[Federal Register: November 21, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 226)]
[Notices]
[Page 70677-70678]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21no08-90]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employee Benefits Security Administration
Proposed Extension of Information Collection Request; Submitted
for Public Comment; Multiemployer Plan Annual Funding Notice
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA
95) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), the Department of Labor (the Department)
conducts a preclearance consultation program so that the general public
and other federal agencies can comment on proposed and continuing
collections of information. This program helps to ensure that the data
the Department gathers arrive in the desired format, that the reporting
burden on the public (time and financial resources) is minimized, that
the public understands the
[[Page 70678]]
collection instruments, and that the Department can accurately assess
the impact of collection requirements on respondents.
By this notice, the Department is soliciting comments on the
information collection provisions of regulations pertaining to section
101(f) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended (ERISA). The statute and the regulatory provisions codified at
29 CFR 2520.101-4 require the administrator of a defined benefit plan
which is a multiemployer plan to furnish an annual plan funding notice
to each plan participant and beneficiary, each labor organization
representing such participants or beneficiaries, each employer that has
an obligation to contribute under the plan, and the Pension Benefit
Guaranty Corporation. A copy of the information collection request
(ICR) can be obtained by contacting the office shown in the addresses
section of this notice. ICRs submitted to OMB also are available at
http://www.RegInfo.gov.
DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office shown in the
addresses section on or before January 20, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Interested parties are invited to submit written comments
regarding the information collection request and burden estimates to:
G. Christopher Cosby, Office of Policy and Research, U.S. Department of
Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, 200 Constitution
Avenue, NW., Room N-5718, Washington, DC 20210. Telephone: (202) 693-
8410; Fax: (202) 219-4745. These are not toll-free numbers. Comments
may also be submitted electronically to the following Internet e-mail
address: ebsa.opr@dol.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Pursuant to section 101(a)(1) of ERISA, the administrator of a
defined benefit plan which is a multiemployer plan must furnish an
annual plan funding notice to each plan participant and beneficiary,
each labor organization representing such participants or
beneficiaries, each employer that has an obligation to contribute under
the plan, and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. The Department
issued a final implementing regulation under this provision on January
11, 2006 (71 FR 1904), which is codified at 29 CFR 2520.101-4. The ICR
relating to the regulation was approved on March 17, 2005 under OMB
Control Number 1210-0126. The ICR was extended on extended on August
20, 2008 and is scheduled to expire on March 31, 2009.
II. Desired Focus of Comments
The Department is particularly interested in comments that:
Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency,
including whether the information will have practical utility;
Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected;
Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
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.
III. Current Actions
The Employee Benefits Security Administration is requesting an
extension of the currently approved ICR for the Multiemployer Plan
Annual Funding Notice under ERISA section 101(f) and 29 CFR 2520.101-4.
The Department is not proposing or implementing changes to the
regulation or to the existing ICR at this time but is working toward
amending the regulation to reflect amendments made by the Pension
Protection Act of 2006. A summary of the ICR and the current burden
estimates follows:
Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
Agency: Employee Benefits Security Administration, Department of
Labor.
Title: Multiemployer Plan Annual Funding Notice.
OMB Number: 1210-0126.
Frequency: On occasion.
Affected Public: Individuals or households; business or other for-
profit institutions; not-for-profit institutions.
Total Respondents: 1,595.
Total Responses: 10,048,000.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 4,345.
Estimated Annual Burden Cost: $1,083,000.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of the ICR. They will
also become a matter of public record.
Dated: November 12, 2008.
Joseph S. Piacentini,
Director, Office of Policy and Research, Employee Benefits Security
Administration.
[FR Doc. E8-27639 Filed 11-20-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-29-P