Subpart A—General Provisions

4042.1 Purpose and scope.

4042.2 Definitions.

4042.3 Issuance rules.

Subpart B—Reserved

Subpart C—Disclosure

4042.4 Disclosure of information by plan administrator or plan sponsor.

4042.5 Disclosure of administrative record by PBGC.

Authority: 29 U.S.C. 1302(b)(3), 1342.

Subpart A—General Provisions

§ 4042.1 Purpose and scope.

This part sets forth rules and procedures relating to single-employer plan terminations initiated by PBGC under section 4042 of ERISA.

§ 4042.2 Definitions.

The following terms used in this part are defined in §4001.2 of this chapter: Affected party, ERISA, PBGC, and plan administrator .

§ 4042.3 Issuance rules.

PBGC applies the rules in subpart B of part 4000 of this chapter to determine permissible methods of issuance under this part. PBGC applies the rules in subpart C of part 4000 of this chapter to determine the date that an issuance under this part was provided.

Subpart B—Reserved

Subpart C—Disclosure

§ 4042.4 Disclosure of information by plan administrator or plan sponsor.

(a) Request for Information —(1) In general. Beginning on the third business day (as defined in §4000.22 of this chapter) after PBGC has issued a notice under section 4042 of ERISA that a plan should be terminated, an affected party may make a request to the plan sponsor or the plan administrator (or both) for any information that such plan administrator or plan sponsor has submitted to PBGC in connection with the plan termination.

(2) Requirements. A request under paragraph (a) of this section must:

(i) Be in writing to the plan administrator or plan sponsor;

(ii) State the name of the plan and that the request is for information submitted to PBGC in connection with the plan termination;

(iii) State the name of the person making the request for information and such person's relationship to the plan (e.g., plan participant), and that such relationship meets the definition of affected party under §4001.2 of this chapter; and

(iv) Be signed by the person making the request.

(b) Response by Plan Administrator or Plan Sponsor —(1) Timing of response. A plan administrator or plan sponsor that receives a request under paragraph (a) of this section must provide the information requested not later than the 15th business day (as defined in §4000.22 of this chapter) after receipt of the request.

(2) Supplemental responses. If, at any time after receipt of a request under paragraph (a), the plan administrator or plan sponsor submits additional information to PBGC in connection with the plan termination, the plan administrator or plan sponsor must provide such additional information to any affected party that has made a request under paragraph (a), not later than the 15th business day (as defined in §4000.22 of this chapter) after the information is submitted to PBGC.

(3) Confidential information. (i) In responding to a request under paragraph (a) of this section, the plan administrator or plan sponsor shall not provide information that may, directly or indirectly, identify an individual participant or beneficiary.

(ii) A plan administrator or plan sponsor that has received a request under paragraph (a) of this section may seek a court order under which confidential information described in section 552(b) of title 5, United States Code—

(A) Will be disclosed only to authorized representatives (within the meaning of section 4041(c)(2)(D)(iv) of ERISA) that agree, to ensure the confidentiality of such information, and

(B) Will not be disclosed to other affected parties.

(4) Reasonable fees. Under section 4042(c)(3)(D)(ii) of ERISA, a plan administrator or plan sponsor may charge a reasonable fee for any information provided under this section in other than electronic form.

§ 4042.5 Disclosure of administrative record by PBGC.

(a) Request for Administrative Record —(1) In general. Beginning on the third business day (as defined in §4000.22 of this chapter) after PBGC has issued a notice under section 4042 of ERISA that a plan should be terminated, an affected party with respect to the plan may make a request to PBGC for the administrative record of PBGC's determination that the plan should be terminated.

(2) Requirements. A request under paragraph (a) of this section must:

(i) Be in writing;

(ii) State the name of the plan and that the request is for the administrative record with respect to a notice issued by PBGC under section 4042 of ERISA that a plan should be terminated;

(iii) State the name of the person making the request, the person's relationship to the plan (e.g., plan participant), and that such relationship meets the definition of affected party under §4001.2 of this chapter; and

(iv) Be signed by the person making the request.

(3) A request under paragraph (a) of this section must be sent to PBGC's Disclosure Officer at the address provided on PBGC's Web site. To expedite processing, the request should be prominently identified as an "Administrative Record Request."

(b) PBGC Response to Request for Administrative Record —(1) Notification of plan administrator and plan sponsor. Upon receipt of a request under paragraph (a) of this section, PBGC will promptly notify the plan administrator and plan sponsor that it has received a request for the administrative record, and the date by which PBGC will provide the information to the affected party that made the request.

(2) Confidential information. (i) In responding to a request under paragraph (a) of this section, PBGC will not disclose any portions of the administrative record that are prohibited from disclosure under the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. 552a.

(ii) A plan administrator or plan sponsor that has received notification pursuant to paragraph (b)(1) of this section may seek a court order under which those portions of the administrative record that contain confidential information described in section 552(b) of title 5, United States Code—

(A) Will be disclosed only to authorized representatives (within the meaning of section 4041(c)(2)(D)(iv)) of ERISA) that agree to ensure the confidentiality of such information, and

(B) Will not be disclosed to other affected parties.

(iii) If, before the 15th business day (as defined in §4000.22 of this chapter) after PBGC has received a request under paragraph (a), PBGC receives a court order as described in paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this section, PBGC will disclose those portions of the administrative record that contain confidential information described in section 552(b) of title 5, United States Code, only as provided in the order.

(3) Timing of response. PBGC will send the administrative record to the affected party that made the request not later than the 15th business day (as defined in §4000.22 of this chapter) after it receives the request.

(4) Form and manner. PBGC will provide the administrative record using measures (including electronic measures) reasonably calculated to ensure actual receipt of the material by the intended recipient.