temporary variances from certain vesting requirements

temporary variances from certain vesting requirements Sec. 207. In the case of any plan maintained on January 1, 1974, if, not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the administrator petitions the Secretary, the Secretary may prescribe an alternate method which shall be treated as satisfying the requirements of section 203(a)(2) or 204(b)(1) (other than subparagraph (D) thereof) or both for a period of not more than 4 years. The Secretary may prescribe such alternate method only when he finds that— (1) the application of such requirements would increase the costs of the plan to such an extent that there would result a substantial risk to the voluntary continuation of the plan or a substantial curtailment of benefit levels or the levels of employees’ compensation, (2) the application of such requirements or discontinuance of the plan would be adverse to the interests of plan participants in the aggregate, and (3) a waiver or extension of time granted under section 303 or 304 of this Act would be inadequate. In the case of any plan with respect to which an alternate method has been prescribed under the preceding provisions of this subsection for a period of not more than 4 years, if, not later than 1 year before the expiration of such period, the administrator petitions the Secretary for an extension of such alternate method, and the Secretary makes the findings required by the preceding sentence, such alternate method may be extended for not more than 3 years.