Department of Labor January 28, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA 95) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), the Department of Labor (the Department) 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. This program 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. By this notice, the Department is soliciting comments concerning the information collection provisions of the regulation under section 101(i) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the SOA), which requires written notice to be provided to affected participants and beneficiaries of individual account plans of any ``blackout period'' during which their right to direct or diversify investments, obtain a loan, or obtain a distribution under the plan may be temporarily suspended. A copy of the ICR may be obtained by contacting the office listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.

This notice announces a change in benefit period eligibility under the EB Program for Alaska. The following change has occurred since the publication of the last notice regarding the State's EB status: As of January 10, 2009, Alaska has completed a mandatory 13-week ``off'' trigger period. Based on data reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on December 19, 2008, Alaska's 3-month seasonally adjusted total unemployment rate was 7.1 percent and equals or exceeds 110 percent of the corresponding rate in both prior years. This causes Alaska to be triggered ``on'' to an EB period beginning January 25, 2009.