The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation is waiving certain penalties and extending certain deadlines in response to the severe storms and flooding that occurred in Hawaii on December 10, 2008.

PBGC says that the penalty and deadline relief is for plan administrators or contributing sponsors located in the disaster area (city and county of Honolulu) for which the Internal Revenue Service has provided relief in connection with filing extensions for Form 5500 series returns, or cannot reasonably obtain information or other assistance needed to meet the deadline from a service provider, bank, or other person whose operations are directly affected by the severe storms and flooding that occurred on Dec. 10.

Although PBGC cautions that the relief notice does not cover “every person that might experience difficulty in meeting a PBGC deadline for reasons relating to the severe storms and flooding” and “does not grant specific disaster relief for all filings,” those who feel they are affected should file a notification with PBGC. To request case-by-case relief, contact Diane Morstein at PBGC by: calling 1 800 736 2444, extension 4136, or 202 326 4136 (for TTY and TDD, call 800 877 8339 and request connection to 202 326 4136); send an e-mail to practitioner.pro@pbgc.gov; or write to Diane Morstein, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, Suite 610, 1200 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005 4026, Re: “Disaster Relief Announcement 09-02.”