2019-06643. Agency Information Collection Activities: Information Collection Renewal; Submission for OMB Review; Leasing

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 (PRA).

In accordance with the requirements of the PRA, the OCC may not conduct or sponsor, and respondents are not required to respond to, an information collection unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number.

The OCC is soliciting comment concerning the renewal of its information collection titled “Leasing.” The OCC also is giving notice that it has sent the collection to OMB for review.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before May 6, 2019.

ADDRESSES:

Commenters are encouraged to submit comments by email, if possible. You may submit comments by any of the following methods:

• Email: [e-mail].
• Mail: Chief Counsel's Office, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Attention: 1557-0206, 400 7th Street SW, Suite 3E-218, Washington, DC 20219.
• Hand Delivery/Courier: 400 7th Street SW, Suite 3E-218, Washington, DC 20219.
• Fax: [phone].

Instructions: You must include “OCC” as the agency name and “1557-0206” in your comment. In general, the OCC will publish comments on www.reginfo.gov without change, including any business or personal information provided, such as name and address information, email addresses, or phone numbers. Comments received, including attachments and other supporting materials, are part of the public record and subject to public disclosure. Do not include any information in your comment or supporting materials that you consider confidential or inappropriate for public disclosure.

Additionally, please send a copy of your comments by mail to: OCC Desk Officer, 1557-0206, U.S. Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th Street NW, #10235, Washington, DC 20503 or by email to [e-mail].

You may review comments and other related materials that pertain to this information collection ^[1] following the close of the 30-day comment period for this notice by any of the following methods:

• Viewing Comments Electronically: Go to www.reginfo.gov. Click on the “Information Collection Review” tab. Underneath the “Currently under Review” section heading, from the drop-down menu select “Department of Treasury” and then click “submit.” This information collection can be located by searching by OMB control number “1557-0206” or “Leasing.” Upon finding the appropriate information collection, click on the related “ICR Reference Number.” On the next screen, select “View Supporting Statement and Other Documents” and then click on the link to any comment listed at the bottom of the screen.
• For assistance in navigating www.reginfo.gov,, please contact the Regulatory Information Service Center at [phone].
• Viewing Comments Personally: You may personally inspect comments at the OCC, 400 7th Street SW, Washington, DC. For security reasons, the OCC requires that visitors make an appointment to inspect comments. You may do so by calling [phone] or, for persons who are deaf or hearing impaired, TTY, [phone]. Upon arrival, visitors will be required to present valid government-issued photo identification and submit to security screening in order to inspect comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Shaquita Merritt, Clearance Officer, [phone] or, for persons who are deaf or hearing impaired, TTY, [phone], Chief Counsel's Office, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, 400 7th Street SW, Suite 3E-218, Washington, DC 20219.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), federal agencies must obtain approval from the OMB for each collection of information that they conduct or sponsor. “Collection of information” is defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR 1320.3(c) to include agency requests or requirements that members of the public submit reports, keep records, or provide information to a third party. The OCC asks that OMB extend its approval of this collection.

Title: Leasing.

OMB Control No.: 1557-0206.

Description: Under 12 CFR 23.4(c), a national bank must liquidate or re-lease property that is no longer subject to lease (off-lease property) as soon as practicable and not later than five years from the date the bank acquires the legal right to possess or control the property. If a national bank wishes to extend the five-year holding period for up to an additional five years, it must obtain OCC approval. Twelve CFR 23.4(c) requires a national bank seeking an extension to provide a clearly convincing demonstration as to why any additional holding period is necessary. In addition, a national bank must value off-lease property at the lower of current fair market value or book value promptly after the property becomes off-lease property.

Under 12 CFR 23.6, leases are subject to the lending limits prescribed by 12 U.S.C. 84, as implemented by 12 CFR part 32, or, if the lessee is an affiliate of the national bank, to the restrictions on transactions with affiliates prescribed by 12 U.S.C. 371c and 371c-1; Regulation W, 12 CFR part 223; and other limits or restrictions the OCC determines apply.

Twelve U.S.C. 24 contains two separate provisions authorizing a national bank to acquire personal property for purposes of lease financing. 12 U.S.C. 24(Seventh) authorizes leases of personal property (Section 24(Seventh) Leases) if the lease is a conforming lease as defined in 12 CFR 23.2(d)(2) and represents a noncancelable obligation of the lessee (i.e., the lease serves as the functional equivalent of a loan). See 12 CFR 23.20. A national bank also may acquire personal property for purposes of lease financing under the authority of 12 U.S.C. 24(Tenth). Twelve CFR 23.5 requires that if a national bank enters into both types of leases, its records must distinguish between the two types of leases. This information is required to establish that the national bank is complying with the limitations and requirements applicable to the two separate types of leases.

Type of Review: Regular.

Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 229.

Estimated Total Annual Burden: 562.

Frequency of Response: On occasion.

On December 4, 2018, the OCC issued a notice for 60 days of comment concerning this collection, 83 FR 62670. No comments were received. Comments continue to be requested on:

(a) Whether the information collections are necessary for the proper performance of the OCC's functions, including whether the information has practical utility;

(b) The accuracy of the OCC's estimates of the burden of the 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;

(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; and

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

Dated: March 29, 2019.

Theodore J. Dowd,

Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

Footnotes

1.  On December 4, 2018, the OCC published a 60-day notice for this information collection, 83 FR 62670.