[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 69 (Monday, April 12, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 17696]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-8955]


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PENSION BENEFIT GUARANTY CORPORATION


Use of Alternative Dispute Resolution

AGENCY: Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

ACTION: Statement of policy.

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SUMMARY: The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation is announcing its 
policy to use alternative dispute resolution for resolving appropriate 
disputes in a timely and cost-efficient manner in accordance with the 
Administrative Dispute Resolution Act of 1996 and the Presidential 
Memorandum of May 1, 1998, implementing that act.

EFFECTIVE DATE: April 12, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Israel Goldowitz, Assistant General 
Counsel, Office of the General Counsel, Pension Benefit Guaranty 
Corporation, 1200 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005-4026; 202-326-
4020. (For TTY/TDD users, call the Federal relay service toll-free at 
1-800-877-8339 and ask to be connected to 202-326-4020.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    On October 8, 1991 (56 FR 50740), the Pension Benefit Guaranty 
Corporation requested comments to help it develop a policy on use of 
alternative dispute resolution in accordance with statutory 
requirements. The PBGC did not receive any comments.
    The PBGC recognizes that, in appropriate circumstances, there may 
be more effective methods to resolve issues that would otherwise be 
resolved through adversarial administrative or judicial processes. 
Although there is never an entitlement to alternative dispute 
resolution, the voluntary use of alternative dispute resolution, such 
as mediation, fact-finding, neutral evaluation, and arbitration, often 
can provide faster, less expensive, and more effective resolution of 
disputes that arise with employees, contractors, the regulated 
community and others with whom the agency does business. In recognition 
of this, it is the PBGC's policy to ensure that its staff: (1) Will be 
knowledgeable about alternative means of dispute resolution, (2) will 
examine the suitability of using alternative means of dispute 
resolution to resolve issues that would otherwise be resolved through 
adversarial administrative or judicial processes, and (3) in 
appropriate disputes, will use alternative means of dispute resolution 
in a good faith effort to achieve consensual resolution of issues in 
controversy involving the agency.

    Issued in Washington, DC, this 6th day of April, 1999.
David M. Strauss,
Executive Director, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
[FR Doc. 99-8955 Filed 4-9-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7708-01-P