2013-01072. Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; 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 (PRA), pursuant to 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 Part 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 Paperwork Reduction Act Submission, 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.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before March 25, 2013.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments, identified by FR 4031, or Reg H-1, by any of the following methods:

• Agency Web Site: http://www.federalreserve.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments at http://www.federalreserve.gov/​generalinfo/​foia/​ProposedRegs.cfm.
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• Email: [e-mail]. Include OMB number in the subject line of the message.
• FAX: [phone] or [phone].
• Mail: Robert deV. Frierson, Secretary, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 20th Street and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20551.

All public comments are available from the Board's web site at www.federalreserve.gov/​generalinfo/​foia/​ProposedRegs.cfm as submitted, unless modified 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 form in Room MP-500 of the Board's Martin Building (20th and C Streets NW.) between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on weekdays.

Additionally, commenters may send a copy of their comments to the OMB Desk Officer—Shagufta Ahmed —Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, Room 10235 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20503 or by fax to [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

A copy of the PRA OMB submission, including the proposed reporting form and instructions, supporting statement, and other documentation will be placed into OMB's public docket files, once approved. These documents will also be made available on the Federal Reserve Board's public Web site at: http://www.federalreserve.gov/​apps/​reportforms/​review.aspx or may be requested from the agency clearance officer, whose name appears below.

Federal Reserve Board Clearance Officer —Cynthia Ayouch—Division of Research and Statistics, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, DC 20551 [phone].

Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) users may contact [phone], Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, DC 20551.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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;

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; and

e. Estimates of capital or start up costs and costs of operation, maintenance, and purchase of services to provide information.

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

1. Report title: Notice of Branch Closure.

Agency form number: FR 4031.

OMB control number: 7100-0264.

Frequency: On occasion.

Reporters: State member banks.

Estimated annual reporting hours: 224 hours.

Estimated average hours per response: Reporting requirements, 2 hours; Disclosure requirements, customer mailing, 0.75 hours and posted notice, 0.25 hours; and Recordkeeping requirements, 8 hours.

Number of respondents: Reporting requirements, 72; Disclosure requirements, customer mailing, 72 and posted notice, 72; and Recordkeeping requirements, 1.

General description of report: This information collection is mandatory pursuant to Section 42(a)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (FDI Act) (12 U.S.C. 1831r-l(a)(1)). The Federal Reserve does not consider individual respondent data to be confidential. However, a state member bank may request confidential treatment pursuant to exemption b(4) of the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C.552(b)(4)).

Abstract: The mandatory reporting, recordkeeping, and disclosure requirements regarding the closing of any branch of an insured depository institution are imposed by section 228 of the FDI Act of 1991. There is no reporting form associated with the reporting portion of this information collection; state member banks notify the Federal Reserve by letter prior to closing a branch. The Federal Reserve uses the information to fulfill its statutory obligation to supervise state member banks

2. 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: Annually, Quarterly, and on occasion.

Reporters: State member banks.

Estimated annual reporting hours: 352 hours.

Estimated average hours per response: 5.17 hours.

Number of respondents: 4.

General description of report: This information collection is mandatory pursuant to sections 12(i) and 23(a)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 781(i) and 78w (a)(1)) and Regulation H (12 CFR 208.36). The information collected is not given confidential treatment. However, a state member bank make request that a report or document not be disclosed to the public and be held confidential by the Federal Reserve, (12 CFR 208.36(d). All such requests for confidential treatment will be determined on an ad hoc basis.

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.

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, January 15, 2013.

Robert deV. Frierson,

Secretary of the Board.