FR Doc E9-1787
[Federal Register: January 28, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 17)]
[Notices]
[Page 4980-4981]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28ja09-74]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employee Benefits Security Administration
Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Comment Request
ERISA Advisory Opinion Procedure 76-1
AGENCY: Employee Benefits Security Administration, Department of Labor.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and continuing collections
of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(PRA 95) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). This helps to ensure that the data
the Department gathers can be provided in the desired format, that the
reporting burden on the public (time and financial resources) is
minimized, that the public understands the Department's collection
instruments, and that the Department can accurately assess the impact
of collection requirements on respondents.
Currently, the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) is
soliciting comments concerning an extension of the information
collection provisions incorporated in ERISA Advisory Opinion Procedure
76-1. A copy of the information collection request (ICR) can be
obtained by contacting the office shown in the ADDRESSES section of
this notice.
DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office shown in the
ADDRESSES section of this notice on or before March 30, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Interested parties are invited to submit written comments
regarding the information collection request and burden estimates to:
G. Christopher Cosby, Office of Policy and Research, Employee Benefits
Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210, (202) 693-8410, FAX (202) 693-4745
(these are not toll-free numbers). Comments may also be submitted
electronically to ebsa.opr@dol.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 as
amended, (ERISA), the Secretary of Labor is responsible for
administration and enforcement of reporting, disclosure, fiduciary, and
other standards established for pension and welfare benefit plans.
These responsibilities have been delegated within the Department to
EBSA. ERISA Advisory Opinion Procedure 76-1 describes the
administrative procedures through which the public may request a
written interpretation of ERISA from EBSA to resolve issues arising out
of specific actual transactions or circumstances. The procedure is
designed to promote efficient handling of such inquiries and to
facilitate prompt responses. The Procedure requires requesters seeking
advisory opinions or information letters to submit certain information
that EBSA has determined is essential for determining the nature of a
request for interpretation and EBSA's response. EBSA has previously
submitted the information collection provisions of Advisory Opinion
Procedure 76-1 to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review
in an ICR and received approval from OMB under OMB Control No. 1210-
0066. The current ICR approval is scheduled to expire on May 31, 2009.
II. Desired Focus of Comments
The Department of Labor (Department) is particularly interested in
comments that:
[[Page 4981]]
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., by
permitting electronic submissions of responses.
III. Current Action
This notice requests comments on an extension of the information
collection provisions included in ERISA Advisory Opinion Procedure 76-
1. The Department is not proposing or implementing changes to the
existing ICR at this time. A summary of the ICR and the current burden
estimates follows:
Agency: Employee Benefits Security Administration, Department of
Labor.
Title: ERISA Advisory Opinion Procedure 76-1.
Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection of
information.
OMB Number: 1210-0066.
Affected Public: Individuals or households; Business or other for-
profit; Not-for-profit institutions.
Respondents: 83.
Responses: 83.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 855.
Estimated Total Burden Cost (Operating and Maintenance): $51,000.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget
approval of the extension of this information collection request; they
will also become a matter of public record.
Dated: January 22, 2009.
Joseph S. Piacentini,
Director, Office of Policy and Research, Employee Benefits Security
Administration.
[FR Doc. E9-1787 Filed 1-27-09; 8:45 am]
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