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 proposal.

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 collections of information are 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 collections, 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 collections on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before April 9, 2004.

ADDRESSES:

Comments should be mailed to Jennifer J. Johnson, Secretary, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 20th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20551. Please consider submitting your comments through the Board's web site at 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 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 forms and instructions, the Paperwork Reduction Act Submission (OMB 83-I), supporting statements, 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.

Cindy Ayouch, 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.

Proposal to approve under OMB delegated authority the extension for three years, without revision, of the following reports:

1. Report title: Survey to Obtain Information on the Relevant Market in Individual Merger Cases

Agency form number: FR 2060

OMB control number: 7100-0232

Frequency: On occasion

Reporters: Small businesses and consumers

Annual reporting hours: 18

Estimated average hours per response: 10 minutes for small businesses, 6 minutes for consumers

Number of respondents: 25 small businesses and 50 consumers per survey

General description of report: This information collection is voluntary (12 U.S.C. § 1817(j), 1828(c), and 1841 et seq.) and is given confidential treatment (5 U.S.C. §§ 552 (b)(4) and (b)(6)).

Abstract: The Federal Reserve uses this information to define relevant banking markets for specific merger and acquisition applications and to evaluate changes in competition that would result from proposed transactions.

2. Report title: Written Security Program for State Member Banks

Agency form number: FR 4004

OMB control number: 7100-0112

Frequency: On occasion

Reporters: State member banks

Annual reporting hours: 27

Estimated average hours per response: 30 minutes

Number of respondents: 54

General description of report: This recordkeeping requirement is mandatory [12 U.S.C. § 1882], 12 U.S.C. § 248(a)(1) and 325, and Regulation H [12 C.F.R., part 208.61] authorize the Board to require the recordkeeping of this information. Because written security programs are maintained at state member banks, no issue of confidentiality under the Freedom of Information Act normally arises. However, copies of such documents included in examination work papers would, in such form, be confidential pursuant to exemption 8 of the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(8)).

Abstract: This mandatory information collection is a recordkeeping requirement contained in the Federal Reserve's Regulation H, Section 208.61. Each state member bank must develop and implement a written security program and maintain it in the bank's records. There is no formal reporting form and the information is not submitted to the Federal Reserve.

3. Report title: Transfer Agent Registration and Amendment Form

Agency form number: FR TA-1

OMB control number: 7100-0099

Frequency: On occasion

Reporters: State member banks and their subsidiaries, bank holding companies, and certain nondeposit trust company subsidiaries of bank holding companies.

Annual reporting hours: 8

Estimated average hours per response: 1 hour and 15 minutes for registrations; 10 minutes for amendments

Number of respondents: 5 registrations and 11 amendments

General description of report: This information collection is mandatory (Sections 17A(c), 17(a), and 23(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (15 USC 78q-1(c)(1) and (2), 78q(a)(3), and 78w(a)(1))) and is not given confidential treatment.

Abstract: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act”) requires any person acting as a transfer agent to register as such and to amend registration information when it changes. State member banks and their subsidiaries, bank holding companies, and certain nondeposit trust company subsidiaries of bank holding companies register with the Federal Reserve System by submitting Form TA-1. The information collected includes the company name, all business addresses, and several questions about the registrant's proposed activities as a transfer agent. The Federal Reserve uses the information to act upon registration applications and to aid in performing its supervisory duties.