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 agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed 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. Currently, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is soliciting comments on the information collection for Respirator Program Records.

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. 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 Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is soliciting comments on the information collection for Radiation Sampling and Exposure Records.

The National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health (NACOSH) Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Work Group will meet April 27, 2023, by WebEx.

The Department of Labor's (DOL or Department) Employment and Training Administration (ETA) is soliciting comments concerning a proposed revision for the authority to conduct the information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Job Corps Hall of Fame.'' 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 this Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)-sponsored information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). Public comments on the ICR are invited.

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

In this notice, OSHA announces the application of UL LLC, for expansion of the scope of recognition as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) and presents the agency's preliminary finding to grant the application. Additionally, OSHA proposes to add one test standard to the NRTL Program's List of Appropriate Test Standards.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting this Employment and Training Administration (ETA)-sponsored information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). Public comments on the ICR are invited.

This document gives notice of the eligibility of the Oregon State occupational safety and health plan (State Plan) for determination under Section 18(e) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 as to whether final approval of the State Plan over temporary labor camps should be granted. This notice of eligibility for an 18(e) determination applies only to coverage of temporary labor camps and does not affect or disturb the previous grant of final approval in 2005 as to all other issues covered by the Oregon State Plan. If an affirmative determination under section 18(e) is made, the Federal standard and enforcement authority will no longer apply to temporary labor camps.

In this notice, OSHA grants a permanent variance to McNally/ Kiewit Joint Venture (McNally) related to work in compressed-air environments.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting this Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP)-sponsored information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). Public comments on the ICR are invited.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting this Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA)-sponsored information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). Public comments on the ICR are invited.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting this Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)-sponsored information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). Public comments on the ICR are invited.

The Department of Labor's (DOL) Employment and Training Administration (ETA) is soliciting comments concerning a proposed extension for the authority to conduct the information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker (MSFW) Monitoring Report and Complaint/Apparent Violation Form.'' 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).

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), notice is hereby given to announce a public meeting of the ACA. All meetings of the ACA are open to the public.

The Department of Labor (Department or DOL) is amending its regulations governing the certification of agricultural labor or services to be performed by temporary foreign workers in H-2A nonimmigrant status (H-2A workers). Specifically, the Department is revising the methodology by which it determines the hourly Adverse Effect Wage Rates (AEWRs) for non-range occupations (i.e., all occupations other than herding and production of livestock on the range) using a combination of wage data reported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Farm Labor Reports (better known as the Farm Labor Survey, or FLS), and the Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, formerly the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) survey prior to March 31, 2021. For the vast majority of H-2A job opportunities represented by the six Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes comprising the field and livestock worker (combined) wages reported by USDA, the Department will continue to rely on the FLS to establish the AEWRs where a wage is reported by the FLS. For all other SOC codes, the Department will use the OEWS survey to establish the AEWRs for each SOC code. Additionally, in circumstances in which the FLS does not report a wage for the field and livestock workers (combined) occupational group in a particular State or region, the Department will use the OEWS survey to determine the AEWR for that occupational group. These regulatory changes are consistent with the Secretary of Labor's (Secretary) statutory responsibility to certify that the employment of H-2A workers will not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of workers in the United States similarly employed. The Department believes this methodology strikes a reasonable balance between the statute's competing goals of providing employers with an adequate supply of legal agricultural labor and protecting the wages and working conditions of workers in the United States similarly employed.

The Department of Labor (Department) is soliciting comments concerning a proposed extension of the information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Employee Polygraph Protection Act.'' This comment request is part of continuing Departmental efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The Department proposes to extend its information collection without change to existing requirements. 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 request can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this Notice.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting this Employment and Training Administration (ETA)-sponsored information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). Public comments on the ICR are invited.

This document contains amendments to Department of Labor (DOL) regulations relating to annual reporting requirements under Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA). The amendments contained in this document conform the DOL reporting regulations to revisions to the Form 5500 Annual Return/ Report of Employee Benefit Plan and Form 5500-SF Short Form Annual Return/Report of Small Employee Benefit Plan being published in this issue of the Federal Register in a separate Notice of Final Forms Revisions (NFFR) jointly by DOL, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC). Conforming changes also are being made to the requirements for the summary annual report. The regulatory amendments in this rule and revisions in the NFFR affect employee benefit plans, plan sponsors, administrators, and service providers to plans subject to annual reporting requirements under ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code.

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: 2023-03, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, D-12077; 2023-04, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Arizona, Inc., D-12035; 2023-05, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont, D-12055; 2023-06, Hawaii Medical Service Association, D-12038; 2023-07, BCS Financial Corporation, D-12036; 2023-08, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Mississippi, D-12040; 2023-09, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska, Inc., D-12041; 2023-10, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Inc., D- 12045; 2023-11, Midlands Management Corporation 401(k) Plan, D-12031; 2023-12, DISH Network Corporation 401(k) Plan and the EchoStar 401(k) Plan, D-12012.

The internet has become the means for disseminating the entirety of the Department of Labor's semiannual regulatory agenda. However, the Regulatory Flexibility Act requires publication of a regulatory flexibility agenda in the Federal Register. This Federal Register Notice contains the regulatory flexibility agenda.

OSHA solicits public comments concerning the proposal of a new collection subject to Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval for the information collection requirements specified in the PSM On- Site Consultation Agreements.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting this Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)-sponsored information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). Public comments on the ICR are invited.

OSHA is withdrawing its proposed reconsideration of the Arizona State Plan's final approval status.

This document reopens the comment period with respect to amendments to the Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program (VFC Program or Program) under Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA), and to the proposed amendment to Prohibited Transaction Exemption 2002-51 (PTE 2002-51), both published in the Federal Register on November 21, 2022. The Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) published the modifications to the Program and a proposed amendment to PTE 2002-51 to both simplify and expand the original VFC Program, and solicited comment from interested persons by January 20, 2023. On December 29, 2022, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, which includes a provision pertaining to the VFC Program, was signed into law. The Department is reopening the comment period to allow commenters to address any issues raised by the new statutory provision.