[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 165 (Friday, August 25, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 50319-50320]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-14097]



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 Rules and Regulations
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  Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 165 / Friday, August 25, 2006 / Rules 
and Regulations  

[[Page 50319]]



FEDERAL RETIREMENT THRIFT INVESTMENT BOARD

5 CFR Parts 1630, 1651, 1653, and 1690


Thrift Savings Plan Service Office and ThriftLine Contact 
Information

AGENCY: Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board.

ACTION: Final Rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (Agency) is 
adopting as final, without change, its proposed rule updating the 
Thrift Savings Plan's (TSP) participant services' contact information. 
The mailing addresses for the TSP's benefits processing units (e.g., 
correspondence, benefits request forms, court orders and legal process 
actions, death benefit claims) has changed from National Finance 
Center, P.O. Box 61500, New Orleans, Louisiana 70161-1500 to the 
current addresses provided at http://www.tsp.gov. (These units were 
formerly known collectively as the TSP Service Office.) Additionally, 
the TSP's ThriftLine telephone number has changed from (504) 255-8777 
to (877) 968-3778.

DATES: This final rule is effective: August 25, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Merritt Willing on (202) 942-1666.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Agency administers the TSP, which was 
established by the Federal Employees' Retirement System Act of 1986 
(FERSA), Public Law 99-335, 100 Stat. 514. The TSP provisions of FERSA 
are codified, as amended, largely at 5 U.S.C. 8351 and 8401-79. The TSP 
is a tax-deferred retirement savings plan for Federal civilian 
employees and members of the uniformed services. The TSP is similar to 
cash or deferred arrangements established for private-sector employees 
under section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 401(k)).
    On July 14, 2006, the Agency published a proposed rule with request 
for comments in the Federal Register (71 FR 40034). The Agency received 
no comments on the proposed rule. Therefore, the Agency is publishing 
the proposed rule as final without change.
    The rule provides current contact information for the Agency's 
processing units and ThriftLine. In addition to providing participants 
with accurate contact information, the rule often directs participants 
to the TSP Web site as opposed to a specific address. Use of the Web 
site for reference will reduce Agency resources used to update such 
contact information.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    I certify that these regulations will not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. They will 
affect only employees of the Federal Government.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    I certify that these regulations do not require additional 
reporting under the criteria of the Paperwork Reduction Act.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

    Pursuant to the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995, 2 U.S.C. 602, 
632, 653, 1501-1571, the effects of this regulation on state, local, 
and tribal governments and the private sector have been assessed. This 
regulation will not compel the expenditure in any one year of $100 
million or more by state, local, and tribal governments, in the 
aggregate, or by the private sector. Therefore, a statement under 
section 1532 is not required.

Submission to Congress and the General Accounting Office

    Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 810(a)(1)(A), the Agency submitted a report 
containing this rule and other required information to the U.S. Senate, 
the U.S. House of Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the 
United States before publication of this rule in the Federal Register. 
This rule is not a major rule as defined at 5 U.S.C. 814(2).

List of Subjects

5 CFR Part 1630

    Privacy.

5 CFR Part 1651

    Claims, Government employees, Pensions, Retirement.

5 CFR Part 1653

    Alimony, Child support, Government employees, Pensions, Retirement.

5 CFR Part 1690

    Government employees, Pensions, Retirement.

Gary A. Amelio,
Executive Director, Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board.

0
Accordingly, for the reasons set forth in the preamble, 5 CFR chapter 
VI is amended as follows:

PART 1630--PRIVACY ACT REGULATIONS

0
1. The authority citation for part 1630 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552a.

0
2. Amend Sec.  1630.4 by revising the third sentence of paragraph 
(a)(1) and the third sentence of paragraph (a)(2) to read as follows:


Sec.  1630.4  Request for Notification and access.

    (a) * * *
    (1) * * * The mailing address of the Thrift Savings Plan is 
provided at http://www.tsp.gov. * * *
    (2) * * * To use the TSP ThriftLine, the participant must have a 
touch-tone telephone and call the following number: (877) 968-3778. * * 
*
* * * * *

PART 1651--DEATH BENEFITS

0
3. The authority citation for part 1651 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 8424(d), 8432(j), 8433(e), 8435(c)(2), 
8474(b)(5) and 8474(c)(1).


0
4. Amend Sec.  1651.13 by adding a sentence at the end of the section 
to read as follows:


Sec.  1651.13  How to apply for a death benefit.

    * * * Please visit http://www.tsp.gov to obtain a copy of this form 
and for the current mailing address for death benefit applications.

[[Page 50320]]

PART 1653--COURT ORDERS AND LEGAL PROCESSES AFFECTING THRIFT 
SAVINGS PLAN ACCOUNTS

0
5. The authority citation for part 1653 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 8435, 8436(b), 8437(e), 8439(a)(3), 8467, 
8474(b)(5) and 8474(c)(1).


0
6. Amend Sec.  1653.3 by revising the third sentence of paragraph (b) 
introductory text to read as follows:


Sec.  1653.3  Processing retirement benefits court orders.

* * * * *
    (b) * * * Retirement benefits court orders should be submitted to 
the TSP record keeper at the current address as provided at http://www.tsp.gov. * * *
* * * * *

0
7. Amend Sec.  1653.13 by revising the third sentence of paragraph (b) 
introductory text to read as follows:


Sec.  1653.13  Processing legal processes.

* * * * *
    (b) * * * Legal processes should be submitted to the TSP record 
keeper at the current address as provided at http://www.tsp.gov. * * *
* * * * *

PART 1690--THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN

0
8. The authority citation for part 1690 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 8474.


0
9. Amend Sec.  1690.1 by removing the definition of Thrift Savings Plan 
Service Office or TSPSO and by revising the definition of ThriftLine to 
read as follows:


Sec.  1690.1  Definitions.

* * * * *
    ThriftLine means the automated voice response system by which TSP 
participants may, among other things, access their accounts by 
telephone. The ThriftLine can be reached at (877) 968-3778.
* * * * *
 [FR Doc. E6-14097 Filed 8-24-06; 8:45 am]
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