[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 198 (Friday, October 11, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63461-63462]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-26010]


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PENSION BENEFIT GUARANTY CORPORATION


Proposed Submission of Information Collection for OMB Review; 
Comment Request; Survey of Nonparticipating Single Premium Group 
Annuity Rates

AGENCY: Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

ACTION: Notice of intention to request extension of OMB approval.

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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 that is not contained in a regulation (OMB control number 
1212-0030; expires January 31, 2003). This voluntary collection of 
information is a quarterly survey of insurance company rates for 
pricing annuity contracts. The survey is conducted by the American 
Council of Life Insurers for the PBGC. This notice informs the public 
of the PBGC's intent and solicits public comment on the collection of 
information.

DATES: Comments should be submitted by December 10, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to the Office of the General Counsel, 
suite 340, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, 1200 K Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20005-4026, or delivered to that address during normal 
business hours.
    Copies of the collection of information may be obtained without 
charge by writing to the PBGC's Communications and Public Affairs 
Department at the above address or by visiting that office or calling 
202-326-4040 during normal business hours. (TTY and TDD users may call 
the Federal relay service toll-free at 1-800-877-8339 and ask to be 
connected to 202-326-4040.)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Deborah C. Murphy, Attorney, Office of 
the General Counsel, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, 1200 K 
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20005-4026, 202-326-4024. (TTY and TDD 
users may call the Federal relay service toll-free at 1-800-877-8339 
and request connection to 202-326-4024).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's 
regulations prescribe actuarial valuation methods and assumptions 
(including interest rate assumptions) to be used in determining the 
actuarial present value of benefits under single-employer plans that 
terminate (29 CFR part 4044) and under multiemployer plans that undergo 
a mass withdrawal of contributing employers (29 CFR part 4281). Each 
month the PBGC publishes the interest rates to be used under those 
regulations for plans terminating or undergoing mass withdrawal during 
the next month.
    The interest rates are intended to reflect current conditions in 
the investment and annuity markets. To determine these interest rates, 
the PBGC gathers pricing data from insurance companies that are 
providing annuity contracts to terminating pension plans through a 
quarterly ``Survey of Nonparticipating Single Premium Group Annuity 
Rates.'' The survey is distributed by the American Council of Life 
Insurers and provides the PBGC with ``blind'' data (i.e., is conducted 
in such a way that the PBGC is unable to match responses with the 
companies that submitted them).
    The survey is directed at insurance companies that have volunteered 
to participate, most or all of which are members of the American 
Council of Life Insurers. The survey is conducted quarterly and will be 
sent to approximately 22 insurance companies. Based on experience under 
the current approval, the PBGC estimates that 11 insurance companies 
will complete and return the survey. The PBGC further estimates that 
the average annual burden of this collection of information is 41 hours 
and $88.
    The collection of information under the regulation has been 
approved by OMB under control number 1212-0030 through January 31, 
2003. The 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.
    The PBGC is soliciting public comments to--
    [sbull] Evaluate whether the collection of information is necessary 
for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
whether the information will have practical utility;
    [sbull] Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;

[[Page 63462]]

    [sbull] Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    [sbull] 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.

    Issued in Washington, DC, this 8th day of October, 2002.
Stuart A. Sirkin,
Director, Corporate Policy and Research Department, Pension Benefit 
Guaranty Corporation.
[FR Doc. 02-26010 Filed 10-10-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7708-01-P