[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 241 (Friday, December 14, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64888-64889]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-30891]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration


Proposed Extension of Information Collection Request Submitted 
for Public Comment; Application for EFAST Electronic Signature and 
Codes for EFAST Transmitters and Software Developers

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (the Department), as part of its 
continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a 
preclearance consultation program to provide the general public and 
other 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 is 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.
    By this notice, the Department is soliciting comments concerning 
the Application for EFAST Electronic Signature and Codes for EFAST 
Transmitters and Software Developers (Form EFAST-1). A copy of the 
proposed information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by 
contacting the office listed below in the addresses section of this 
notice. The proposed Form EFAST-1 is also available for viewing and 
downloading through the Department of Labor's Internet site (http://www.efast.dol.gov).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addresses section below on or before February 12, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties are invited to submit written comments 
regarding the collection of information. Send comments to Gerald B. 
Lindrew, Office of Policy and Research, U.S. Department of Labor, 
Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue, 
NW, Room N-5647, Washington, DC 20210. Telephone: (202) 693-8414; Fax: 
(202) 219-4745. These are not toll-free numbers.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Under part 1 of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security 
Act of 1974 (ERISA), Title IV of ERISA, and the Internal Revenue Code 
of 1986, as amended, administrators of pension and welfare benefit 
plans (collectively, employee benefit plans) subject to those 
provisions and employers sponsoring certain fringe benefit plans and 
other plans of deferred compensation are required to file returns/
reports annually concerning the financial condition and operations of 
the plans. These reporting requirements are satisfied generally by 
filing the Form 5500 Series in accordance with its instructions and the 
related regulations.
    Beginning with the 1999 plan year, the Agency announced the 
availability of computer scannable forms and the development of 
electronic filing technologies. The computer scannable formats were 
developed to facilitate the implementation of a computerized system 
designed to process the Form 5500 and the IRS Form 5500-EZ--the ERISA 
Filing and Acceptance System, or EFAST. The Form 5500 and Form 5500-EZ 
may also be filed electronically via modem, magnetic tape, floppy 
diskette, or CD-ROM.
    In order to participate in the electronic filing program, 
applicants are required to submit an Application for EFAST Electronic 
Signature and Codes for EFAST Transmitters and Software Developers 
(Form EFAST-1), the subject of this ICR. Applicants who may file the 
Form EFAST-1 include: (1) Individuals applying for an electronic 
signature to sign a Form 5500 or 5500-EZ as, or on behalf of, plan 
administrators, employers/plan sponsors, or Direct Filing Entities 
(DFEs) using modem, magnetic tape, floppy diskette, or CD-ROM to file 
electronically; (2) transmitters (a company, trade, business, or other 
person) applying for codes to transmit Forms 5500 and/or

[[Page 64889]]

Forms 5500-EZ for electronic filing using modem, magnetic tape, floppy 
diskette, or CD-ROM; and, (3) software developers (a company, trade, 
business, or other person that creates, programs, or otherwise modifies 
computer software) applying for codes required to develop EFAST-
compliant computer software for electronically preparing and filing the 
Form 5500 and/or Form 5500-EZ. Applicants provide some or all of the 
following information depending on applicant type: name and title of 
applicant, mailing address, Employer Identification Number (EIN), 
telephone number, facsimile number and e-mail address (optional), 
contact person if different than applicant, and a signed agreement 
concerning the terms and conditions of the electronic filing program. 
Applicants receive, depending on applicant type, some or all of the 
following codes: electronic signature; filer identification number; 
personal identification number; encryption key; electronic filing 
identification number; password; and software developer ID. Applicants 
use these codes, as applicable, in connection with electronic filing, 
electronic transmission, or the development of EFAST software for the 
Form 5500 and 5500-EZ.
    The information provided by the applicants on EFAST-1, combined 
with the codes supplied to the applicants by the program, allow EFAST 
to verify a filer, transmitter, or software developer's standing as a 
qualified participant in the EFAST electronic filing program for the 
Form 5500 and 5500-EZ. EFAST-1 information also establishes a means of 
contact between the EFAST program and filers, transmitters, and 
software developers for information exchange.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Agency: Department of Labor, Pension and Welfare Benefits 
Administration.
    Title: Application for EFAST Electronic Signature and Codes for 
EFAST Transmitters and Software Developers.
    Agency Form: EFAST-1.
    OMB Number: 1210-0117.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; business or other for-
profit; Not-for-profit institutions.
    Total Respondents: 10,800.
    Total Responses: 10,800.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 3,600.
    Estimated Total Burden Cost: $4,100.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    The Department is particularly interested in comments that:
    <bullet> Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agencies, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    <bullet> Evaluate the accuracy of the agencies' 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;
    <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.

III. Current Actions

    The Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration is requesting an 
extension of the currently approved ICR pertaining to the Application 
for EFAST Electronic Signature and Codes for EFAST Transmitters and 
Software Developers (Form EFAST-1). The Department is not proposing or 
implementing changes to the existing ICR at this time.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of the ICR; they will 
also become a matter of public record.

    Dated: December 11, 2001.
Gerald B. Lindrew,
Deputy Director, Office of Policy and Research, Pension and Welfare 
Benefits Administration.
[FR Doc. 01-30891 Filed 12-13-01; 8:45 am]
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