[Federal Register: August 30, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 168)]

[Notices]               

[Page 51650-51651]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr30au06-148]                         



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PENSION BENEFIT GUARANTY CORPORATION



 

Proposed Submission of Information Collection for OMB Review; 

Comment Request; Administrative Appeals



AGENCY: Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.



ACTION: Notice of intention to request OMB approval.



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[[Page 51651]]



SUMMARY: The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (``PBGC'') intends to 

request that the Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') approve, 

under the Paperwork Reduction Act, of a collection of information under 

its regulation on Administrative Appeals. This notice informs the 

public of the PBGC's intent and solicits public comment on the 

collection of information.



DATES: Comments should be submitted by October 30, 2006.



ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to the Legislative and Regulatory 

Department, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, 1200 K Street, NW., 

Washington, DC 20005-4026, or delivered to that address during normal 

business hours. Comments also may be submitted by e-mail to 

paperwork.comments@pbgc.gov, or by fax to 202-326-4224. The PBGC will 



make all comments available on its Web site at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.pbgc.gov.



    Copies of the collection of information may also be obtained 

without charge by writing to the Disclosure Division of the Office of 

the General Counsel of PBGC at the above address or by visiting the 

Disclosure Division or calling 202-326-4040 during normal business 

hours. (TTY and TDD users may call the Federal relay service toll-free 

at 1-800-877-8339 and ask to be connected to 202-326-4040.) The PBGC's 

regulation on Administrative Appeals may be accessed on the PBGC's Web 

site at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.pbgc.gov.





FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine B. Klion, Manager, or Donald 

McCabe, Attorney, Regulatory and Policy Division, Legislative and 

Regulatory Department, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, 1200 K 

Street, NW., Washington, DC 20005-4026, 202-326-4024. (For TTY and TDD, 

call 800-877-8339 and request connection to 202-326-4024).



SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The PBGC's regulation on Rules for 

Administrative Review of Agency Decisions (29 CFR part 4003) prescribes 

rules governing the issuance of initial determinations by the PBGC and 

the procedures for requesting and obtaining administrative review of 

initial determinations. Certain types of initial determinations are 

subject to administrative appeals, which are covered in subpart D of 

the regulation. Subpart D prescribes rules on who may file appeals, 

when and where to file appeals, contents of appeals, and other matters 

relating to appeals.

    Most appeals filed with the PBGC are filed by individuals 

(participants, beneficiaries, and alternate payees) in connection with 

benefit entitlement or amounts. A small number of appeals are filed by 

employers in connection with other matters, such as plan coverage under 

ERISA section 4021 or employer liability under ERISA sections 

4062(b)(1), 4063, or 4064. Appeals may be filed by hand, mail, 

commercial delivery service, fax or e-mail. For appeals of benefit 

determinations, the PBGC has developed new optional forms for filing 

appeals and requests for extensions of time to appeal.

    The PBGC intends to request that OMB approve this collection of 

information for three years. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and 

a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information 

unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

    The PBGC estimates that an average of 850 appellants per year will 

respond to this collection of information. The PBGC further estimates 

that the average annual burden of this collection of information is 

0.75 hours and $55 per appellant, with an average total annual burden 

of 640 hours and $46,750.

    The PBGC is soliciting public comments to--

     Evaluate whether the collection of information is 

necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 

including whether the information will have practical utility;

     evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 

burden of the collection of information, including the validity of the 

methodology and assumptions used;

     enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 

information to be collected; and

     minimize the burden of the collection of information on 

those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 

automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 

techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 

electronic submission of responses.



    Issued in Washington, DC, this 24th day of August 2006.

Cris Birch,

Acting Chief Technology Officer, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

 [FR Doc. E6-14477 Filed 8-29-06; 8:45 am]



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