[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 247 (Wednesday, December 24, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67418-67419]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-33577]


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PENSION BENEFIT GUARANTY CORPORATION


Proposed Submission of Information Collection for OMB Review; 
Comment Request; Extension of Special Withdrawal Liability Rules

AGENCY: Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

ACTION: Notice of intention to request extension of OMB approval.

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SUMMARY: The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (``PBGC'') intends to 
request that the Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') extend 
approval, under the Paperwork Reduction Act, of a collection of 
information in its regulation on Extension of Special Withdrawal 
Liability Rules (29 CFR Part 4203) (OMB control number 1212-0023; 
expires March 31, 1998). 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 February 23, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to the Office of the General Counsel, 
suite 340, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, 1200 K Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20005-4026, or delivered to that address between 9 a.m. 
and 4 p.m. on business days. Written

[[Page 67419]]

comments will be available for public inspection at the PBGC's 
Communications and Public Affairs Department, suite 240 at the same 
address, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on business days.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Deborah C. Murphy, Attorney, office of 
the General Counsel, 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: Sections 4203(f) and 4208(e)(3) of the 
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (``ERISA'') provide for 
the PBGC's issuance of regulations under which the PBGC may approve a 
multiemployer pension plan's adoption of special rules for determining 
whether a complete or partial withdrawal from the plan has occurred. 
Section 4203(f) also sets standards for the approval of such special 
rules.
    The PBGC's regulation on Extension of Special Withdrawal Liability 
Rules (29 CFR Part 4203) requires the plan sponsor of a plan that 
adopts special rules to submit information about the rules, the plan, 
and the industry in which the plan operates with its request for PBGC 
approval of the rules. The PBGC uses that information in determining 
whether the plan's special withdrawal liability rules meet the 
requirements of ERISA. (The regulation may be accessed on the PBGC's 
home page at http://www.pbgc.gov.)
    The collection of information under the regulation has been 
approved by OMB under control number 1212-0023 through March 31, 1998. 
The PBGC intends to request 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. The PBGC estimates that the total 
annual hour burden of the regulation is one hour and that the total 
annual cost burden is $2,400.
    The PBGC is soliciting public comments to--
    <bullet> 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;
    <bullet> 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;
    <bullet> Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    <bullet> 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 18th day of December, 1997.
David M. Strauss,
Executive Director, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
[FR Doc. 97-33577 Filed 12-23-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7708-01-P