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Safety Zone; NOBLE DISCOVERER, Outer Continental Shelf Drillship, Chukchi Sea, AK
The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone that extends 500 meters from the outer edge of the DRILLSHIP NOBLE DISCOVERER. This safety zone will be in effect both when the DRILLSHIP NOBLE DISCOVERER is anchored and when deploying and recovering moorings. This safety zone will be in effect when the DRILLSHIP NOBLE DISCOVERER is on location in order to drill exploratory wells at various prospects located in the Chukchi Sea Outer Continental Shelf, Alaska, from 12:01 a.m. on July 1, 2015 through 11:59 p.m. on October 31, 2015. The purpose of the temporary safety zone is to protect the drillship from vessels operating outside the normal shipping channels and fairways.
Labor Organization Annual Financial Reports
This final rule withdraws a rule published in the Federal Register on January 21, 2009, which revised the Form LM-2, an annual financial report required by the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959, as amended (LMRDA), and established standards and procedures by which the Department can revoke, when warranted, the authorization for smaller labor organizations to file the Form LM-3, a less detailed annual financial report also required pursuant to the LMRDA. Upon consideration of the comments received following an April 21, 2009 notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), the Department withdraws the January 21 rule. The rule is withdrawn because the revisions it made to the Form LM-2 were issued without an adequate review of the Department's experience under the relatively recent revisions to Form LM-2 in 2003, and because the comments received indicate that the Department may have underestimated the increased burden that the rule would place on reporting labor organizations. Additionally, upon consideration of the comments received, the Department withdraws the provisions of the rule pertaining to the revocation of a small union's authorization to file a Form LM-3 report due to delinquency or deficiency in filing such report, because the revocation standards and procedures are not based upon realistic assessments of such a union's ability to file the more complex Form LM- 2 and thus are unlikely to achieve the intended goals of greater transparency and disclosure. Moreover, the revocation provisions did not adequately balance the need for transparency with the burden placed upon smaller labor organizations.
Proposed Information Collection Requirements
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 (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 Labor-Management Standards is soliciting comments concerning its request for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of the Information Collection: Notification of Employee Rights Under Federal Labor Laws 1215-ONEW (1215-AB70). A copy of the proposed information collection request can be obtained by contacting
Notification of Employee Rights Under Federal Labor Laws
This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) proposes a regulation to implement Executive Order 13496, which was signed by President Barack Obama on January 30, 2009. Executive Order 13496 (``the Executive Order,'' ``the Order,'' or ``EO 13496'') requires nonexempt Federal departments and agencies to include within their Government contracts specific provisions requiring that contractors and subcontractors with whom they do business post notices informing their employees of their rights as employees under Federal labor laws. The Executive Order requires the Secretary (``Secretary'') of the Department of Labor (``Department'') to initiate a rulemaking to prescribe the size, form, and content of the notice that must be posted by a contractor under paragraph 1 of the contract clause described in section 2 of the Order. Under the Executive Order, Federal Government contracting departments and agencies must include the required contract provisions in every Government contract, except for collective bargaining agreements and contracts for purchases under the Simplified Acquisition Threshold, and except in those cases in which the Secretary exempts a contracting department or agency with respect to particular contracts or subcontracts or class of contracts or subcontracts pursuant to section 4 of the Order. As required by the Executive Order, this proposed rule establishes the content of the notice required by the Executive Order's contract clause, and implements other provisions of the Executive Order, including provisions regarding sanctions, penalties, and remedies that may be imposed if the contractor or subcontractor fails to comply with its obligations under the Order and the implementing regulations.
Labor Organization Annual Financial Reports
This final rule delays the effective date of new regulations pertaining to the filing by labor organizations of annual financial reports required by the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959, as amended (LMRDA). The regulations were published in the Federal Register on January 21, 2009. They revised Labor Organization Annual Report Form LM-2 and established a procedure whereby the Department may revoke, when warranted, a labor organization's authorization to file the simplified Labor Organization Annual Report Form LM-3. This final rule postpones the effective date of the regulations from February 20, 2009, until April 21, 2009, to allow additional time for the agency and the public to review questions of law and policy concerning the regulations and, meanwhile, to permit unions to delay costly development and implementation of any necessary new accounting and recordkeeping systems and procedures pending this further consideration.
Labor Organization Annual Financial Reports for Trusts in Which a Labor Organization Is Interested, Form T-1
The Employment Standards Administration (ESA) Office of Labor- Management Standards (OLMS) of the Department of Labor publishes this final rule to establish a form to be used by labor organizations to file trust annual financial reports (Form T-1) and to provide appropriate instructions and revise relevant portions of 29 CFR Part 43 relating to such reports. On March 4, 2008, the Department published a notice of proposed rulemaking setting forth the Department's Form T-1 proposal. Under the proposal, certain labor organizations would file annual reports about certain trusts to which they contributed money or otherwise provided financial assistance or over which they exercised managerial control. This document sets forth the Department's review of and response to comments on the proposal. This final rule requires that a labor organization with total annual receipts of $250,000 or more file a Form T-1 for each trust of the type defined by section 3(l) of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA) and that meets one of the two following filing triggers: The labor organization, alone or with other labor organizations, either: Appoints or selects a majority of the members of the trust's governing board; or makes contributions to the trust that exceed 50 percent of the trust's receipts during the trust's fiscal year. This final rule provides five exemptions to the Form T-1 filing requirements: A political action committee (PAC) fund, if publicly available reports on the PAC fund are filed with federal or state agencies; any political organization for which reports are filed with the IRS under section 527 of the IRS code; trusts required to file a Form 5500 under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA); federal employee health benefit plans that are subject to the provisions of the Federal Employees Health Benefits Act (FEHBA); and any trust for which an independent audit has been conducted, in accordance with the standards set forth in this final rule. This final rule will apply prospectively.
Labor Organization Annual Financial Reports
This document extends the period for comments on the proposed rule published on March 4, 2008 (73 FR 11754). The proposed rule would establish the financial report (Form T-1) required to be filed by labor organizations under the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959, as amended, on trusts in which they are interested. The comment period, which was to expire on April 18, 2008, is extended to May 5, 2008.
Labor Organization Annual Financial Reports
The Department of Labor's Employment Standards Administration (``ESA'') proposes to promulgate a rule that establishes a form to be used by labor organizations to file trust annual financial reports with ESA's Office of Labor-Management Standards (``OLMS''), provides appropriate instructions, and revises relevant sections of 29 CFR Part 403 relating to such reports. The proposed changes are made pursuant to section 208 of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (``LMRDA''), 29 U.S.C. 438. The proposed rule will apply prospectively.
Amendment to Guidelines for Processing Applications for Assistance To Conform to Sections 3013(h) and 3031 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act-A Legacy for Users and To Improve Processing for Administrative Efficiency
Pursuant to section 5333(b) of the Federal transit law, the Department of Labor (Department) must certify, as a condition of certain grants of Federal financial assistance, fair and equitable labor protective provisions to protect the interests of employees affected by such Federal assistance.\1\ The Department administers this program through guidelines set forth at 29 CFR part 215. The Department's proposed changes conform the guidelines to recently enacted federal legislation, in particular, sections 3013(h) and 3031 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity ActA Legacy for Users. In addition to changes mandated by statute, the Department also proposes revisions to the guidelines that will enhance the speed and efficiency of the Department's processing of grant certifications. The proposed revisions to existing procedures for processing grant applications under the Federal transit law are intended to ensure timely certifications in a predictable manner, and remain consistent with the transit law's statutory objectives.
Labor Organization Officer and Employee Report, Form LM-30
The Employment Standards Administration's Office of Labor- Management Standards (``OLMS'') of the Department of Labor is correcting a final rule that appeared in the Federal Register of July 2, 2007, (72 FR 36106). That document revised the Form LM-30, Labor Organization Officer and Employee Report, its instructions, and related provisions in the Department's regulations. In that document, the effective date of the final rule (August 16, 2007) was omitted from one paragraph in the preamble and the beginning date for the mandatory submission of Form LM-30 reports filed under the final rule (November 16, 2008) was inadvertently omitted from the same paragraph. This document corrects those omissions.
Labor Organization Officer and Employee Report, Form LM-30
The Employment Standards Administration's (``ESA'') Office of Labor-Management Standards (``OLMS'') of the Department of Labor (``Department'') publishes this Final Rule to revise the Form LM-30, Labor Organization Officer and Employee Report, its instructions, and related provisions in the Department's regulations. The Form LM-30 implements section 202 of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 (``LMRDA'' or ``Act''), 29 U.S.C. 432, whose purpose is to require officers and employees of labor organizations to report specified financial transactions and holdings to effect public disclosure of any possible conflicts between their personal financial interests and their duty to the labor union and its members. This rule clarifies the Form LM-30 and its instructions by explaining key terms and providing examples of the financial matters that must be reported, eliminates or modifies administrative exceptions in the old Form LM-30 that impeded the full disclosure of financial matters that constitute conflicts, or potential conflicts, of interest, and improves the usability of the reports by union members and the public.
Labor Organization Annual Financial Reports, Forms LM-2, LM-3, LM-4.
On December 22, 2002, the Department of Labor (Department) proposed revisions to Forms LM-2, LM-3, and LM-4, which are used by labor organizations to file annual financial reports required under Title II of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 (LMRDA or Act), 29 U.S.C. 401 et seq., with the Employment Standards Administration's Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS). A portion of the proposed rule stated the Department's intent to revise its interpretation of an aspect of the definition of ``labor organization * * * deemed to be engaged in an industry affecting commerce'' under the LMRDA. After receiving and considering comments, the Department published its final rule on October 9, 2003. The interpretation in the final rule stated that intermediate bodies that are subordinate to a national or international labor organization that includes a labor organization will be covered by the LMRDA, even if the intermediate body's constituents are solely public sector local labor unions not covered by the Act. This interpretation of the LMRDA was challenged in federal district court by labor unions affected by the interpretation, and the court granted summary judgment in favor of the labor unions. Alabama Education Ass'n v. Chao, 2005 WL 736535 (D.D.C. Mar 31, 2005). On appeal, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit reversed the grant of summary judgment. Alabama Education Ass'n v. Chao, 455 F.3d 386 (D.C. Cir. 2006). The court of appeals held that the Department's interpretation was reviewable under deference principles established under Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc., 467 U.S. 837 (1984), and that the statutory definition of ``labor organization * * * deemed to be engaged in an industry affecting commerce'' is ambiguous and subject to more than one permissible interpretation, including the Department's interpretation. 455 F.3d at 393, 396. The court also concluded, however, that the Department had failed to provide a ``reasoned analysis supporting its change of position'' and remanded the rule to the Department to provide such analysis. Id. at 396-397. The Department issues this Policy Statement in response to the court's remand order.
Labor Organization Annual Financial Reports for Trusts in Which a Labor Organization Is Interested, Form T-1
The Department proposed to revise the forms used by labor organizations to file the annual financial reports required by the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (``LMRDA'' or ``Act''), 29 U.S.C. 431(b). Under the proposal, specified labor organizations would file annual reports about particular trusts to which they contributed money or otherwise provided financial assistance (Form T- 1). This document sets forth the Department's review of and response to comments on the proposal; this review was undertaken by the Department after the decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations v. Chao, 409 F.3d 377 (2005). Under this rule, the Department will require that a labor organization (``union'') with total annual receipts of $250,000 or more file a Form T-1 for each trust provided that the trust is of the type defined by section 3(l) of the LMRDA (defining ``trust in which a labor organization is interested'') and a number of conditions are met: The union's financial contribution to the trust was $10,000 or more during the year; the trust had $250,000 or more in annual receipts; and the union, acting either alone or with other unions, selects a majority of the members of the trust's governing board or the union's contribution to the trust, made independently or in combination with other unions, represents greater than 50% of the trust's revenue in the one-year reporting period. The Department will provide four exceptions to the Form T-1 requirements, and unions will not, therefore, be required to file a Form T-1 for: A Political Action Committee fund, if publicly available reports on the fund are filed with federal or state agencies; a political organization for which reports are filed with the Internal Revenue Service under 26 U.S.C. 527; an employee benefit plan filing a complete and timely report under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (``ERISA''); and a trust or trust fund for which an independent audit has been conducted, in accordance with the standard set forth in this final rule, if the audit is made publicly available. Under this exception the labor organization must submit the first page of the Form T-1 and a copy of the audit.
Standards of Conduct for Federal Sector Labor Organizations
The Department of Labor (Department) proposed to revise the regulations applicable to Federal sector labor organizations subject to the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 (CSRA), the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (FSA), and the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (CAA) (referred to collectively as ``these Acts''). This document sets forth the Department's review of comments submitted by the public on the proposal, the Department's response to those comments, and the changes from the proposal that are embodied in a final rule. The Department will require each labor organization subject to these Acts to periodically inform their members of their rights as union members as set forth in the standards of conduct provisions of these Acts and their implementing regulations.\1\ Labor organizations subject to this rule must provide written notice to existing members within 90 days after the effective date of the regulation and to new members within 90 days of their joining the organization. Such notification must also be given to each member at three-year intervals. Notification may be made by hand delivery, regular mail, electronic mail (e-mail), or a combination of these methods as long as the method selected is reasonably calculated to reach all members. A labor organization is permitted, but not required, to include such notice with the organization's notice of election of officers if such notice is mailed to members at least every three years. If a labor organization has a Web site, the site must contain a link to the CSRA Union Member Rights, or, alternatively, provide the organization's own notice as long as the notice accurately states all of the CSRA standards of conduct provisions. OLMS will use the existing administrative mechanism in the standards of conduct regulations for resolving complaints related to this rule. Where OLMS determines after investigation that a violation has occurred and has not been remedied, OLMS will institute enforcement proceedings against the labor organization before the Department's Office of Administrative Law Judges.
Union Officials: Guidelines for Fiduciary Responsibilities Under Section 501 of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act, 29 U.S.C. § 501
This document extends the period for comments on the Request for Information published on August 29, 2005 (70 FR 51228). The request seeks information from the public to assist the Department in determining whether to issue guidelines concerning the fiduciary obligations of union officers, agents, shop stewards and other representatives under the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act, as amended (LMRDA), and the content of any such guidelines. The comment period, which was to expire on October 28, 2005, is extended ninety days to January 26, 2006.
Labor Organization Officer and Employee Reports
This document extends the period for comments on the proposed rule published on August 29, 2005. The proposed rule would revise the financial reports (Form LM-30) required to be filed by union officers and employees under the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959, as amended (LMRDA). The comment period, which was to expire on October 28, 2005, is extended ninety days to January 26, 2006.
Union Officials: Guidelines for Fiduciary Responsibilities Under Section 501 of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act, 29 U.S.C. 501
This notice is a request for information from the public to assist the Department of Labor (``Department'') in determining whether to issue guidelines concerning the fiduciary obligations of union officers, agents, shop stewards and other representatives under section 501(a) of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (``LMRDA''), 29 U.S.C. 501. That section states, in general terms, that these persons occupy ``positions of trust'' within their labor organizations and must act in the best interests of their union. The LMRDA does not describe in detail the nature and scope of the fiduciary duties as applied to union officials. The Department also seeks comments on the nature and scope of such fiduciary obligations. The comments from interested parties, including unions, union members, union officers, agents, shop stewards, and other representatives, public interest groups, and the public will help determine whether the Department should issue specific guidelines describing the minimum standards officers, agents, shop stewards, and other union representatives must meet to fulfill their fiduciary responsibilities under section 501 of the LMRDA. In addition, the comments should help delineate what issues concerning the fiduciary responsibilities of union officials should be addressed, if it is decided that the Department should issue such guidelines, and what specific standards should be included in the guidelines. These guidelines and standards could further the Department's interest in ensuring that breaches of fiduciary obligations not be permitted to occur or remain undisclosed.
Labor Organization Officer and Employee Reports
The Employment Standards Administration (ESA) of the Department of Labor (Department) is proposing to revise the Form LM-30 and its instructions. The Form LM-30 implements section 202 of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 (LMRDA or Act), 29 U.S.C. 432, whose purpose is to require officers and employees of labor organizations to publicly disclose possible conflicts between their personal financial interests and their duty to the labor union and its members. The proposed rule would clarify the Form LM-30, and its instructions, by explaining key terms and providing examples of the financial matters that must be reported, eliminate exemptions in the current Form LM-30 that permit filers to not report financial matters that would otherwise be required to be reported under the Act, and improve the usability of the reports by union members and the public. The Department invites general and specific comment on any aspect of the rule; it also invites comment on specific points, as noted throughout the text of this preamble.
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