[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 4 (Friday, January 5, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 386]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-163]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Office of Labor-Management Programs
29 CFR Part 215
RIN 1294-AA14
Guidelines, Section 5333(b), Federal Transit Law
AGENCY: Office of Labor-Management Programs, Office of the American
Workplace, Labor.
ACTION: Deferral of effective date.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Labor-Management Programs is deferring the
effective date of implementation of guidelines for the employee
protection program under Title 49 U.S.C., Chapter 53, Section 5333(b)
of the Federal Transit law, which is currently January 8, 1996. The
extension will add a time period to the January 8, 1996 date equal to
the duration of the furlough caused by the partial government shutdown
that began on December 16, 1995. The effective date of the guidelines
will be the first business day after this extension. This action is
being taken because the furlough of Department of Labor (the
Department) employees responsible for the administration of this
program precludes the Office of Labor-Management Programs from
undertaking the necessary staff training and preparation of materials
and documents to allow for implementation of the guidelines.
DATES: The effective date of the guidelines is the first business day
following an extension from January 8, 1996, such extension to be
calculated by adding the total number of days of the furlough which
began on December 16, 1995. The Department will publish a document in
the Federal Register confirming the new effective date.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kelley Andrews, Director, Statutory
Programs, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room
N-5411, Washington, DC 20210, (202) 219-4473.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Rationale
On December 7, 1995, the Office of Labor-Management Programs,
Office of the American Workplace, published final guidelines for
administration of the transit employee protection program pursuant to
Section 5333(b) of the Federal Transit law, commonly referred to as
``Section 13(c).'' (FR Vol. 60, No. 235, pg. 62964.) The guidelines
were to become effective January 8, 1996.
In view of the ongoing furlough of employees of the Department who
are responsible for the implementation of these new guidelines, it will
be impossible to implement the guidelines on January 8, 1996. The
Department is hereby extending the effective implementation date. The
extension will add a time period to the January 8, 1996 date equal to
the duration of the furlough that began on December 16, 1995. The
effective date of the guidelines will be the first business day after
this extension.
The Department has taken this action in recognition of its
obligations to the transit industry and the transit employees for whom
these protections are provided. The extension is designed to ensure
effective and efficient implementation of the new guidelines. The
furlough prevented the preparation of explanatory material and
documents for staff and the public and interrupted training of
necessary staff, thus delaying instituting procedures for a more timely
and predictable certification process. This extension is intended to
help assure that the Department's customers are well-served and
statutory responsibilities are properly conducted.
II. Publication in Final
The Department finds public comment on this referral to be
impracticable and unnecessary because the Department is forced to take
this action due to the furlough, caused by the partial government
shutdown, of the Department employees who administer this program. 5
U.S.C. 553(b)(B).
List of Subjects in 29 CFR Part 215
Grant administration; Grants--transportation; Labor-management
relations; Labor unions; Mass transportation.
Accordingly, the amendment of 29 CFR Chapter II published at FR
Vol. 60, No. 235, pg. 62964 is deferred until the first business day
following an extension from January 8, 1996, such extension to be
calculated by adding the total number of days of the furlough which
began on December 16, 1995.
Signed at Washington, DC, this 2nd day of January, 1996.
Charles L. Smith,
Deputy Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-163 Filed 1-4-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-86-M
