Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Comment Request; Employee Benefit Plan Claims Procedures Under ERISA, 2161-2162 [2010-588]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 9 / Thursday, January 14, 2010 / Notices Drug Schedule 1-Piperidinocyclohexanecarbonitrile (8603). Cocaine (9041) ............................. Codeine (9050) ............................. Dihydrocodeine (9120) ................. Dihydromorphine (9145) ............... Ecgonine (9180) ........................... Meperidine intermediate-B (9233) Noroxymorphone (9668) .............. II II II II II II II II The company plans to manufacture high purity drug standards used for analytical application only in clinical, toxicological, and forensic laboratories. No comments or objections have been received. DEA has considered the factors in 21 U.S.C. 823(a) and determined that the registration of Alltech Associates to manufacture the listed basic classes of controlled substances is consistent with the public interest at this time. DEA has investigated Alltech Associates to ensure that the company’s registration is consistent with the public interest. The investigation has included inspection and testing of the company’s physical security systems, verification of the company’s compliance with state and local laws, and a review of the company’s background and history. Therefore, pursuant to 21 U.S.C. 823, and in accordance with 21 CFR 1301.33, the above named company is granted registration as a bulk manufacturer of the basic classes of controlled substances listed. Dated: January 6, 2010. Joseph T. Rannazzisi, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Diversion Control, Drug Enforcement Administration. [FR Doc. 2010–512 Filed 1–13–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4410–09–P DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Employee Benefits Security Administration Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Comment Request; Employee Benefit Plan Claims Procedures Under ERISA pwalker on DSK8KYBLC1PROD with NOTICES AGENCY: Employee Benefits Security Administration, Department of Labor. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (the Department), in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA 95) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and continuing collections of information. This helps the Department VerDate Nov<24>2008 17:36 Jan 13, 2010 Jkt 220001 assess the impact of its information collection requirements and minimize the reporting burden on the public and the public understand the Department’s information collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format. Currently, the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) is soliciting comments on a proposed extension of the current approval of information collection provisions incorporated in the regulation pertaining to employee benefit plan claims procedures under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). A copy of the information collection request (ICR) may be obtained by contacting the office listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice. DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before March 15, 2010. ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to G. Christopher Cosby, Office of Policy and Research, Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room N–5647, Washington, DC 20210. Telephone: (202) 693–8410; Fax: (202) 219–4745. These are not toll-free numbers. Comments may also be submitted electronically to the following Internet e-mail address: ebsa.opr@dol.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background Section 503 of ERISA requires each employee benefit plan to provide, pursuant to regulations promulgated by the Secretary of Labor, notice in writing to any participant or beneficiary whose claim for benefits under the plan has been denied. The notice must set forth the specific reasons for the denial and must be written in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant. Plans must also give a participant or beneficiary whose claim has been denied a reasonable opportunity to obtain a full and fair review of any benefit claim denial by the appropriate named fiduciary. The Department issued a regulation pertaining to benefit claims procedures in 1977 and amended that regulation in a Notice of Final Rulemaking (NFRM) published on November 21, 2000 (65 FR 70246). The regulation pertaining to benefit claims procedures is codified at 29 CFR 2560.503–1. The regulation requires plans to establish reasonable claims procedures that meet specified standards governing the timing and content of notices and disclosures. EBSA submitted an ICR for the information collections in 29 CFR 2560.503–1 to the Office of Management PO 00000 Frm 00057 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 2161 and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in connection with publication of the NFRM, and OMB approved the information collections under OMB control number 1210–0053. That approval is scheduled to expire on April 30, 2010. After considering comments received in response to this notice, the Department intends to submit an ICR to OMB to request continuing approval. The public is not required to respond to an information collection unless it displays a valid control number. No change to the existing ICR is being proposed or made at this time. II. Desired Focus of Comments The Department of Labor (Department) 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 submissions of responses. III. Current Action This notice requests comments on an extension of OMB’s approval of the information collections included in 29 CFR 2560.503–1. 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: Employee Benefit Plan Claims Procedures under ERISA. Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection of information. OMB Number: 1210–0053. Affected Public: Business or other forprofit; not-for-profit institutions. Respondents: 5,900,000. Responses: 321,000,000. Estimated Total Burden Hours: 529,000. E:\FR\FM\14JAN1.SGM 14JAN1 2162 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 9 / Thursday, January 14, 2010 / Notices Estimated Total Burden Cost (Operating and Maintenance): $423,052,000. Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval of the ICR; they will also become a matter of public record. Dated: January 11, 2010. Joseph S. Piacentini, Director, Office of Policy and Research, Employee Benefits Security Administration. [FR Doc. 2010–588 Filed 1–13–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4510–29–P DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Office of Disability Employment Policy Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request ACTION: Notice of proposed data collection. The U.S. Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance consultation process to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This process helps ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burdens are minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) is soliciting comments concerning a proposed data collection for the following survey: 2009 NATIONAL SURVEY OF PUBLIC ATTITUDES SUMMARY: TOWARD PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the ADDRESSES section of this notice. DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office shown in the ADDRESSES section below on or before March 15, 2010. ADDRESSES: Richard Horne, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Suite S–1303, Washington, DC 20210. Telephone: (202) 693–7880. This is not a toll-free number. E-mail: horne.richard@dol.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Horne, telephone: (202) 693– 7880, e-mail: horne.richard@dol.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background This survey project is a central part of the Task Order DOLU8942143, entitled 2009 National Survey of Public Attitudes toward People with Disabilities. This Task Order is being administered by the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), a federal agency in the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and the lead agency in DOL’s implementation of the employmentrelated goals of the President. ODEP’s vision is to provide national leadership to increase employment opportunities for adults and youth with disabilities while striving to eliminate barriers to their employment. Social Dynamics LLC is contracted to design and implement the 2009 National Survey of Public Attitudes toward People with Disabilities. This data collection is authorized pursuant to Public Law 106–554 which direct the Office of Disability Policy to provide initiatives to ‘‘further the objective of eliminating employment barriers to the training and employment of people with disabilities.’’ II. Desired Focus of Comments The Department is particularly interested in comments which: 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., permitting electronic submissions of responses. III. Current Action This proposed collection ICR covers: The Survey of Public Attitudes Toward People With Disabilities (PWD). The survey will build on the findings of previous surveys, with an emphasis on current attitudes and behaviors of people toward PWD. The survey will be conducted by telephone utilizing computer assisted telephone interviewing (CATI). The survey will also solicit free-text comments from respondents regarding their attitudes toward PWD in the workplace. Agency: Office of Disability Employment Policy. Titles: Survey of Public Attitudes Toward People with Disabilities. OMB Number: Pending. Frequency: One time. Type of Response: Reporting. Affected Public: People between 18 and 64 years of age. Number of Respondents: 1,600. EXHIBIT A–1—ESTIMATED HOUR AND ANNUAL COST RESPONSE BURDEN Responses per respondent Number of respondents Data collection activity Annual burden hours Hours per response Annual burden (cost) 9 1,600 2,847 1 1 1 15 min .............................................. 15 min .............................................. 5 min ................................................ 2.25 400 237.25 $41.31 7,344 4,356 Total ........................................... pwalker on DSK8KYBLC1PROD with NOTICES Pilot ................................................... National survey ................................. Non-participants contacted ............... ........................ ........................ ........................................................... ........................ 54,270 Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0. Total Burden Cost (operating/ maintaining): $0. VerDate Nov<24>2008 17:36 Jan 13, 2010 Jkt 220001 Description: Changes instituted with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 have made workplace discrimination against people with disabilities illegal, while guaranteeing PO 00000 Frm 00058 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 their right to special accommodations in the workplace. Still, data continue to show low levels of employment and pay of people with disabilities when compared to people without disabilities. E:\FR\FM\14JAN1.SGM 14JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 9 (Thursday, January 14, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2161-2162]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-588]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employee Benefits Security Administration


Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Comment Request; 
Employee Benefit Plan Claims Procedures Under ERISA

AGENCY: Employee Benefits Security Administration, Department of Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (the Department), in accordance with 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA 95) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), 
provides the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to 
comment on proposed and continuing collections of information. This 
helps the Department assess the impact of its information collection 
requirements and minimize the reporting burden on the public and the 
public understand the Department's information collection requirements 
and provide the requested data in the desired format. Currently, the 
Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) is soliciting comments 
on a proposed extension of the current approval of information 
collection provisions incorporated in the regulation pertaining to 
employee benefit plan claims procedures under the Employee Retirement 
Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). A copy of the information 
collection request (ICR) may be obtained by contacting the office 
listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before March 15, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to G. Christopher Cosby, Office 
of Policy and Research, Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. 
Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room N-5647, 
Washington, DC 20210. Telephone: (202) 693-8410; Fax: (202) 219-4745. 
These are not toll-free numbers. Comments may also be submitted 
electronically to the following Internet e-mail address: 
ebsa.opr@dol.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    Section 503 of ERISA requires each employee benefit plan to 
provide, pursuant to regulations promulgated by the Secretary of Labor, 
notice in writing to any participant or beneficiary whose claim for 
benefits under the plan has been denied. The notice must set forth the 
specific reasons for the denial and must be written in a manner 
calculated to be understood by the claimant. Plans must also give a 
participant or beneficiary whose claim has been denied a reasonable 
opportunity to obtain a full and fair review of any benefit claim 
denial by the appropriate named fiduciary.
    The Department issued a regulation pertaining to benefit claims 
procedures in 1977 and amended that regulation in a Notice of Final 
Rulemaking (NFRM) published on November 21, 2000 (65 FR 70246). The 
regulation pertaining to benefit claims procedures is codified at 29 
CFR 2560.503-1. The regulation requires plans to establish reasonable 
claims procedures that meet specified standards governing the timing 
and content of notices and disclosures. EBSA submitted an ICR for the 
information collections in 29 CFR 2560.503-1 to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in connection with 
publication of the NFRM, and OMB approved the information collections 
under OMB control number 1210-0053. That approval is scheduled to 
expire on April 30, 2010. After considering comments received in 
response to this notice, the Department intends to submit an ICR to OMB 
to request continuing approval. The public is not required to respond 
to an information collection unless it displays a valid control number. 
No change to the existing ICR is being proposed or made at this time.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    The Department of Labor (Department) 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 submissions of responses.

III. Current Action

    This notice requests comments on an extension of OMB's approval of 
the information collections included in 29 CFR 2560.503-1. 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: Employee Benefit Plan Claims Procedures under ERISA.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection of 
information.
    OMB Number: 1210-0053.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; not-for-profit 
institutions.
    Respondents: 5,900,000.
    Responses: 321,000,000.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 529,000.

[[Page 2162]]

    Estimated Total Burden Cost (Operating and Maintenance): 
$423,052,000.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of the ICR; they will 
also become a matter of public record.

    Dated: January 11, 2010.
Joseph S. Piacentini,
Director, Office of Policy and Research, Employee Benefits Security 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2010-588 Filed 1-13-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-29-P

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