03-13031. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 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 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; 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 July 22, 2003.

ADDRESSES:

Comments may be mailed to Ms. Jennifer J. Johnson, Secretary, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 20th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20551. However, because paper mail in the Washington area and at the Board of Governors is subject to delay, please consider submitting your comments by e- mail to [e-mail], or faxing them to the Office of the Secretary at 202-452-3819 or 202-452-3102. Members of the public may inspect comments in Room MP-500 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on weekdays pursuant to 261.12, except as provided in 261.14, of the Board's Rules Regarding Availability of Information, 12 CFR 261.12 and 261.14.

A copy of the comments may also be submitted to the OMB desk officer for the Board: Joseph Lackey, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, Room 3208, Washington, DC 20503.

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. Cindy Ayouch, 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 Requirements Associated with Changes in Foreign Investments (Made Pursuant to Regulation K)

Agency form number: FR 2064

OMB control number: 7100-0109

Frequency: On-occasion

Reporters: State member banks (SMBs), Edge and agreement corporations, and bank holding companies (BHCs).

Annual reporting hours: 320 hours

Estimated average hours per response: 2 hours

Number of respondents: 40

Small businesses are not affected.

General description of report: The recordkeeping requirements of this information collection are mandatory (Section 5(c) of the BHC Act (12 U.S.C. 1844(c)); Sections 7 and 13(a) of the International Banking Act of 1978 (12 U.S.C. 3106 and 3108(a)); Section 25 of the Federal Reserve Act (FRA) (12 U.S.C. 601-604a); Section 25A of the FRA (12 U.S.C. 611_631); and Regulation K (12 CFR 211.8(c))). Since the Federal Reserve does not collect this information no issue of confidentiality under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) arises. FOIA will only be implicated if the Board's examiners retain a copy of the records in their examination or supervision of the institution, and would be exempt from disclosure pursuant to FOIA (5 U.S.C. §552(b)(4), (b)(6), and (b)(8)).

Abstract: Internationally active U.S. banking organizations are expected to maintain adequate internal records to allow examiners to review for compliance with the investment provisions of Regulation K. For each investment made under Subpart A of Regulation K, records should be maintained regarding the type of investment, for example, equity (voting shares, nonvoting shares, partnerships, interests conferring ownership rights, participating loans), binding commitments, capital contributions, and subordinated debt; the amount of the investment; the percentage ownership; activities conducted by the company and the legal authority for such activities; and whether the investment was made under general consent, prior notice, or specific consent authority. With respect to investments made under general consent authority, information also must be maintained that demonstrates compliance with the various limits set out in Section 211.9 of Regulation K.

2. Report title: Recordkeeping Requirements Associated with Real Estate Appraisal Standards for Federally Related Transactions Pursuant to Regulations H and Y

Agency form number: FR H-4

OMB control number: 7100-0250

Frequency: Event-generated

Reporters: SMBs and subsidiaries of BHCs

Annual reporting hours: SMBs, 27,775; subsidiaries of BHCs, 39,813

Estimated average hours per response: 0.25 hours

Number of respondents: 1,785

Small businesses are not affected.

General description of report: This information collection is mandatory (12 U.S.C. 3331-3351). Since the Federal Reserve does not collect this information, no issue of confidentiality under FOIA arises.

Abstract: For federally related transactions, Title XI of the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 (FIRREA) requires SMBs and BHCs with credit extending subsidiaries to use appraisals prepared in accordance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice promulgated by the Appraisal Standards Board of the Appraisal Foundation. Generally, these standards include the methods and techniques used to analyze a property as well as the requirements for reporting such analysis and a value conclusion in the appraisal. There is no formal reporting form and the information is not submitted to the Federal Reserve.

3. Report title: Request for Proposal (RFP) and Request for Price Quotations (RFPQ)

Agency form number: RFP/RFPQ

OMB control number: 7100-0180

Frequency: On-occasion

Reporters: Vendors and suppliers

Annual reporting hours: 7,858 hours

Estimated average hours per response: RFP, 50 hours; RFPQ, 2 hours.

Number of respondents: RFP, 120; RFPQ, 929.

Small businesses are affected.

General description of report: This information collection is required to obtain a benefit (12 U.S.C. 243, 244, and 248). This information collection is not given confidential treatment unless a respondent requests that portions of the information be kept confidential and the Board's staff grants the request pursuant to the applicable exemptions provided by FOIA (5 U.S.C. 552).

Abstract: The Federal Reserve uses the RFP and the RFPQ as needed to obtain competitive bids and contracts submitted by vendors (offerors). Depending upon the goods and services for which the Federal Reserve Board is seeking bids, the offeror is requested to provide either prices for providing the goods or services (RFPQ) or a document covering not only prices, but the means of performing a particular service and a description of the qualification of the staff of the offeror who will perform the service (RFP). The Board staff uses this information to analyze the proposals and select the offer providing the best value.

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, May 20, 2003.

Jennifer J. Johnson,

Secretary of the Board.