04-12994. Proposed Extension 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 extension without change of an information collection titled, “Examination Questionnaire.”

DATES:

You should submit written comments by August 9, 2004.

ADDRESSES:

You should direct all written comments to the Communications Division, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Public Information Room, Mailstop 1-5, Attention: 1557-0199, 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. You can make an appointment to inspect the comments by calling [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

You can request additional information or a copy of the collection from John Ference or Camille Dixon, [phone], Legislative and Regulatory Activities Division, 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: Examination Questionnaire.

OMB Number: 1557-0199.

Description: This notice covers an extension without change of a currently approved collection of information titled Examination Questionnaire. The OCC has updated the estimated burden numbers and compensated for a reduction in the number of national banks, but has made no changes to the underlying collection of information. Completed Examination Questionnaires provide the OCC with information needed to properly evaluate the effectiveness of the examination process and agency communications. The OCC will use the information to identify problems or trends that may impair the effectiveness of the examination process, to identify ways to improve its service to the banking industry, and to analyze staff and training needs. A questionnaire is provided to each national bank at the conclusion of their supervisory cycle (12 or 18-month period). A banker may now choose to complete this questionnaire on National BankNet, the OCC's secure extranet site.

Respondents: Businesses or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 2,100.

Total Annual Responses: 1,869.

Frequency of Response: On occasion.

Estimated Total Annual Burden: 312 burden hours.

Type of Review: Extension of OMB approval.

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a respondent is not required to respond to, an information collection unless the information collection displays a currently valid OMB control number.

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: June 3, 2004.

Stuart Feldstein,

Assistant Director, Legislative & Regulatory Activities Division.