[Federal Register: August 22, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 161)]
[Rules and Regulations]               
[Page 48839]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22au05-1]                         


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Rules and Regulations
                                                Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents 
having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed 
to and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, which is published 
under 50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.

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[[Page 48839]]



OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

5 CFR Parts 841, 842, and 843

RIN 3206-AK57

 
Federal Employees' Retirement System; Death Benefits and Employee 
Refunds

AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing Final 
rules that revise the table of reduction factors for early commencing 
dates of survivor annuities for spouses of separated employees who die 
before the date on which they would be eligible for unreduced deferred 
annuities, and to revise the annuity factor for spouses of deceased 
employees who die in service when those spouses elect to receive the 
basic employee death benefit in 36 installments under the Federal 
Employees' Retirement System (FERS) Act of 1986. These rules are 
necessary to conform the tables to the previously published economic 
assumptions adopted by the Board of Actuaries.

DATES: This final rule is effective October 1, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karla Yeakle, (202) 606-0299.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 1, 2004, we published (at 69 FR 
69805) interim regulations to revise the normal cost percentage under 
the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS) Act of 1986, Public Law 
99-335, 100 Stat. 514, based on changed economic assumptions and 
demographic factors adopted by the Board of Actuaries of the Civil 
Service Retirement System. Those changed economic assumptions 
(principally the change in expected investment return from 6.75 percent 
to 6.25 percent) require corresponding changes in factors used to 
produce actuarially equivalent benefits when required by the FERS Act. 
The revised factors were effective on October 1, 2004. To implement 
these changes in factors, we issued interim regulations on December 1, 
2004. At that time we also requested comments on the interim 
regulations. We received no comments. Accordingly we are now adopting 
the interim regulation as final without change.

Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Review

    This rule has been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget 
in accordance with Executive Order 12866.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    I certify that this regulation will not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities because the regulation 
will only affect retirement payments to retired employees, spouses, and 
former spouses.

List of Subjects in 5 CFR Parts 841, 842 and 843

    Administrative practice and procedure, Air traffic controllers, 
Alimony, Claims, Disability benefits, Firefighters, Government 
employees, Income taxes, Intergovernmental relations, Law enforcement 
officers, Pensions, Retirement.

Office of Personnel Management.
Linda M. Springer,
Director.

0
Accordingly, the Office of Personnel Management adopts its interim 
regulations amending 5 CFR parts 841, 842, and 843 published at 69 FR 
69805 on December 1, 2004, as final rule without change.

[FR Doc. 05-16592 Filed 8-19-05; 8:45 am]
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