Proposed Collection; Comment Request

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Federal RegisterNov 7, 2000
65 Fed. Reg. 66786 (Nov. 7, 2000)

Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Filings and Information Services, Washington, DC 20549.

Extension:

Rule 29; SEC File No. 270-169; OMB Control No. 3235-0149.

Rule 83; SEC File No. 270-82; OMB Control No. 3235-0181.

Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) is soliciting comments on the collections of information summarized below. The Commission plans to submit these existing collections of information to the Office of Management and Budget for extension and approval.

Rule 29, Filing of Reports to State Commissions, concerns reports to state commissions by registered holding companies and their subsidiaries. The rule requires that a copy of each annual report submitted by any registered holding company or any of its subsidiaries to a state commission covering operations not reported to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission no later than ten days after such submission.

The information collected under Rule 29 permits the Commission to remain current on developments that are reported to state commissions, but that might not be reported to the Commission otherwise. This information is beneficial to the liaison the Commission maintains with state governments and also is useful in the preparation of annual reports to the U.S. Congress under Section 23 of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935.

The title of Rule 83 is Exemption In the Case of Transactions With Foreign Associates. It authorizes exemption from the cost standard of section 13(b) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 for services provided to associated foreign utility companies.

Rule 83 requires a registered holding company system that wishes to avail itself of this exemption from Section 13(b) to submit an application, in the form of a declaration, to the Commission. The Commission will grant the application if, by reason of the lack of any major interest of holders of securities offered in the United States in servicing arrangements affecting such serviced subsidiaries, such an application for exemption is necessary or appropriate in the public interest or for the protection of investors.

Rules 29 and 83 do not create a recordkeeping or retention burden on respondents. These rules do, however, contain reporting and filing requirements. Rule 29 imposes a reporting burden of about .25 hours for each of sixty-two respondents, each of which makes one submission annually. The total annual burden is fifteen and one-half hours. Rule 29 imposes no cost burdens.

Since the Commission has received no applications under Rule 83 recently, it is estimated the burden of Rule 83 as zero.

These estimates of average burden hours are made solely for the purposes of the Paperwork Reduction Act and are not derived from a comprehensive or even a representative survey or study of the costs of SEC rules and forms.

Written comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted in writing within 60 days of this publication.

Please direct your written comments to Michael E. Bartell, Associate Executive Directory, Office of Information Technology, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549.

Dated: October 30, 2000.

Margaret H. McFarland,

Deputy Secretary.

[FR Doc. 00-28505 Filed 11-6-00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8010-01-M