Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This final rule amends Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's regulation on Benefits Payable in Terminated Single-Employer Plans to prescribe interest assumptions under the regulation for valuation dates in May 2011. PBGC's regulation on Benefits Payable in Terminated Single-Employer Plans prescribes actuarial assumptionsincluding interest assumptionsfor paying plan benefits under terminating single-employer plans covered by title IV of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) is reviewing its regulations in response to the President's Executive Order 13563 on Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review. The purpose of this review is to make PBGC's regulatory program both more effective and less burdensome. We are starting by identifying regulations for possible modification, streamlining, or repeal, which will be incorporated into a preliminary regulatory review plan. For now, we are asking the public for ideas and informationto suggest candidate regulations for review, alternative approaches, etc.to help prepare the preliminary plan. There will be additional opportunities for public comment after the preliminary plan is developed and approved.

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation has granted a request from Rangers Baseball Express, LLC, for an exemption from the bond/ escrow requirement of section 4204(a)(1)(B) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, with respect to the Major League Baseball Players Pension Plan. A notice of the request for exemption from the requirement was published on December 28, 2010. The effect of this notice is to advise the public of the decision on the exemption request.

As part of a Federal Government-wide effort to streamline the process to seek feedback from the public on service delivery, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (``PBGC'' or ``the Agency'') has submitted a Generic Information Collection Request (Generic ICR): ``Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery'' to OMB for approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) is requesting that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) extend approval, under the Paperwork Reduction Act, of collections of information under its regulations on multiemployer plans under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). This notice informs the public of PBGC's request and solicits public comment on the collections of information.

This final rule amends Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's regulation on Benefits Payable in Terminated Single-Employer Plans to prescribe interest assumptions under the regulation for valuation dates in February 2011. Interest assumptions are also published on PBGC's Web site (https://www.pbgc.gov).

This notice advises interested persons that the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (``PBGC'') has received a request from Rangers Baseball Express, LLC, for an exemption from the bond/escrow requirement of section 4204(a)(1)(B) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, with respect to the Major League Baseball Players Pension Plan. Section 4204(a)(1) provides that the sale of assets by an employer that contributes to a multiemployer pension plan will not constitute a complete or partial withdrawal from the plan if the transaction meets certain conditions. One of these conditions is that the purchaser post a bond or deposit money in escrow for the five-plan-year period beginning after the sale. PBGC is authorized to grant individual and class exemptions from this requirement. Before granting an exemption, the statute and PBGC regulations require PBGC to give interested persons an opportunity to comment on the exemption request. The purpose of this notice is to advise interested persons of the exemption request and solicit their views on it.

This final rule amends Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's regulations on Benefits Payable in Terminated Single-Employer Plans and Allocation of Assets in Single-Employer Plans to prescribe interest assumptions under the benefit payments regulation for valuation dates in January 2011 and interest assumptions under the asset allocation regulation for valuation dates in the first quarter of 2011. Interest assumptions are also published on PBGC's Web site (https:// www.pbgc.gov).

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) intends to request that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) extend approval, under the Paperwork Reduction Act, of a collection of information contained in its regulation on Liability for Termination of Single- Employer Plans, 29 CFR Part 4062 (OMB control number 1212-0017; expires March 31, 2011). This notice informs the public of PBGC's intent and solicits public comment on the collection of information.

This final rule amends Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's regulation on Benefits Payable in Terminated Single-Employer Plans to prescribe interest assumptions under the regulation for valuation dates in December 2010. Interest assumptions are also published on PBGC's Web site (https://www.pbgc.gov).

PBGC is extending to November 12, 2010, the comment period on its proposed rule to provide guidance on the applicability and enforcement of ERISA section 4062(e), which provides for reporting of and liability for certain substantial cessations of operations by employers that maintain single-employer plans.

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's regulations on Allocation of Assets in Single-Employer Plans and Benefits Payable in Terminated Single-Employer Plans prescribe interest assumptions for valuing and paying certain benefits under terminating single-employer plans. This final rule amends the asset allocation regulation to adopt interest assumptions for plans with valuation dates in the fourth quarter of 2010 and amends the benefit payments regulation to adopt interest assumptions for plans with valuation dates in October 2010. Interest assumptions are also published on PBGC's Web site (https:// www.pbgc.gov).

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) is requesting that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) extend approval, under the Paperwork Reduction Act, of the collection of information for the termination premium under its regulation on Payment of Premiums (29 CFR Part 4007) (OMB control number 1212-0064; expires October 31, 2010), without change. This notice informs the public of PBGC's request and solicits public comment on the collection of information.

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (``PBGC'') is requesting that the Office of Management and Budget (``OMB''), under the Paperwork Reduction Act, extend approval, with modifications, of a collection of information in its regulations on Termination of Single Employer Plans and Missing Participants, and implementing forms and instructions (OMB control number 1212-0036, expires September 30, 2010). This notice informs the public of PBGC's request and solicits public comment on the collection of information.

ERISA section 4062(e) provides for reporting of and liability for certain substantial cessations of operations by employers that maintain single-employer plans. PBGC proposes to amend its current regulation on Liability for Termination of Single-Employer Plans to provide guidance on the applicability and enforcement of ERISA section 4062(e).

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) is modifying the collection of information under Part 4007 of its regulation on Payment of Premiums (OMB control number 1212-0007; expires February 28, 2011) and is requesting that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) extend approval of the collection of information under the Paperwork Reduction Act for three years. This notice informs the public of PBGC's request and solicits public comment on the collection of information.

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's regulation on Benefits Payable in Terminated Single-Employer Plans prescribes interest assumptions for valuing and paying certain benefits under terminating single-employer plans. This final rule amends the benefit payments regulation to adopt interest assumptions for plans with valuation dates in August 2010. Interest assumptions are also published on PBGC's Web site (https://www.pbgc.gov).

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) is proposing a new routine use applicable to all of its existing systems of records maintained pursuant to the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (5 U.S.C. 552a), adding a new routine use to an existing system of records, and is amending its systems of records to make technical and clarifying changes.

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's regulations on Allocation of Assets in Single-Employer Plans and Benefits Payable in Terminated Single-Employer Plans prescribe interest assumptions for valuing and paying certain benefits under terminating single-employer plans. This final rule (1) amends the asset allocation regulation to adopt interest assumptions for plans with valuation dates in the third quarter of 2010 and (2) amends the benefit payments regulation to adopt interest assumptions for plans with valuation dates in July 2010. Interest assumptions are also published on PBGC=s Web site (https:// www.pbgc.gov).

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (``PBGC'') intends to request that the Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') approve modifications to a collection of information under the Paperwork Reduction Act. The purpose of the information collection is to enable the PBGC to pay benefits to participants and beneficiaries. PBGC intends to add three new forms to the information collection and to modify an approved form.

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) is modifying the collection of information under Part 4007 of its regulation on Payment of Premiums (OMB control number 1212-0007; expires April 30, 2011) and intends to request that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) extend approval of the collection of information under the Paperwork Reduction Act for three years. This notice informs the public of PBGC's intent and solicits public comment on the collection of information.

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (``PBGC'') intends to request the Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') to extend approval, under the Paperwork Reduction Act, of a collection of information under its regulation on Rules for Administrative Review of Agency Decisions. This notice informs the public of PBGC's intent and solicits public comment on the collection of information.

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's regulations on Allocation of Assets in Single-Employer Plans and Benefits Payable in Terminated Single-Employer Plans prescribe interest assumptions for valuing and paying certain benefits under terminating single-employer plans. This final rule amends the asset allocation regulation to adopt interest assumptions for plans with valuation dates in the second quarter of 2010 and amends the benefit payments regulation to adopt interest assumptions for plans with valuation dates in April 2010. Interest assumptions are also published on PBGC's Web site (https:// www.pbgc.gov).

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's regulation on Benefits Payable in Terminated Single-Employer Plans prescribes interest assumptions for valuing and paying certain benefits under terminating single-employer plans. This final rule amends the benefit payments regulation to adopt interest assumptions for plans with valuation dates in March 2010. Interest assumptions are also published on PBGC's Web site (https://www.pbgc.gov).