[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 2, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 153-154]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-28265]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Alternative Method of Compliance for Certain 
Simplified Employee Pensions

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Employee 
Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) sponsored information 
collection request (ICR) titled, ``Alternative Method of Compliance for 
Certain Simplified Employee Pensions,'' to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and approval for continued use, without change, 
in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). Public 
comments on the ICR are invited.

DATES: The OMB will consider all written comments that agency receives 
on or before February 1, 2018.

ADDRESSES: A copy of this ICR with applicable supporting documentation; 
including a description of the likely respondents, proposed frequency 
of response, and estimated total burden may be obtained free of charge 
from the RegInfo.gov website at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=201709-1210-001 (this link will only become active 
on the day following publication of this notice) or by contacting 
Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-693-4129, TTY 202-693-8064, (these are 
not toll-free numbers) or by email at [email protected].
    Submit comments about this request by mail to the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for DOL-
EBSA, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, 725 17th Street NW, 
Washington, DC 20503; by Fax: 202-395-5806 (this is not a toll-free 
number); or by email: [email protected]. Commenters are 
encouraged, but not required, to send a courtesy copy of any comments 
by mail or courier to the U.S. Department of Labor--OASAM, Office of 
the Chief Information Officer, Attn: Departmental Information 
Compliance Management Program, Room N1301, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, 
Washington, DC 20210; or by email: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-693-
4129, TTY 202-693-8064, (these are not toll-free numbers) or by email 
at [email protected].

    Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D).


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This ICR seeks to extend PRA authority for 
the Alternative Method of Compliance for Certain Simplified Employee 
Pensions information collection. The alternative disclosure arrangement 
established through regulations 29 CFR 2520.104-49 relieves a sponsor 
of a non-model Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) of most Employee 
Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) Title I reporting and disclosure 
requirements. In addition, disclosure requirements set forth in the 
regulation ensure an administrator of a non-model SEP provides 
participants with specific written information concerning the SEP. This 
information collection requirement generally requires timely written 
disclosure to employees eligible to participate in a non-model SEP, 
including specific information concerning: Participation requirements; 
allocation formulas for employer contributions; designated contact 
persons for further information; and, for employer recommended 
Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), specific IRA terms--such as 
rates of return and any restrictions on withdrawals. Moreover, general 
information is required that provides a clear explanation of the 
operation of the non-model SEP; participation requirements, and any 
withdrawal restrictions; and the tax treatment of the SEP-related IRA. 
Furthermore, statements must be provided to inform participants of: Any 
other IRAs under the non-model SEP other than that to which employer 
contributions are made; any options regarding rollovers and 
contributions to other IRAs; descriptions of U.S. Department of the 
Treasury, Internal Revenue Service disclosure requirements to 
participants and information regarding social security integration (if 
applicable); and timely notification of any amendments to the terms of 
the non-model SEP. Employee Income Retirement Security Act of 1974 
authorizes this information collection. See 29 U.S.C. 1030.
    This information collection is subject to the PRA. A Federal agency 
generally cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information, and 
the public is generally not required to respond to an information 
collection, unless it is approved by the OMB under the PRA

[[Page 154]]

and displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. In addition, 
notwithstanding any other provisions of law, no person shall generally 
be subject to penalty for failing to comply with a collection of 
information that does not display a valid Control Number. See 5 CFR 
1320.5(a) and 1320.6. The DOL obtains OMB approval for this information 
collection under Control Number 1210-0034.
    OMB authorization for an ICR cannot be for more than three (3) 
years without renewal, and the DOL seeks to extend PRA authorization 
for this information collection for three (3) more years, without any 
change to existing requirements. The DOL notes that existing 
information collection requirements submitted to the OMB receive a 
month-to-month extension while they undergo review. For additional 
substantive information about this ICR, see the related notice 
published in the Federal Register on May 22, 2017 (82 FR 23303).
    Interested parties are encouraged to send comments to the OMB, 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the address shown in 
the ADDRESSES section within thirty (30) days of publication of this 
notice in the Federal Register. In order to help ensure appropriate 
consideration, comments should mention OMB Control Number 1210-0034. 
The OMB 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.
    Agency: DOL-EBSA.
    Title of Collection: Alternative Method of Compliance for Certain 
Simplified Employee Pensions.
    OMB Control Number: 1210-0034.
    Affected Public: Private Sector--Businesses or other for-profits.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 35,660.
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 67,930.
    Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 21,227 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $18,556.

    Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D).

Seleda Perryman,
Assistant Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-28265 Filed 12-29-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-29-P