Department of Labor – 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 and state agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and 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 ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, that reporting (time and financial resources) is minimal, that collection instruments are clearly understood, and that the impact of collection requirements can be properly assessed. The Mine Safety and Health Administration is soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of an existing information collection, OMB Control Number 1219-0146, Refuge Alternatives for Underground Coal Mines

The Office of Trade and Labor Affairs (OTLA) gives notice that on January 13, 2012, Submission 2011-02 was accepted for review pursuant to Article 16.3 of the North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation (NAALC). The Sindicato Mexicano de Electricistas (SME), a Mexican union, filed the submission with OTLA on November 14, 2011. The SME also filed the submission on behalf of 93 other organizations. The submitters allege that the Government of Mexico (GOM) failed to fulfill its obligations under Articles 2 through 6 of the NAALC. The submission alleges that these violations of the NAALC stem from a number of actions or failures to take action on the part of the GOM starting with the issuance of a Presidential decree on October 10, 2009 dissolving the state-owned electrical power company, Central Light and Power (Luz y Fuerza del Centro), thereby in effect terminating the employment of over 44,000 SME members. According to the submission, the GOM's subsequent actions or lack thereof denied these workers their rights under Mexican law related to freedom of association, the right to organize, the right to bargain collectively, and the prevention of occupational injuries and illnesses. If substantiated, such statements in the submission could constitute a failure on the part of Mexico to comply with its obligations under the NAALC. The objective of the review of the submission will be to gather information so that OTLA can better understand the allegations therein and publicly report on the U.S. Government's views regarding whether the GOM's actions were consistent with its obligations under the NAALC.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Occupational Safety and Health Administration sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Vehicle-Mounted Elevating and Rotating Work Platforms Standard,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for continued use in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (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, ``Telecommunications Standard,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for continued use in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (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) revision titled, ``Labor Condition Application for H-1B, H-1B1, and E-3 Non-immigrants,'' (Form ETA-9035 and ETA-9035E) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for continued use in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

The U.S. 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 Employment and Training Administration (ETA) is soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of the Tax Performance System (TPS). A copy of the proposed information collection request can be obtained by contacting the employee listed below in the contact section of this notice or by accessing: https://www.doleta.gov/ OMBCN/OMBControlNumber.cfm.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) proposal titled, ``Evaluation of the Reintegration of Ex- OffendersAdult 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.).

This document contains exemptions issued by the Department of Labor (the Department) from certain of the prohibited transaction restrictions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA or the Act) and/or the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the Code). This notice includes the following: PTE 2012-01, D-11676, The Kemper Corporation Pension Plan (the Plan); PTE 2012-02, D-11683, First Federal Bancshares of Arkansas, Inc. Employees' Savings and Profit Sharing Plan (the Plan); PTE 2012-03, L-11647, R+L Carriers Shared Services, LLC, et al.

This document contains a notice of pendency before the Department of Labor (the Department) of a proposed individual exemption from certain prohibited transaction restrictions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA), the Federal Employees' Retirement System Act of 1986, as amended (FERSA), and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code). The proposed transactions involve BlackRock, Inc. and its investment advisory, investment management and broker-dealer affiliates and their successors. The proposed exemption, if granted, would affect plans for which BlackRock, Inc. and its investment advisory, investment management and broker-dealer affiliates and their successors serve as fiduciaries, and the participants and beneficiaries of such plans.

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 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, ETA is soliciting comments on a new information collection for the Job Corps Process Study (Process Study). 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, 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. A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addressee section of this notice.

This notice announces a change in benefit period eligibility under the EB program for Delaware and Minnesota. The following changes have occurred since the publication of the last notice regarding State EB status: Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on December 20, 2011, the estimated three month average, seasonally adjusted total unemployment rate for Minnesota fell to 6.4%, and their third year look-back fell to 108%. These two factors trigger Minnesota ``off'' the EB program with the week ending December 24, 2011, and the end of the payable period in Minnesota in the EB program will be January 14, 2012. Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on December 20, 2011, the estimated three month average, seasonally adjusted total unemployment rate for Delaware fell to 7.9%, below the rate required to remain in a high unemployment period (HUP). Claimants will remain eligible for up to 20 weeks of benefits in Delaware through January 14, 2012, but starting January 15, 2012, the maximum potential entitlement in the EB program in Delaware will decrease from 20 weeks to 13 weeks.