03-30405. Proposed Renewal of Information Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Treasury.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comment.

SUMMARY:

The OCC, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on a continuing information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Currently, the OCC is soliciting comment concerning its renewal of an information collection titled, “(MA)—Municipal Securities Dealers and Government Securities Brokers and Dealers Registration and Withdrawal.”

DATES:

You should submit written comments by February 9, 2004.

ADDRESSES:

You should direct all written comments to the Communications Division, Attention: 1557-0184, Third Floor, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, 250 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 20219. In addition, you may send comments by facsimile transmission to [phone], or by electronic mail to [e-mail]. You can inspect and photocopy the comments at the OCC's Public Reference Room, 250 E Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on business days. You can make an appointment to inspect the comments by calling [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

You can request additional information from or a copy of the collection from John Ference or Camille Dixon, [phone], Legislative and Regulatory Activities Division (1557-0184), Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, 250 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 20219.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The OCC is proposing to extend OMB approval of the following information collection:

Title: (MA)—Municipal Securities Dealers and Government Securities Brokers and Dealers Registration and Withdrawal.

OMB Number: 1557-0184.

Form Numbers: MSD, MSDW, MSD-4, MSD-5, G-FIN, G-FINW.

Abstract: This information collection is required to satisfy the requirements of the Securities Act Amendments of 1975 and the Government Securities Act of 1986 which requires that any national bank that acts as a government securities broker/dealer or a municipal securities dealer notify the OCC of its broker/dealer activities. The OCC uses this information to determine which national banks are government and municipal securities broker/dealers and to monitor institutions entry into and exit from government and municipal securities broker/dealer activities. The OCC also uses the information in planning bank examinations.

Type of Review: Renewal of a currently approved collection.

Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit; individuals.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 100.

Estimated Total Annual Responses: 3,080.

Frequency of Response: On occasion.

Estimated Total Annual Burden: 2,706 burden hours.

Comments: Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public record. Comments are invited on:

(a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information has 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 to be collected;

(d) Ways to minimize the burden of the collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and

(e) Estimates of capital or startup costs and costs of operation, maintenance, and purchase of services to provide information.

Dated: December 1, 2003.

Mark Tenhundfeld,

Assistant Director, Legislative & Regulatory Activities Division.