05-20833. 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, 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 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 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 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 December 16, 2005.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments, identified by Reg H-2 or Reg BB, 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.
• E-mail: [e-mail]. Include docket number in the subject line of the message.
• FAX: [phone] or 202/452-3102.
• Mail: Jennifer J. Johnson, 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 http://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 in Room MP-500 of the Board's Martin Building (20th and C Streets, NW.) between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays.

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, 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.

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

1. Report title: Recordkeeping and Disclosure Requirements Associated with Loans Secured by Real Estate Located in Flood Hazard Areas Pursuant to Section 208.25 of Regulation H.

Agency form number: Reg H-2.

OMB control number: 7100-0280.

Frequency: Event-generated.

Reporters: State member banks.

Annual reporting hours: 122,413 hours.

Estimated average hours per response: Notice of special flood hazards to borrowers and servicers, 0.08 hours; notice to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) of servicer, 0.08 hours; notice to FEMA of change of servicer, 0.08 hours; and retention of standard FEMA form, 0.04 hours.

Number of respondents: 910.

General description of report: This information collection is mandatory (12 U.S.C. 248(a)(1)). Because the Federal Reserve does not collect any of FEMA forms this information collection is not given confidential treatment. However, should any of these records come into the possession of the Federal Reserve, such information may be protected from disclosure by exemption 4 and 6 of the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552(b)(4) and (b)(6)).

Abstract: Regulation H requires state member banks to notify a borrower and servicer when loans secured by real estate are determined to be in a special flood hazard area and notify them whether flood insurance is available; notify FEMA of the identity of, and any change of, the servicer of a loan secured by real estate in a special flood hazard area; and retain a completed copy of the Standard Flood Hazard Determination Form used to determine whether property securing a loan is in a special flood hazard area.

2. Report title: Recordkeeping, Reporting, and Disclosure Requirements in Connection with Regulation BB (Community Reinvestment Act).

Agency form number: Reg BB.

OMB control number: 7100-0197.

Frequency: Annually.

Reporters: State member banks.

Annual reporting hours: 85,234 hours.

Estimated average hours per response: Recordkeeping Requirement, small business and small farm loan register, 219 hours. Optional Recordkeeping Requirements, consumer loan data, 326 hours; other loan data, 25 hours. Reporting Requirements, assessment area delineation, 2 hours; small business and small farm loan data, 8 hours; community development loan data, 13 hours; and HMDA out of MSA loan data, 253 hours. Optional Reporting Requirements, data on lending by a consortium or third party, 17 hours; affiliate lending data, 38 hours; strategic plan, 275 hours; and request for designation as a wholesale or limited purpose bank, 4 hours. Disclosure Requirement, public file, 10 hours.

Number of respondents: 914.

Abstract: This submission covers an extension of the Federal Reserve's currently approved information collections in their CRA regulations (12 CFR part 228). The submission involves no change to the regulation or to the information collection.

The Federal Reserve System needs the information collected to fulfill their obligations under the CRA (12 U.S.C. 2901 et seq.) to evaluate and assign ratings to the performance of institutions, in connection with helping to meet the credit needs of their communities, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, consistent with safe and sound banking practices. The Federal Reserve System uses the information in the examination process and in evaluating applications for mergers, branches, and certain other corporate activities. Financial institutions maintain and provide the information to the Federal Reserve System.

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, October 13, 2005.

Jennifer J. Johnson,

Secretary of the Board.