[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 161 (Friday, August 20, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 51721]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-19168]


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PENSION BENEFIT GUARANTY CORPORATION


Proposed Submission of Information Collection for OMB Review; 
Comment Request; Disclosure to Participants

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 the collection of 
information under its regulation on Disclosure to Participants, 29 CFR 
part 4011 (OMB control number 1212-0050; expires November 30, 2004). 
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 October 19, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to the Office of the General Counsel, 
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, 1200 K Street, NW., Washington, 
DC 20005-4026, or delivered to Suite 340 at that address during normal 
business hours. Comments also may be submitted electronically through 
the PBGC's Web site at http://www.pbgc.gov/paperwork, or by fax to 
(202) 326-4112. The PBGC will make all comments available on its Web 
site, http://www.pbgc.gov.
    Copies of the collection of information may be obtained without 
charge by writing to the PBGC's Communications and Public Affairs 
Department at Suite 240 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.) The regulation on 
Disclosure to Participants may be accessed on the PBGC's Web site at 
http://www.pbgc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Harold J. Ashner, Assistant General 
Counsel, or Catherine B. Klion, Attorney, Office of the General 
Counsel, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, 1200 K Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20005-4026, (202) 326-4024. (For TTY and TDD, call 800-
877-8339 and request connection to (202) 326-4024.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 4011 of the Employee Retirement 
Income Security Act of 1974 requires plan administrators of certain 
underfunded single-employer pension plans to provide an annual notice 
to plan participants and beneficiaries of the plan's funding status and 
the limits on the PBGC's guarantee.
    The PBGC's regulation implementing this provision (29 CFR part 
4011) prescribes which plans are subject to the notice requirement, who 
is entitled to receive the notice, and the time, form, and manner of 
issuance of the notice. The notice provides recipients with meaningful, 
understandable, and timely information that will help them become 
better informed about their plans and assist them in their financial 
planning.
    The collection of information under the regulation has been 
approved by OMB under control number 1212-0050 through November 30, 
2004. 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 estimates that an average of 3,917 plans per year will 
respond to this collection of information. The PBGC further estimates 
that the average annual burden of this collection of information is 
2.15 hours and $148 per plan, with an average total annual burden of 
8,428 hours and $579,425.
    The PBGC is soliciting public comments to--
     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;
     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;
     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.

    Issued in Washington, DC, this 17th day of August, 2004.
Stuart A. Sirkin,
Director, Corporate Policy and Research Department, Pension Benefit 
Guaranty Corporation.
[FR Doc. 04-19168 Filed 8-19-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7708-01-P