Proposed Submission of Information Collection for OMB Review; Comment Request; Partitions of Eligible Multiemployer Plans

AGENCY:

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

ACTION:

Notice of intent to request extension of OMB approval of information collection.

SUMMARY:

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) intends to request that the Office of Management and Budget extend approval, under the Paperwork Reduction Act, of a collection of information contained in its regulation on Partitions of Eligible Multiemployer Plans. This notice informs the public of PBGC's intent and solicits public comment on the collection of information.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before December 17, 2021.

ADDRESSES:

Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.

• Email: paperwork.comments@pbgc.gov. Refer to OMB control number 1212-0068 in the subject line.

• Mail or Hand Delivery: Regulatory Affairs Division, Office of the General Counsel, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, 1200 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20005-4026.

Commenters are strongly encouraged to submit public comments electronically. PBGC expects to have limited personnel available to process public comments that are submitted on paper through mail. Until further notice, any comments submitted on paper will be considered to the extent practicable.

All submissions received must include the agency's name (Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, or PBGC) and refer to OMB control number 1212-0068. All comments received will be posted without change to PBGC's website, http://www.pbgc.gov,, including any personal information provided. Commenters should not include any information for which disclosure is restricted by statute, such as trade secrets and commercial or financial information (“confidential business information”). Submission of confidential business information without a request for protected treatment constitutes a waiver of any claims of confidentiality.

Copies of the collection of information may be obtained by writing to Disclosure Division, Office of the General Counsel, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, 1200 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20005-4026, or calling 202-229-4040 during normal business hours. TTY users may call the Federal Relay Service toll-free at 800-877-8339 and ask to be connected to 202-229-4040.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Melissa Rifkin ( rifkin.melissa@pbgc.gov ), Attorney, Regulatory Affairs Division, Office of the General Counsel, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, 1200 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20005-4026; 202-229-6563. (TTY and TDD users may call the Federal relay service toll-free at 800-877-8339 and ask to be connected to 202-229-6563.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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 contained in its regulation on Partitions of Eligible Multiemployer Plans (29 CFR part 4233). This notice informs the public of PBGC's intent and solicits public comment on the collection of information.

Sections 4233(a) and (b) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) allow a plan sponsor of a multiemployer plan to apply to PBGC for a partition of the plan and state the criteria that PBGC uses to determine a plan's eligibility for a partition.

PBGC's regulation on Partitions of Eligible Multiemployer Plans (29 CFR part 4233) sets forth the procedures for applying for a partition, the information required to be included in a partition application, and notices to interested parties of the application.

PBGC needs the information to determine whether a plan is eligible for partition and whether a proposed partition would comply with the statutory conditions required before PBGC may order a partition.

The collection of information under the regulation has been approved by OMB under control number 1212-0068 (expires February 1, 2022). 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.

PBGC estimates that each year there will be one application for a partition submitted by a plan sponsor under this regulation. The total estimated annual burden of the collection of information is 13 hours and $45,600.

PBGC is soliciting public comments to—

• 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 methodologies 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.