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 (OMB) 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 October 16, 2018.

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

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.

Copies of the collections of information may also 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 202-326-4040 during normal business hours. TTY users may call the Federal relay service toll-free at 800- 877-8339 and ask to be connected to 202-326-4040. PBGC's regulations on multiemployer plans may be accessed on PBGC's website at http://www.pbgc.gov.

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; 202-326-4400, extension 6563. (TTY users may call the Federal relay service toll-free at 800-877-8339 and ask to be connected to 202-326-4400, extension 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) (OMB control number 1212-0068; expires December 31, 2018). 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 PGBC may order a partition.

The collection of information under the regulation has been approved by OMB control number 1212-0068 (expires December 31, 2018). 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 there will be six applications for partition each year for which plan sponsors submit applications under this regulation. The total estimated annual burden of the collection of information is 78 hours and $239,400.

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.