[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 47 (Thursday, March 9, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12579-12580]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-5765]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration


Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public 
Comment

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 May 8, 2000.

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) 219-4782; Fax: 
(202) 219-4745. These are not toll-free numbers.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Under part 1 of Title 1 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.
    In August of 1998, the Department of Labor, Pension and Welfare 
Benefits Administration, Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue 
Service (IRS), and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation 
(collectively, the Agencies) received approval for the revised and 
streamlined Form 5500 Series, subject to the Agencies' solicitation of 
public comments on a computer scannable format for the Form 5500. A 
notice requesting comments from the public on computer scannable 
formats was published by the Agencies on June 28, 1999 (64 FR 34686). 
The final computer scannable ``hand print'' and ``machine-print'' 
formats for the Form 5500 were announced on February 2, 2000 in 
connection with the Agencies' Notice of Adoption of Revised Forms (65 
FR 5026).
    The computer scannable formats were developed to facilitate the 
implementation of the new computerized system to process the Form 5500 
and the IRS Form 5500-EZ--the ERISA Filing and Acceptance System, or 
EFAST. EFAST is designed to simplify and expedite the receipt and 
processing of the new Form 5500 and Form 5500-EZ by relying on computer 
scannable forms and electronic filing technologies. The computer 
scannable forms are being implemented for 1999 plan year filings. The 
Form 5500 and Form 5500-EZ for 1999 plan years may also be filed 
electronically via modem, magnetic tape, floppy diskette, or CD-ROM.
    In order to participate in the electronic filing program, 
applicants will be 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. The Internal 
Revenue Service currently uses forms for similar purposes. This new 
EFAST form was designed to meet the needs of the new processing system.
    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 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 will provide some or all of the following information 
depending on applicant type: name and title of applicant, mailing 
address, Employer Identification Number (EIN),

[[Page 12580]]

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 will receive, depending on applicant type, some or all of 
the following: electronic signature; filer identification number; 
personal identification number; encryption key; electronic filing 
identification number; password; and software developer ID. Applicants 
will use these codes, as applicable, in connection with electronic 
filing, electronic transmission, or developing 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, will 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 will also establish a 
means of contact between the EFAST program and filers, transmitters, 
and software developers for information exchange.

II. Review Focus

    The Department is particularly interested in comments that:
     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;
     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;
     Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected;
     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

    Currently, the Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration is 
requesting comments on the proposed Application for EFAST Electronic 
Signature and Codes for EFAST Transmitters and Software Developers 
(Form EFAST-1), the subject of this ICR. Although the Department has 
submitted the ICR to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) using 
emergency review procedures, \1\ and has requested approved by March 
24, 2000, the Department will take comments received by May 8, 2000 
into consideration in finalizing the Form EFAST-1, and in its 
submission to OMB for continuing approval of the ICR.
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    \1\ See the notice of Submission for OMB Emergency Review 
published by the Office of the Secretary, Department of Labor, which 
is also published in today's Federal Register.
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    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-NEW.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; business or other for-
profit; Not-for-profit institutions.
    Total Respondents: 60,250.
    Total Responses: 60,250.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 20,100.
    Estimated Total Burden Cost: $22,900.

    Dated: March 3, 2000.
Gerald B. Lindrew,
Deputy Director, Office of Policy and Research, Pension and Welfare 
Benefits Administration.
[FR Doc. 00-5765 Filed 3-8-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-29-M