[The Regulatory Plan and Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions]
[Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation Semiannual Regulatory Agenda]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]



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Part XL





Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation





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Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

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PENSION BENEFIT GUARANTY CORPORATION (PBGC)                            


  



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PENSION BENEFIT GUARANTY CORPORATION

29 CFR Ch. XXVI

Agenda of Regulations under Development

AGENCY:  Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC).

ACTION:  Semiannual regulatory agenda.

_______________________________________________________________________

SUMMARY:  This document sets forth the Pension Benefit Guaranty 
Corporation's regulatory agenda issued under Executive Order 12866 and 
the Regulatory Flexibility Act. The agenda lists regulations that are 
currently under development or review or that PBGC expects to have 
under development or review during the next 12 months. The effect of 
this agenda is to advise the public of PBGC's current and future 
regulatory activities.

ADDRESSES:  Office of the General Counsel, Pension Benefit Guaranty 
Corporation, 1200 K Street NW., Washington, DC 20005-4026.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  For further information on the agenda 
in general, contact Harold J. Ashner, Assistant General Counsel, Office 
of the General Counsel, (202) 326-4024. (For TTY/TDD users, call the 
Federal relay service toll-free at 1-800-877-8339 and ask to be 
connected to (202) 326-4024.) For information about a specific 
regulation project listed on the agenda, contact the person designated 
in the agenda for that regulation.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  Under the President's order on Regulatory 
Planning and Review, Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 
1993), each agency is required to prepare an agenda of all regulations 
under development or review. The Regulatory Flexibility Act, Public Law 
98-354, 5 U.S.C. 601, has a similar agenda requirement. Under that law, 
the agenda must list any regulation that is likely to have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

     The Office of Management and Budget has issued guidelines 
prescribing the form and content of the regulatory agenda. Under 
those guidelines, the agenda must list all regulatory activities 
being conducted or reviewed in the next 12 months and provide 
certain specified information on each regulation.

     For this edition of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's 
regulatory agenda, the most important significant regulatory action 
is included in The Regulatory Plan, which appears in part II of 
this issue of the Federal Register. The Regulatory Plan entries are 
listed in the table of contents below and are denoted by a 
bracketed bold reference, which directs the reader to the 
appropriate sequence number in part II.

 David M. Strauss,

Executive Director, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

                               Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation--Prerule Stage
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                                                                                                    Regulation
 Sequence                                          Title                                          Identification
  Number                                                                                              Number
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4183         Premium Self-Audit.................................................................     1212-AA93
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                            Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation--Proposed Rule Stage
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                                                                                                    Regulation
 Sequence                                          Title                                          Identification
  Number                                                                                              Number
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4184         Filing Rules.......................................................................     1212-AA89
4185         Assessment Of and Relief From Penalties............................................     1212-AA95
4186         Payment of Benefits in PBGC-Trusteed Plans.........................................     1212-AA35
4187         Allocation of Assets in Single-Employer Plans; Valuation of Benefits and Assets         1212-AA55
            (Reg Plan Seq No. 154)..............................................................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
References in boldface appear in the Regulatory Plan in Part II of this issue of the Federal Register.


                             Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation--Final Rule Stage
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                                                                                                    Regulation
 Sequence                                          Title                                          Identification
  Number                                                                                              Number
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4188         Payment of Premiums................................................................     1212-AA58
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                             Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation--Long-Term Actions
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                                                                                                    Regulation
 Sequence                                          Title                                          Identification
  Number                                                                                              Number
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4189         Calculation and Payment of Unfunded Nonguaranteed Benefits.........................     1212-AA54
4190         Miscellaneous Statutory Amendments.................................................     1212-AA79
4191         Treatment of Substantial Cessation of Operations...................................     1212-AA84

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4192         Cash Balance Plans With Variable Indices...........................................     1212-AA96
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Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC)               Prerule Stage


  



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4183. PREMIUM SELF-AUDIT

Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant

Legal Authority: 29 USC 1302; 29 USC 1307

CFR Citation: 29 CFR 4007

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: The PBGC is considering whether to set up a premium ``self-
audit'' program under which pension plans' premium payments could be 
reviewed by the plans' own independent auditors using ``agreed-upon 
procedures'' specified by the PBGC. The aim of the program would be to 
limit the need for full-scale PBGC audits for participating plans while 
improving voluntary compliance with premium payment rules.

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

Request for Comments            03/00/01
Comment Period End              05/00/01

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Undetermined

Small Entities Affected: No

Government Levels Affected: None

Agency Contact: Deborah C. Murphy, Attorney, Pension Benefit Guaranty 
Corporation, Office of the General Counsel, 1200 K Street NW, 
Washington, DC 20005-4026
Phone: 202 326-4024
TDD Phone: 800 877-8339
Fax: 202 326-4112

RIN: 1212-AA93
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Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC)         Proposed Rule Stage


  



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4184. FILING RULES

Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant

Reinventing Government: This rulemaking is part of the Reinventing 
Government effort. It will revise text in the CFR to reduce burden or 
duplication, or streamline requirements.

Legal Authority: 29 USC 1301 et seq

CFR Citation: 29 CFR 4000

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: The PBGC's rules governing the date of filing vary, depending 
on the regulation involved and the method of filing used (e.g., mail 
postmarked by the United States Postal Service, metered mail, 
commercial delivery service, facsimile). The PBGC intends to clarify 
and simplify its filing rules and to provide greater flexibility in 
methods of filing (including by electronic means).

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

NPRM                            03/00/01
NPRM Comment Period End         05/00/01

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Small Entities Affected: No

Government Levels Affected: None

Agency Contact: Thomas H. Gabriel, Attorney, Pension Benefit Guaranty 
Corporation, Office of the General Counsel, 1200 K Street NW, 
Washington, DC 20005-4026
Phone: 202 326-4024
TDD Phone: 800 877-8339
Fax: 202 326-4112

RIN: 1212-AA89
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4185. ASSESSMENT OF AND RELIEF FROM PENALTIES

Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant

Reinventing Government: This rulemaking is part of the Reinventing 
Government effort. It will revise text in the CFR to reduce burden or 
duplication, or streamline requirements.

Legal Authority: 28 USC 2461 note; 29 USC 1302(b)(3); 29 USC 1303(a); 
29 USC 1306; 29 USC 1307; 29 USC 1371

CFR Citation: 29 CFR 4003; 29 CFR 4007; 29 CFR 4071

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: The PBGC has issued a number of policy statements about 
penalties over the last few years. For the convenience of the public, 
the PBGC proposes to replace those policy statements with an updated 
and expanded set of penalty policies codified in its regulations.

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

NPRM                            01/00/01
NPRM Comment Period End         03/00/01

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Small Entities Affected: No

Government Levels Affected: None

Agency Contact: Deborah C. Murphy, Attorney, Pension Benefit Guaranty 
Corporation, Office of the General Counsel, 1200 K Street NW, 
Washington, DC 20005-4026
Phone: 202 326-4024
TDD Phone: 800 877-8339
Fax: 202 326-4112

RIN: 1212-AA95


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4186. PAYMENT OF BENEFITS IN PBGC-TRUSTEED PLANS

Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant

Legal Authority: 29 USC 1302(b)(3); 29 USC 1322; 29 USC 1342

CFR Citation: 29 CFR 4022

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: When the PBGC assumes trusteeship of a terminated pension 
plan pursuant to sections 4041 and 4042 of ERISA, it pays benefits to 
participants pursuant to plan provisions and section 4022 of ERISA. 
This regulation will fill gaps in the rules and otherwise clarify 
matters that had been handled on a case-by-case basis in the past.

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

NPRM                            11/00/00
NPRM Comment Period End         01/00/01

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Government Levels Affected: None

Agency Contact: Catherine B. Klion, Attorney, Office of the General 
Counsel, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, 1200 K Street NW, 
Washington, DC 20005-4024
Phone: 202 326-4024
TDD Phone: 800 877-8339
Fax: 202 326-4112

RIN: 1212-AA35
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4187. ALLOCATION OF ASSETS IN SINGLE-EMPLOYER PLANS; VALUATION OF 
BENEFITS AND ASSETS

 Regulatory Plan: This entry is Seq. No. 154 in Part II of this issue 
of the Federal Register.

RIN: 1212-AA55
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Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC)            Final Rule Stage


  



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4188. PAYMENT OF PREMIUMS

Priority: Other Significant

Reinventing Government: This rulemaking is part of the Reinventing 
Government effort. It will revise text in the CFR to reduce burden or 
duplication, or streamline requirements.

Legal Authority: 29 USC 1302(b)(3); 29 USC 1306; 29 USC 1307

CFR Citation: 29 CFR 4006; 29 CFR 4007

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: PBGC regulations at 29 CFR parts 4006 and 4007 govern the 
calculation and payment of premiums for pension plans subject to title 
IV of ERISA. The PBGC proposed a number of changes designed primarily 
to simplify the premium payment system for plans and the PBGC. At this 
time, the PBGC intends to issue a final rule relating to certain 
limited aspects of the proposal (including the rules governing refunds 
and credits for certain short plan years). The PBGC has not yet 
determined whether or when to proceed on other aspects of the proposal.

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

NPRM                            04/10/92                    57 FR 12666
NPRM Comment Period End         05/26/92
NPRM Comment Period Extended to 
11/16/92                        09/17/92                    57 FR 42910
Final Action Extending Premium 
Due Dates                       12/14/98                    63 FR 68684
Final Action Extending Premium 
Due Dates Effective             02/12/99
Final Action                    11/00/00
Final Action Effective          01/01/01

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Government Levels Affected: None

Agency Contact: Deborah C. Murphy, Attorney, Pension Benefit Guaranty 
Corporation, Office of the General Counsel, 1200 K Street NW, 
Washington, DC 20005-4026
Phone: 202 326-4024
TDD Phone: 800 877-8339
Fax: 202 326-4112

RIN: 1212-AA58
_______________________________________________________________________


Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC)           Long-Term Actions


  



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4189. CALCULATION AND PAYMENT OF UNFUNDED NONGUARANTEED BENEFITS

Priority: Other Significant

CFR Citation: 29 CFR 4022 subpart C

Timetable: Next Action Undetermined

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Government Levels Affected: None

Agency Contact: Peter H. Gould
Phone: 202 326-4020
TDD Phone: 800 877-8339
Fax: 202 326-4112

RIN: 1212-AA54
_______________________________________________________________________




4190. MISCELLANEOUS STATUTORY AMENDMENTS

Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant

CFR Citation: 29 CFR 4000 et seq

Timetable: Next Action Undetermined

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Government Levels Affected: None

Agency Contact: Thomas H. Gabriel
Phone: 202 326-4024
TDD Phone: 800 877-8339
Fax: 202 326-4112

RIN: 1212-AA79
_______________________________________________________________________




4191. TREATMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL CESSATION OF OPERATIONS

Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant

CFR Citation: 29 CFR 4062

Timetable: Next Action Undetermined

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

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Government Levels Affected: None

Agency Contact: James L. Beller
Phone: 202 326-4024
TDD Phone: 800 877-8339
Fax: 202 326-4112

RIN: 1212-AA84
_______________________________________________________________________




4192. CASH BALANCE PLANS WITH VARIABLE INDICES

Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant

CFR Citation: Not Yet Determined

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

Request for Comments            06/06/00                    65 FR 41610
Comment Period End              09/22/00


Next Action Undetermined

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Small Entities Affected: No

Government Levels Affected: None

Agency Contact: Catherine B. Klion
Phone: 202 326-4024
TDD Phone: 800 877-8339
Fax: 202 326-4112

RIN: 1212-AA96
[FR Doc. 00-23750 Filed 11-29-00]
BILLING CODE 7708-01-S