E6-14477. 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.

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 [e-mail], or by fax to 202-326-4224. The PBGC will make all comments available on its Web site at 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://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.