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On December 12, 2012, the Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) proposed amendments to three regulations previously published under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 that facilitate the termination of, and distribution of benefits from, individual account pension plans that have been abandoned by their sponsoring employers.  77 FR 74063 (RIN 1210-AB47).  On the same date, EBSA also published Notice of Proposed Amendment to PTE 2006-06.  77 FR 74056 (ZRIN EBSA-2012-0015).  The principal purpose of the proposed amendments was to permit bankruptcy trustees to use the Department’s Abandoned Plan Program to terminate and wind up the plans of sponsors in liquidation under chapter 7 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.  On September 30, 2019, EBSA withdrew this entry from the semiannual regulatory agenda due to agency reprioritization.  Following a review of agency priorities, this entry was returned to EBSA’s semiannual regulatory agenda in the fall of 2021. On May 17, 2024, EBSA issued an Interim Final Rule with request for comments and an amendment to PTE 2006-06; these amendments became effective July 16, 2024. 89 FR 43636; 89 FR 43675. In Fall, 2024, EBSA is moving this entry to long term action to accommodate other items that have statutory deadlines. In the meantime, the Interim Final Rule and amended PTE 2006-06 remain effective.