E6-20559. Submission of Information Collection for OMB Review; Comment Request; Administrative Appeals

AGENCY:

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

ACTION:

Notice of request for OMB approval.

SUMMARY:

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) is requesting that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) extend approval, under the Paperwork Reduction Act, of a new collection of information under Part 4003 of its regulations relating to Administrative Appeals. This notice informs the public of the PBGC's request and solicits public comment on the collection of information.

DATES:

Comments should be submitted by January 5, 2007.

ADDRESSES:

Comments may be mailed to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of the Office of Management and Budget, Attn: Desk Officer for Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, Washington, DC 20503. Copies of the request for approval may be obtained without charge by writing to the PBGC's Communications and Public Affairs Department at Suite 240 at the above address or by visiting that office 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 administrative appeals regulation may be accessed on the PBGC's Web site at http://www.pbgc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Donald F. McCabe, Attorney, Legislative and Regulatory Department, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, 1200 K Street, NW., Washington, DC 20005-4026, 202-326-4024. (For TTY/TDD users, call the Federal relay service toll-free at 1-800-877-8339 and ask to be connected 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 regulations 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 is requesting 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.

Issued in Washington, DC, this 29th day of November, 2006.

Jon Baake,

Acting Chief Technology Officer, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.