Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 124 / Wednesday, June 27, 2001 / Notices 34271

Labor, Pension and Welfare Benefits

Administration, 200 Constitution

Avenue, NW., Room N–5647,

Washington, DC 20210, (202) 219–4782,

FAX (202) 219–4745. These are not tollfree numbers.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

PTCE 94–71 exempts certain

transactions authorized by a settlement

agreement resulting from an

investigation of an employee benefit

plan pursuant to the authority of section

504(a) of the Employee Retirement

Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA)

from prohibitions set forth in sections

406 and 407(a) of ERISA. The

conditions of the exemption include

certain notice and disclosure

requirements which are intended to

protect the interests of plan participants

and beneficiaries. At least 30 days prior

to engaging in the transaction described

in the settlement agreement, a party

must provide written notice to affected

participants and beneficiaries in a

manner reasonably calculated to result

in receipt of the notice. The notice and

method of distribution must be

approved by the regional or district

office of the Department that negotiated

the settlement.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

The Department of Labor is

particularly interested in comments

which:

• 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;

• 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;

• Enhance the quality, utility, and

clarify 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 submissions

of responses.

III. Current Actions

The ICR included in this exemption is

intended to facilitate voluntary

settlements arising from investigations

involving Title I of ERISA, while

ensuring that participants and

beneficiaries have adequate information

concerning matters which may affect

their benefits. In the absence of PTCE

94–71, parties wishing to enter into

certain types of transactions pursuant to

settlement agreements would be

required to apply for individual

exemptions. The ICR also provides the

Department with the necessary

information to ensure that the plan is in

compliance with the conditions of the

exemption. The Department is not

proposing changes to the exemption at

this time.

Type of Review: Extension of a

currently approved collection of

information.

Agency: Department of Labor, Pension

and Welfare Benefits Administration.

Title: Prohibited Transaction

Exemption 94–71; An Exemption

Authorizing Certain Transactions

Pursuant to a Settlement Agreement

Between Plans and the US Department

of Labor.

OMB Number: 1210–0091.

Affected Public: Business or other forprofit; Not-for-profit institutions;

Individuals.

Total Respondents: 4.

Frequency: On occasion.

Total Responses: 270.

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 13.

Total Burden Cost (Operating and

Maintenance): $92.00.

Comments submitted in response to

this notice will be summarized and/or

included in the request for Office of

Management and Budget approval of the

information collection request; they will

also become a matter of public record.

Dated: June 21, 2001.

Gerald B. Lindrew,

Deputy Director, Office of Policy and

Research, Pension and Welfare Benefits

Administration.

[FR Doc. 01–16080 Filed 6–26–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510–29–M

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Pension and Welfare Benefits

Administration

Proposed Extension of Information

Collection Request Submitted for

Public Comment and

Recommendations; Prohibited

Transaction Exemption T88–1

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as

part of its continuing effort to reduce

paperwork and respondent burden,

conducts a preclearance consultation

program to provide the general public

and Federal agencies with an

opportunity to comment on proposed

and continuing collections of

information in accordance with the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA

95) 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A). This

program helps to ensure that requested

data can be provided in the desired

format, reporting burden (time and

financial resources) is minimized,

collection instruments are clearly

understood, and the impact of collection

requirements on respondents can be

properly assessed.

Currently, the Pension and Welfare

Benefits Administration is soliciting

comments concerning the proposed

extension of a currently approved

collection of information, Prohibited

Transaction Exemption (PTE) T88–1. A

copy of the proposed information

collection request (ICR) can be obtained

by contacting the office listed in the

addresses section of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be

submitted on or before August 27, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Gerald B. Lindrew,

Department of Labor, Pension and

Welfare Benefits Administration, 200

Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington,

DC 20210, (202) 219–4782, FAX (202)

219–4745. These are not toll-free

numbers.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

PTE T88–1 adopts, for purposes of the

prohibited transaction provisions of

section 8477(c)(2) of the Federal

Employees’ Retirement System Act of

1986 (FERSA), certain prohibited

transaction class exemptions (the Class

Exemptions) granted pursuant to section

408(a) of the Employee Income Security

Act of 1974. The adoption of these Class

Exemptions permits fiduciaries with

respect to the FERS Thrift Savings Fund

(the Fund) to engage in certain

transactions that would otherwise be

prohibited under section 8477(c) of

FERSA.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

The Department of Labor is

particularly interested in comments

which:

• 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;

• 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;

• Enhance the quality, utility, and

clarify the information to be collected;

and

34272 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 124 / Wednesday, June 27, 2001 / Notices

• Minimize the burden of the

collection of information on those who

are to respond, including through use of

appropriate automated, electronic,

mechanical, or other technological

collection techniques or other forms of

information technology, e.g., permitting

electronic submissions of responses.

III. Current Action

The adoption of the Class Exemptions

under this regulation permits fiduciaries

with respect to the Fund to engage in

certain transactions that would

otherwise be prohibited under section

8477(c) of FERSA. The recordkeeping

requirements incorporated within the

Class Exemptions are intended to insure

that a Class Exemption is not abused,

that the rights of plan participants and

beneficiaries are protected, and that the

affected fiduciaries comply with the

Class Exemptions’ conditions.

Type of Review: Extension of

currently approved collection of

information.

Agency: Pension and Welfare Benefits

Administration.

Title: Prohibited Transaction

Exemption T88–1.

OMB Number: 1210–0074.

Affected Public: Business or other forprofit; not-for-profit institutions;

individuals.

Total Respondents: 1.

Frequency: On occasion.

Total Responses: 1.

Average Time Per Response: 1 hour.

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 1

hour.

Comments submitted in response to

this notice will be summarized and/or

included in the request for Office of

Management and Budget approval of the

information collection request; they will

also become a matter of public record.

Dated: June 21, 2001.

Gerald B. Lindrew,

Deputy Director, Office of Policy and

Research, Pension and Welfare Benefits

Administration.

[FR Doc. 01–16081 Filed 6–26–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510–29–M

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Pension and Welfare Benefits

Administration

Agency Information Collection

Activities; Announcement of OMB

Approval

AGENCY: Pension and Welfare Benefits

Administration, Department of Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Pension and Welfare

Benefits Administration (PWBA) is

announcing that collections of

information included in Prohibited

Transaction Class Exemptions (PTCE)

91–55, 92–6, and 82–63 have been

approved by the Office of Management

and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork

Reduction Act of 1995. This notice

announces the OMB approval numbers

and expiration dates.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Address requests for copies of the

information collection requests (ICRs) to

Gerald B. Lindrew, U.S. Department of

Labor, Pension and Welfare Benefits

Administration, 200 Constitution

Avenue, NW. Room N–5647,

Washington, DC, 20210. Telephone:

(202) 219–4782. This is a not a toll-free

number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the

Federal Register of February 14, 2001

(66 FR 10322), the Agency announced

its intent to request renewal of its

current OMB approval for the

information collection provisions of

PTCE 91–55, Compensation to

Fiduciaries for Securities Lending

Services to an Employee Benefit Plan. In

accordance with the Paperwork

Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501–

3520) (PRA 95), OMB has renewed its

approval for the ICR under OMB control

number 1210–0079. The approval

expires June 30, 2004.

In the Federal Register of January 18,

2001 (66 FR 4865), the Agency

announced its intent to request renewal

of its current OMB approval for the

information collection provisions of

Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption

92–6, Sale of Individual Life Insurance

or Annuity Contracts. In accordance

with PRA 95, OMB has renewed its

approval for the ICR under OMB control

number 1210–0063. The approval

expires June 30, 2004.

In the Federal Register of February

22, 2001 (66 FR 11182), the Agency

announced its intent to request renewal

of its current OMB approval for the

information collection provisions of

Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption

82–63, Compensation for Securities

Lending. In accordance with PRA 95,

OMB has renewed its approval for the

ICR under OMB control number 1210–

0062. The approval expires June 30,

2004.

Under 5 CFR 1320.5(b), an Agency

may not conduct or sponsor, and a

person is not required to respond to, a

collection of information unless the

collection of information displays a

valid control number.

Dated: June 21, 2001.

Gerald B. Lindrew,

Deputy Director, Office of Policy and

Research, Pension and Welfare Benefits

Administration.

[FR Doc. 01–16077 Filed 6–26–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510–29–M

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Pension and Welfare Benefits

Administration

A Special Joint Session of the Working

Groups on Increasing Pension

Coverage, Participation and Savings

and Preparing for Retirement Advisory

Council on Employee Welfare and

Pension Benefits Plan; Notice of

Meeting

Pursuant to the authority contained in

section 512 of the Employee Retirement

Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), 29

U.S.C. 1142, two of the three Working

Groups assigned by the Advisory

Council on Employee Welfare and

Pension Benefit Plans to study the issue

of increasing pension coverage,

participation and savings as well as the

issue of preparing for retirement will

meet jointly at an open public meeting

on Tuesday, July 17, 2001, in Room N–

5437 A–C, U.S. Department of Labor

Building, Second and Constitution

Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20210.

The purpose of the joint open

meeting, which will run from 9:00 a.m.

to approximately 4:30 p.m., with a short

break at noon for an in-place luncheon,

is for Working Group members to hear

testimony from several invited

witnesses who’ll discuss factors which

either encourage or inhibit the growth of

pension plan coverage and, ultimately,

retirement security as well as what ‘‘best

practices’’ there are that actually assist

Americans facing retirement in the near

future.

Members of the public are encouraged

to file a written statement pertaining to

the topic(s) by sending 20 copies on or

before July 10, 2001, to Sharon

Morrissey, Executive Secretary, ERISA

Advisory Council, U.S. Department of

Labor, Room N–5677, 200 Constitution

Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210.

Individuals or representatives of

organizations wishing to address the

Working Group(s) should forward their

request to the Executive Secretary or

telephone (202) 219–8753. Oral

presentations will be limited to 20

minutes, but an extended statement may

be submitted for the record. Individuals

with disabilities, who need special

accommodations, should contact Sharon