Procedures for PBGC Guidance Documents

Published date26 August 2020
Citation85 FR 52481
Record Number2020-17952
SectionRules and Regulations
CourtPension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
52481
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 166 / Wednesday, August 26, 2020 / Rules and Regulations
1
84 FR 55235 (October 9, 2019).
2
M–20–02, Guidance Implementing Executive
Order 13891, Titled ‘‘Promoting the Rule of Law
Through Improved Agency Guidance Documents’’
(October 31, 2019) available at https://
www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/
M-20-02-Guidance-Memo.pdf.
3
See section 3(d)(3) of Executive Order 12866
and section 4(b) of Executive Order 13771.
commitments awarded in FY 2021. Note
that the FY 2021 fee represents a 0.15
percent increase from the FY 2020 fee
of 2.00 percent.
This document establishes a rate that
does not constitute a development
decision that affects the physical
condition of specific project areas or
building sites. Accordingly, under 24
CFR 50.19(c)(6), this document is
categorically excluded from
environmental review under the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321).
Dated: August 18, 2020.
John Gibbs,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Community
Planning and Development.
[FR Doc. 2020–18392 Filed 8–25–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
PENSION BENEFIT GUARANTY
CORPORATION
29 CFR Part 4908
RIN 1212–AB49
Procedures for PBGC Guidance
Documents
AGENCY
: Pension Benefit Guaranty
Corporation.
ACTION
: Final rule.
SUMMARY
: This final rule sets forth the
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation’s
(PBGC) procedures for issuing PBGC
guidance documents as required by an
Executive order entitled ‘‘Promoting the
Rule of Law Through Improved Agency
Guidance Documents.’’
DATES
: Effective date: This final rule is
effective on August 26, 2020.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
:
Hilary Duke (duke.hilary@pbgc.gov),
Assistant General Counsel for
Regulatory Affairs, Office of the General
Counsel, 1200 K Street NW,
Washington, DC 20005–4026, 202–229–
3839; or Karen B. Levin (levin.karen@
pbgc.gov), Attorney, Regulatory Affairs
Division, Office of the General Counsel,
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation,
1200 K Street NW, Washington, DC
20005–4026, 202–229–3559. TTY users
may call the Federal Relay service toll-
free at 800–877–8339 and ask to be
connected to 202–229–3559.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
:
Executive Summary
Purpose and Authority
This final rule adds to the Code of
Federal Regulations a new 29 CFR part
4908, which implements the
requirements of Executive Order (E.O.)
13891, ‘‘Promoting the Rule of Law
Through Improved Agency Guidance
Documents.’’
1
E.O. 13891 requires
agencies to set forth processes and
procedures for issuing guidance
documents.
PBGC’s legal authority for this action
comes from section 4002(b)(3) of the
Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974 (ERISA), which authorizes
PBGC to issue regulations to carry out
the purposes of title IV of ERISA, and
from E.O. 13891.
Major Provisions
The final rule provides the following
procedures:
Guidance documents will include
specified information, including a
statement that a guidance document
does not bind the public, and will be
posted at www.pbgc.gov/guidance.
Significant guidance documents
will have a 30-day public notice and
comment period, be reviewed by the
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB), and meet other requirements.
Members of the public may request
withdrawal or modification of a
guidance document.
Background
On October 9, 2019, the President
issued Executive Order (E.O.) 13891,
‘‘Promoting the Rule of Law Through
Improved Agency Guidance
Documents.’’ Central principles of E.O.
13891 are that the American public
should only be subject to binding rules
imposed through duly enacted statutes
or through regulations that are lawfully
promulgated, and that Americans
should have fair notice of any such
obligations. Section 4 of the order
directs that, ‘‘[w]ithin 300 days of the
date on which [the Office of
Management and Budget] issues an
implementing memorandum under
section 6 of this order, each agency
shall, consistent with applicable law,
finalize regulations, or amend existing
regulations as necessary, to set forth
processes and procedures for issuing
guidance documents.’’ On October 31,
2019, OMB issued OMB Memorandum
M–20–02,
2
which provides agencies
with instructions for complying with
the requirements of E.O. 13891 (‘‘OMB
Memo M–20–02’’).
In accordance with OMB’s direction,
PBGC is amending title 29, chapter 40,
subchapter L of the Code of Federal
Regulations by adding a new part 4908,
‘‘Procedures for PBGC Guidance
Documents.’’ These new regulations
codify the requirements set forth in
section 4 of E.O. 13891.
Compliance With Rulemaking
Guidelines
This is a rule of ‘‘agency organization,
procedure or practice’’ and is limited to
‘‘agency organization, management, or
personnel matters.’’ The final rule
provides PBGC’s procedures for issuing
guidance documents. Accordingly, this
rule is exempt from notice and public
comment requirements under 5 U.S.C.
553(b) and the requirements of
Executive Order 12866 and Executive
Order 13771.
3
Because no general notice
of proposed rulemaking is required, the
Regulatory Flexibility Act does not
apply to this rule. See 5 U.S.C. 601(2),
603, 605.
PBGC finds good cause exists for
making the additions set forth in this
final rule effective less than 30 days
after publication because the additions
support PBGC’s procedures for issuing
guidance documents in compliance
with the deadlines in E.O. 13891 and
OMB Memo M–20–02.
List of Subjects in 29 CFR Part 4908
Administrative practice and
procedure, Employee benefit plans,
Organization and functions
(Government agencies), Pension
insurance.
For the reasons given above, PBGC
amends title 29, chapter 40, subchapter
L of the Code of Federal Regulations by
adding part 4908 to read as follows:
PART 4908—PROCEDURES FOR
PBGC GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS
Sec.
4908.1 Purpose and scope.
4908.2 Definitions.
4908.3 Procedures for issuing guidance
documents.
4908.4 Procedures for issuing significant
guidance documents.
4908.5 Public access to guidance
documents.
4908.6 Procedures for requests from the
public to withdraw or modify a guidance
document.
Authority: 29 U.S.C. 1302(b)(3), E.O.
13891, 84 FR 55235, 3 CFR, 2019 Comp., p.
371.
§ 4908.1 Purpose and scope.
This part provides general procedures
that apply to PBGC guidance
documents.
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52482
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 166 / Wednesday, August 26, 2020 / Rules and Regulations
§ 4908.2 Definitions.
In addition to the terminology in part
4001 of this chapter, as used in this
part—Director means the Director of
PBGC.
Guidance document means an agency
statement of general applicability,
intended to have future effect on the
behavior of regulated parties, that sets
forth a policy on a statutory, regulatory,
or technical issue, or an interpretation
of a statute or regulation, but does not
include, for example, the following:
(1) Statements of specific
applicability, including advisory or
legal opinions directed to particular
parties about circumstance-specific
questions (e.g., case or investigatory
letters responding to complaints,
warning letters), notices regarding
particular locations or facilities (e.g.,
guidance pertaining to the use,
operation, or control of a Government
facility or property), and
correspondence with individual persons
or entities (e.g., congressional
correspondence or notices of violation),
except documents ostensibly directed to
a particular party but designed to guide
the conduct of the broader regulated
public;
(2) Statements that do not set forth a
policy on a statutory, regulatory, or
technical issue or an interpretation of a
statute or regulation, including speeches
and individual presentations, editorials,
media interviews, press materials, or
congressional testimony that do not set
forth for the first time a new regulatory
policy;
(3) Rules promulgated pursuant to
notice and comment under section 553
of title 5, United States Code, or similar
statutory provisions;
(4) Rules exempt from rulemaking
requirements under section 553(a) of
title 5, United States Code;
(5) Rules of agency organization,
procedure, or practice;
(6) Decisions of agency adjudications
under section 554 of title 5, United
States Code, or similar statutory
provisions;
(7) Internal guidance directed to the
issuing agency or other agencies that is
not intended to have substantial future
effect on the behavior of regulated
parties or the public;
(8) Legal briefs, other court filings, or
positions taken in litigation or
enforcement actions;
(9) Contract solicitations or awards; or
(10) Internal executive branch legal
advice or legal advisory opinions
addressed to executive branch officials.
OMB means the Office of Management
and Budget.
Significant guidance document means
a guidance document that may
reasonably be anticipated to:
(1) Lead to an annual effect on the
economy of $100 million or more or
adversely affect in a material way the
economy, a sector of the economy,
productivity, competition, jobs, the
environment, public health or safety, or
State, local, or tribal governments or
communities;
(2) Create a serious inconsistency or
otherwise interfere with an action taken
or planned by another agency;
(3) Materially alter the budgetary
impact of entitlements, grants, user fees,
or loan programs or the rights and
obligations of recipients thereof; or
(4) Raise novel legal or policy issues
arising out of legal mandates, the
President’s priorities, or the principles
of Executive Order 12866.
§ 4908.3 Procedures for issuing guidance
documents.
(a) Required elements of guidance
documents. A PBGC guidance document
will comply with all relevant statutes
and regulations and include, at a
minimum, all of the following:
(1) The term ‘‘guidance;’’
(2) Identification of PBGC as the
agency issuing the guidance document;
(3) Identification of the activities to
which and the persons to whom the
guidance document applies;
(4) The date of issuance;
(5) A statement if it is a revision to a
previously issued guidance document
and, if so, identification of the guidance
document that it replaces;
(6) The title of the guidance document
and a unique identification number;
(7) The citation to the statutory
provision or regulation (in Code of
Federal Regulations format) to which it
applies or which it interprets;
(8) A short summary of the subject
matter covered in the guidance
document at the top of the document;
and
(9) A prominent statement that ‘‘The
contents of this document do not have
the force and effect of law and are not
meant to bind the public in any way.
This document is intended only to
provide clarity to the public regarding
existing requirements under the law or
PBGC policies.’’ PBGC will modify the
statement to reflect when the guidance
document is authorized by law or
incorporated into a contract.
(b) Plain English requirement.
Guidance documents will be written in
plain English and avoid using
mandatory language, such as ‘‘shall,’’
‘‘must,’’ ‘‘required,’’ or ‘‘requirement,’’
unless the language is describing an
established statutory or regulatory
requirement, is authorized by law, or is
addressed to PBGC staff and will not
foreclose PBGC’s consideration of
positions advanced by affected private
parties.
(c) Review and clearance
procedures—(1) In general. All guidance
documents proposed to be issued will
be reviewed and cleared by the General
Counsel, in consultation with the Chief
Policy Officer and the Director.
(2) OMB significance determination.
Before issuance, unless waived by OMB,
PBGC will send a guidance document to
OMB for it to determine whether the
guidance document is a significant
guidance document within the meaning
of Executive Order 13891. Requests for
waivers will be approved by the
Director.
(3) Nonsignificant guidance
documents. If OMB determines that a
guidance document is not a significant
guidance document, PBGC will post the
guidance document at www.pbgc.gov/
guidance.
(4) Significant guidance documents. If
OMB determines that a guidance
document is a significant guidance
document, PBGC will follow the
procedures in § 4908.4.
§ 4908.4 Procedures for issuing significant
guidance documents.
(a) Procedures for proposed
significant guidance documents—(1) In
general. If OMB determines that a
guidance document is a significant
guidance document within the meaning
of Executive Order 13891, the
procedures in this section will apply
unless otherwise agreed to by OMB and
PBGC. PBGC will demonstrate to OMB
how a significant guidance document
complies with Executive Orders 12866,
13563, 13609, 13771, and 13777, as
applicable.
(2) OMB review. If requested by OMB,
PBGC will submit a proposed significant
guidance document to OMB for review
under Executive Order 12866 before
issuance.
(3) Notice and comment. Except when
PBGC for good cause finds that notice
and public comment are impracticable,
unnecessary, or contrary to the public
interest (and incorporates the finding
and a brief statement of reasons for the
finding into the significant guidance
document), PBGC will—
(i) Publish a notice in the Federal
Register announcing the availability of
a proposed significant guidance
document and a 30-day public notice
and comment period; and
(ii) Provide an electronic method for
the public to comment on the significant
guidance document.
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 166 / Wednesday, August 26, 2020 / Rules and Regulations
(b) Procedures for final significant
guidance documents—(1) In general.
PBGC will submit a final significant
guidance document to OMB for review
under Executive Order 12866 before
issuance.
(2) Response to comments. PBGC will
provide a public response to comments
on a proposed significant guidance
document either in a final significant
guidance document or in a companion
document that addresses major concerns
raised in comments.
(c) Issuance. All proposed and final
significant guidance documents will be
signed by the Director on a non-
delegable basis and posted at
www.pbgc.gov/guidance.
§ 4908.5 Public access to guidance
documents.
(a) In general. PBGC will maintain on
PBGC’s public website a single,
searchable, indexed database that
contains, or links to PBGC’s guidance
documents at www.pbgc.gov/guidance.
Any guidance document posted on the
database is final unless it is a proposed
significant guidance document under
§ 4908.4.
(b) Nonbinding effect. The database
described in paragraph (a) of this
section will state that guidance
documents do not have the force and
effect of law, unless expressly
authorized by statute or incorporated
into a contract and are not meant to
bind the public in any way.
(c) Rescinded guidance documents.
All guidance documents that are not
posted on the database described in
paragraph (a) of this section are
considered rescinded. PBGC will not
cite, use, or rely upon any guidance
document that is rescinded, except to
establish historical facts.
(d) Withdrawal. When PBGC
withdraws a guidance document, PBGC
will remove the hyperlink to the
guidance document from the database
and will clearly identify the guidance
document as withdrawn. The name,
title, unique identifier, and date of
withdrawal will be listed on the
database for at least one year after
withdrawal.
§ 4908.6 Procedures for requests from the
public to withdraw or modify a guidance
document.
(a) In general. A member of the public
may petition PBGC in writing for
withdrawal or modification of an
existing guidance document issued by
PBGC.
(b) Petition instructions. PBGC will
provide clear instructions on its website
regarding how to submit petitions for
withdrawal or modification of any
guidance document at www.pbgc.gov/
guidance. These instructions will
include an email address, a physical
mailing address for hard copy petitions,
and the office responsible for
coordinating responses to petitions.
PBGC will clearly identify the General
Counsel as the designated PBGC official
to whom petitions should be directed at
GuidanceComments@pbgc.gov.
(c) Contents of petition. A petition
must—
(1) Specify the petitioner’s name and
a means for PBGC to contact the
petitioner, such as an email address or
a mailing address;
(2) Identify the guidance document
that is the subject of the petition;
(3) Present any information and
arguments in support of the request for
withdrawal or modification of the
guidance document, including any
specific circumstances in which the
guidance document is incorrect or
obsolete; and
(4) Be directed to the designated
PBGC official.
(d) Response. In response to a
petition, the General Counsel, in
consultation with the Chief Policy
Officer and the Director, will determine
whether to withdraw, modify, or retain
a guidance document. PBGC will
respond to a petition promptly, but no
later than 90 days after receiving the
petition. If PBGC withdraws a guidance
document in response to a petition,
PBGC will follow the procedures in
§ 4908.5(d) and post a response to the
petition on its guidance database.
Issued in Washington, DC.
Gordon Hartogensis,
Director, Pension Benefit Guaranty
Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2020–17952 Filed 8–25–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7709–02–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 180
[EPA–HQ–OPP–2018–0038; FRL–10011–32]
Inpyrfluxam; Pesticide Tolerances
AGENCY
: Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION
: Final rule.
SUMMARY
: This regulation establishes
tolerances for residues of inpyrfluxam
in or on multiple commodities that are
identified and discussed later in this
document. Valent requested these
tolerances under the Federal Food,
Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).
DATES
: This regulation is effective
August 26, 2020. Objections and
requests for hearings must be received
on or before October 26, 2020, and must
be filed in accordance with the
instructions provided in 40 CFR part
178 (see also Unit I.C. of the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
).
ADDRESSES
: The docket for this action,
identified by docket identification (ID)
number EPA–HQ–OPP–2018–0038, is
available at http://www.regulations.gov
or at the Office of Pesticide Programs
Regulatory Public Docket (OPP Docket)
in the Environmental Protection Agency
Docket Center (EPA/DC), West William
Jefferson Clinton Bldg., Rm. 3334, 1301
Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC
20460–0001. The Public Reading Room
is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, excluding legal
holidays. The telephone number for the
Public Reading Room is (202) 566–1744,
and the telephone number for the OPP
Docket is (703) 305–5805.
Due to the public health concerns
related to COVID–19, the EPA Docket
Center (EPA/DC) and Reading Room is
closed to visitors with limited
exceptions. The staff continues to
provide remote customer service via
email, phone, and webform. For the
latest status information on EPA/DC
services and docket access, visit https://
www.epa.gov/dockets.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
:
Marietta Echeverria, Registration
Division (7505P), Office of Pesticide
Programs, Environmental Protection
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW,
Washington, DC 20460–0001; main
telephone number: (703) 305–7090;
email address: RDFRNotices@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
:
I. General Information
A. Does this action apply to me?
You may be potentially affected by
this action if you are an agricultural
producer, food manufacturer, or
pesticide manufacturer. The following
list of North American Industrial
Classification System (NAICS) codes is
not intended to be exhaustive, but rather
provides a guide to help readers
determine whether this document
applies to them. Potentially affected
entities may include:
Crop production (NAICS code 111).
Animal production (NAICS code
112).
Food manufacturing (NAICS code
311).
Pesticide manufacturing (NAICS
code 32532).
B. How can I get electronic access to
other related information?
You may access a frequently updated
electronic version of EPA’s tolerance
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