SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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 that filers use to request that PBGC determine whether a defined benefit pension plan is covered under title IV of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). (OMB control number 1212-0072; expires June 30, 2022). This notice informs the public of PBGC's intent and solicits public comment on the collection of information.

A plan is covered under title IV, and thereby insured by PBGC, if it is described in section 4021(a) of ERISA and does not meet one of the exemptions from coverage listed in section 4021(b)(1)-(13). If a question arises about whether a plan is covered under title IV, a plan may submit the Request for Coverage Determination form to PBGC.

The Request for Coverage Determination form and corresponding instructions are suitable for all types of requests, but they highlight the four plan types for which coverage determinations are most frequently requested: (1) Church plans as listed in section 4021(b)(3) of ERISA; (2) plans that are established and maintained exclusively for the benefit of plan sponsors' substantial owners as listed in section 4021(b)(9); (3) plans covering, since September 2, 1974, no more than 25 active participants that are established and maintained by professional services employers as listed in section 4021(b)(13); and (4) Puerto Rico-based plans within the meaning of section 1022(i)(1) of ERISA. PBGC needs the information requested to determine whether a plan is covered or not covered under title IV of ERISA.

PBGC is proposing editorial and formatting changes to question 1 and 2 of Part II of the form. These revisions are intended to provide greater clarity to filers. In addition, PBGC is proposing to add a new question to Part II inquiring about the number of eligible participants with no accrued benefit. This addition is intended to garner a more accurate count of a plan's participants. Finally, PBGC is amending Question 4 of Part III applicable to a plan seeking a determination as a substantial owners plan. Under the amendment, a plan will need to provide the dates when participants separated from service, in addition to dates and amounts of payment to them. This addition is intended to allow PBGC to properly count payees who may still be participants in a plan even after distributions have occurred.

The collection of information has been approved under OMB control number 1212-0072 (expires June 31, 2022). PBGC intends to request that OMB extend its approval, with modifications, for another 3 years. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

PBGC estimates that each year there will be 310 Request for Coverage Determination forms submitted to PBGC. PBGC further estimates the average hour burden is 1.5 hours and average cost burden is $300. The total estimated annual burden of the collection of information is 465 hours and $93,000.

PBGC is soliciting public comments to—

• 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 methodologies 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 submission of responses.

87 FR 11492