Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

SUMMARY:

Background.

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 September 18, 2000.

ADDRESSES:

Comments, which should refer to the OMB control number or agency form number, should be addressed to Jennifer J. Johnson, Secretary, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 20th and C Streets, NW., Washington, DC 20551, or mailed electronically to regs.comments@federalreserve.gov. Comments addressed to Ms. Johnson also may be delivered to the Board's mail room between 8:45 a.m. and 5:15 p.m., and to the security control room outside of those hours. Both the mail room and the security control room are accessible from the courtyard entrance on 20th Street between Constitution Avenue and C Street, NW. Comments received may be inspected in room M-P-500 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., except as provided in section 261.14 of the Board's Rules Regarding Availability of Information, 12 CFR 261.14(a).

A copy of the comments may also be submitted to the OMB desk officer for the Board: Alexander T. Hunt, 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. Mary M. West, Federal Reserve's 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 Diane Jenkins, (202-452-3544), Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, DC 20551.

Proposal To Approve Under OMB Delegated Authority the Extension for Three Years, Without Revision, of the Following Reports

1. Report title: The HMDA Loan/Application Register.

Agency form number: FR HMDA-LAR.

OMB control number: 7100-0247.

Frequency: Annual.

Reporters: State member banks, subsidiaries of state member banks, subsidiaries of bank holding companies, U.S. branches and agencies of foreign banks (other than federal branches, federal agencies, and insured state branches of foreign banks), commercial lending companies owned or controlled by foreign banks, and organizations under section 25 or 25A of the Federal Reserve Act.

Annual reporting hours: 121,714 hours.

Estimated average hours per response: Banks, 202 hours; mortgage subsidiaries, 160 hours.

Number of respondents: Banks, 517; mortgage subsidiaries, 108. Small businesses are not affected.

General description of report: This information collection is mandatory (12 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.). The data are not given confidential treatment, however, information that might identify individual borrowers or applicants is given confidential treatment under exemption 6 of the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552(b)(6)).

Abstract: The Federal Reserve's Regulation C, including the information collection, applies both to depository and to for-profit non-depository institutions. The information reported and disclosed pursuant to this collection is used to further the purposes of HMDA. These include: (1) to help determine whether financial institutions are serving the housing needs of their communities; (2) to assist public officials in distributing public-sector investments so as to attract private investment to areas where it is needed; and (3) to assist in identifying possible discriminatory lending patterns and enforcing anti-discrimination statues.

2. Report title: International Applications and Prior Notifications Under Subpart B of Regulation K.

Agency form number: FR K-2.

OMB control number: 7100-0284.

Frequency: Event-generated.

Reporters: Foreign banks.

Annual reporting hours: 600 hours.

Estimated average hours per response: 40 hours.

Number of respondents: 15.

Small businesses are not affected.

General description of report: This information collection is required to obtain or retain a benefit sections 7 and 10 of the International Banking Act (12 U.S.C. 3105 and 3107). The applying organization has the opportunity to request confidentiality for information that it believes will qualify for a Freedom of Information Act exemption.

Abstract: Foreign banks are required to obtain the prior approval of the Federal Reserve to establish a branch, agency, or representative office or to acquire ownership or control of a commercial lending company in the United States or to change the status of any existing office in the United States. The Federal Reserve needs the information to fulfill its statutory obligation to supervise foreign banking organizations with offices in the United States.