Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

SUMMARY:

On June 15, 1984, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) delegated to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board) its approval authority under the Paperwork Reduction Act, as per 5 CFR 1320.16, to approve of and assign OMB control numbers to collection of information requests and requirements conducted or sponsored by the Board under conditions set forth in 5 CFR 1320 Appendix A.1. Board-approved collections of information are incorporated into the official OMB inventory of currently approved collections of information. Copies of the OMB 83-Is and supporting statements and approved collection of information instruments are placed into OMB's public docket files. The Federal Reserve may not conduct or sponsor, and the respondent is not required to respond to, an information collection that has been extended, revised, or implemented on or after October 1, 1995, unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

Request for comment on information collection proposals.

The following information collections, which are being handled under this delegated authority, have received initial Board approval and are hereby published for comment. At the end of the comment period, the proposed information collections, along with an analysis of comments and recommendations received, will be submitted to the Board for final approval under OMB delegated authority. Comments are invited on the following:

a. whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the Federal Reserve's functions; including whether the information has practical utility;

b. the accuracy of the Federal Reserve's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

c. ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

d. ways to minimize the burden of information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before June 4, 2004.

ADDRESSES:

Comments should be mailed to Jennifer J. Johnson, Secretary, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 20th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20551. Please consider submitting your comments through the Board's web site at http://www.federalreserve.gov/generalinfo/foia/ProposedRegs.cfm ; by e-mail to regs.comments@federalreserve.gov; or by fax to the Office of the Secretary at (202)452-3819 or (202) 452-3102. Rules proposed by the Board and other federal agencies may also be viewed and commented on at www.regulations.gov. All public comments are available from the Board's web site at http://www.federalreserve.gov/generalinfo/foia/ProposedRegs.cfm as submitted, except as necessary for technical reasons. Accordingly, your comments will not be edited to remove any identifying or contact information. Public comments may also be viewed electronically or in paper in Room MP-500 of the Board's Martin Building (C and 20th Streets NW.) between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays.

A copy of the comments may also be submitted to the OMB desk officer for the Board: Joseph Lackey, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, Room 3208, Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

A copy of the proposed form and instructions, the Paperwork Reduction Act Submission (OMB 83-I), supporting statement, and other documents that will be placed into OMB's public docket files once approved may be requested from the agency clearance officer, whose name appears below.

Michelle Long, Acting Federal Reserve Board Clearance Officer, (202) 452-3829, Division of Research and Statistics, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, DC 20551. Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) users may contact (202) 263-4869, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, DC 20551.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Proposal to Approve Under OMB Delegated Authority The Extension For Three Years, Without Revision, Of The Following Reports

1. Report title: Notice of Proposed Stock Redemption.

Agency form number: FR 4008.

OMB control number: 7100-0131.

Frequency: On occasion.

Reporters: Bank holding companies.

Annual reporting hours: 171 hours.

Estimated average hours per response: 15.5 hours.

Number of respondents: 11.

General description of report: This information collection is mandatory (12 U.S.C. § 1844(c)) and is generally not given confidential treatment.

Abstract: The Federal Reserve requires certain bank holding companies (BHCs), based on an amount of redemptions over a defined period, to give written notice to the appropriate Reserve Bank before purchasing or redeeming their equity securities. There is no formal reporting form. The Federal Reserve uses the information to fulfill its statutory obligation to supervise BHCs.

2. Report title: Notice Claiming Status as an Exempt Transfer Agent

Agency form number: FR 4013.

OMB control number: 7100-0137.

Frequency: On occasion.

Reporters: Banks, bank holding companies (BHCs), and certain trust companies.

Annual reporting hours: 6 hours.

Estimated average hours per response: 2 hours.

Number of respondents: 3.

General description of report: This information collection is voluntary (15 U.S.C. 78q-1(c)(1)) and the Federal Reserve is authorized to collect this data (15 U.S.C. 78c (a)(34)(B)(ii)). The data collected are not given confidential treatment.

Abstract: Banks, BHCs, and trust companies subject to the Federal Reserve's supervision that are low-volume transfer agents voluntarily file the notice on occasion with the Federal Reserve. Transfer agents are institutions that provide securities transfer, registration, monitoring, and other specified services on behalf of securities issuers. The purpose of the notice, which is effective until the agent withdraws it, is to claim exemption from certain rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The Federal Reserve uses the notices for supervisory purposes because the SEC has assigned to the Federal Reserve responsibility for collecting the notices and verifying their accuracy through examinations of the respondents. The notice is made by letter; there is no reporting form.

3. Report title: Reports Related to Securities Issued by State Member Banks as Required by Regulation H.

Agency form number: Reg H-1.

OMB control number: 7100-0091.

Frequency: On occasion.

Reporters: State member banks.

Annual reporting hours: 1,390 hours.

Estimated average hours per response: 5.11 hours.

Number of respondents: 16.

General description of report: This information collection is mandatory (15 U.S.C. 781(i)) and is not given confidential treatment.

Abstract: The Federal Reserve's Regulation H requires certain state member banks to submit information relating to their securities to the Federal Reserve on the same forms that bank holding companies and nonbank entities use to submit similar information to the Securities and Exchange Commission. The information is primarily used for public disclosure and is available to the public upon request.