC08. The week ending December 14, 2013, will be the last week in which EUC08 claimants in Florida who have exhausted Tier 2, and are otherwise eligible, can establish Tier 3 eligibility. Michigan triggers ``on'' Tier 4 of EUC08 effective 12/8/ 2013. Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on November 22, 2013, the three month average, seasonally adjusted total unemployment rate in Michigan was 9.0%, meeting the 9.0% trigger rate threshold necessary to trigger ``on'' Tier 4 of EUC08. The week beginning December 8, 2013, will be the first week in which EUC08 claimants in Michigan who have exhausted Tier 3, and are otherwise eligible, can establish Tier 4 eligibility. Rhode Island triggers ``on'' Tier 4 of EUC08 effective 12/ 8/2013. Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on November 22, 2013, the three month average, seasonally adjusted total unemployment rate in Rhode Island was 9.1%, exceeding the 9.0% trigger rate threshold necessary to trigger ``on'' Tier 4 of EUC08. The week beginning December 8, 2013, will be the first week in which EUC08 claimants in Rhode Island who have exhausted Tier 3, and are otherwise eligible, can establish Tier 4 eligibility. Washington triggers ``on'' to Tier 3 of EUC08 effective 12/8/2013. Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on November 22, 2013, the three month average, seasonally adjusted total unemployment rate in Washington was 7.0%, meeting the 7.0% trigger rate threshold necessary to trigger ``on'' Tier 3 of EUC08. The week beginning December 8, 2013, will be the first week in which EUC08 claimants in Washington who have exhausted Tier 2, and are otherwise eligible, can establish Tier 3 eligibility. The Virgin Islands triggers ``on'' to Tier 4 of EUC08 effective 11/10/2013. Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on October 22, 2013, the estimated three month average, seasonally adjusted total unemployment rate in the Virgin Islands was 9.8%, exceeding the 9.0% trigger rate threshold necessary to trigger ``on'' in Tier 4 of EUC08. The week beginning November 10, 2013, was the first week in which EUC08 claimants in the Virgin Islands who had exhausted Tier 3 and were otherwise eligible, could establish Tier 4 eligibility.

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) of the Department of Labor (Department) is issuing this notice to announce the 2014 Adverse Effect Wage Rates (AEWRs) for the employment of temporary or seasonal nonimmigrant foreign workers (H-2A workers) to perform agricultural labor or services. AEWRs are the minimum wage rates the Department has determined must be offered and paid by employers to H-2A workers and workers in corresponding employment for a particular occupation and area so that the wages of similarly employed U.S. workers will not be adversely affected. 20 CFR 655.100(b). In this notice, the Department announces the AEWRs for calendar year 2014.

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 collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A). This program helps to assure 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 Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is soliciting comments on Application for Waiver of Surface Sanitary Facilities' Requirements (Pertaining to Coal Mines).

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 the Standard on Manlifts (29 CFR 1910.68).

On December 31, 2013, the Department of Labor (DOL) will submit the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) revision titled, ``Definition and Requirements for a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for use, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) sponsored information collection request (ICR) revision titled, ``Regulations Governing the Administration of the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act,'' 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.

On December 31, 2013, the Department of Labor (DOL) will submit the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Asbestos in General Industry 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.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Occupational Noise Exposure 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.

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 validation information for the following employment and training programs: Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Title IB, Wagner-Peyser, Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), National Farmworkers Jobs Program (NFJP), and Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP). The current expiration date is May 31, 2014. Please note that the data submission processes within the new data validation software for Wagner-Peyser and WIA Title IB were implemented in Program Year (PY) 2012 and PY 2013 for reporting and the underlying data validation methodology is not being modified. However, the system is still coming online and the data element validation functionality in the new enterprise data validation and reporting system will not be implemented by the current expiration date for this data collection (May 31, 2014). ETA believes the software will be completed and states will have experience with using it by the end of 2014. At that time, ETA will report to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on the results, per the OMB Notice of Action in 2012 approving the implementation of the software.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Default Investment Alternatives under Participant Directed Individual Account Plans,'' 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.

This document contains proposed rules that would amend the regulations regarding excepted benefits under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the Internal Revenue Code, and the Public Health Service Act. Excepted benefits are generally exempt from the health reform requirements that were added to those laws by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Construction Fall Protection Systems Criteria and Practices and Training Requirements'' 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.

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 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: Request for Information on Earnings, Dual Benefits, Dependents and Third Party Settlement (CA- 1032). A copy of the proposed information collection request can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addresses section of this Notice.