[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 47 (Tuesday, March 11, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 11588]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-5732]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employee Benefits Security Administration


Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Comment Request

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance 
consultation program to provide the general public and 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 helps to ensure that requested 
data can be 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.
    Currently, the Employee Benefits Security Administration is 
soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of the 
information collection request (ICR) incorporated in Prohibited 
Transaction Class Exemption 90-1 (PTCE 90-1). A copy of the ICR may be 
obtained by contacting the office listed in the addresses section of 
this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office shown in the 
addresses section below on or before May 12, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Joseph S. Piacentini, Office of Policy and Research, U.S. 
Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, 200 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Room N-5718, Washington, DC 20210. Telephone: 
(202) 693-8410; Fax: (202) 219-5333. These are not toll-free numbers.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption 90-1 provides an exemption 
from certain provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act 
of 1974 (ERISA) for transactions involving insurance company pooled 
separate accounts in which employee benefit plans participate and which 
are otherwise prohibited by ERISA. Specifically, the exemption allows 
persons who are parties in interest to a plan that invests in a pooled 
separate account, such as a service provider, to engage in transactions 
with the separate account if the plan's participation in the separate 
account does not exceed specified limits. This ICR covers the 
recordkeeping requirements for insurance companies.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    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 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 
methodology 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.

III. Current Action

    This notice requests comments on the extension of the ICR included 
in prohibited transaction exemption 90-1. The Department is not 
proposing or implementing changes to the existing ICR at this time.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection of 
information.
    Agency: Employee Benefits Security Administration, Department of 
Labor.
    Titles: Prohibited transaction Class Exemption 90-1--Pooled 
Separate Accounts.
    OMB Number: 1210-0083.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; Business or other for-
profit; Not-for-profit institutions.
    Respondents: 128.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Responses: 128.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 11.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of the information 
collection request; they will also become a matter of public record.

    Dated: March 3, 2003.
Joseph S. Piacentini,
Deputy Director, Office of Policy and Research, Employee Benefits 
Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 03-5732 Filed 3-10-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-29-P