2017-14438. Submission of Information Collection for OMB Review; Comment Request; Mergers and Transfers Between Multiemployer Plans

AGENCY:

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

ACTION:

Notice of request for extension of 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 collection of information contained in its regulation on Mergers and Transfers Between Multiemployer Plans. This notice informs the public of PBGC's request and solicits public comment on the collection of information.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before August 10, 2017.

ADDRESSES:

Comments should be sent to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Attention: Desk Officer for Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, via electronic mail at [e-mail] or by fax to 202-395-6974.

A copy of PBGC's request may be obtained without charge by writing to the Disclosure Division of the Office of the General Counsel, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, 1200 K Street NW., Washington, DC 20005-4026, or by 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 request is also available at http://www.reginfo.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Hilary Duke ([e-mail]), Attorney, Regulatory Affairs Group, Office of the General Counsel, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, 1200 K Street NW., Washington DC 20005-4026; 202-326-4400, extension 3839. TTY and TDD users may call the Federal relay service toll-free at 800-877-8339 and ask to be connected to 202-326-4400, extension 3839.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Section 4231(a) and (b) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) requires plans that are involved in a merger or transfer to give PBGC notice at least 120 days before the transaction and provides that if PBGC determines that specified requirements are satisfied, the transaction will be deemed not to be in violation of ERISA section 406(a) or (b)(2) (dealing with prohibited transactions).

PBGC's regulation on Mergers and Transfers Between Multiemployer Plans (29 CFR part 4231) sets forth the procedures for giving notice of a merger or transfer under section 4231 and for requesting a determination that a transaction complies with section 4231.

PBGC uses information submitted by plan sponsors under the regulation to determine whether mergers and transfers conform to the requirements of ERISA section 4231 and the regulation.

The collection of information under the regulation has been approved by OMB under control number 1212-0022 through July 31, 2017. PBGC is requesting that OMB extend its approval for another 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.

PBGC estimates that there are 14 transactions each year for which plan sponsors submit notices and approval requests under this regulation. The estimated annual burden of the collection of information is 9.50 hours and $42,800.

Issued in Washington, DC.

Deborah Chase Murphy,

Assistant General Counsel for Regulatory Affairs, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.