02-20344. Proposed Collection; Comment Request for Electronic License Application Form

AGENCY:

Office of Foreign Assets Control, Treasury.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

The Department of the Treasury, 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 proposed an/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) within the Department of the Treasury is soliciting comments concerning OFAC's Electronic License Application Form TD-F 90-22.54.

DATES:

Written comments should be received on or before October 11, 2002 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all written comments to Policy Planning and Program Management Division, Office of Foreign Assets Control, Department of the Treasury, 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Annex—2d Floor, Washington, DC 20220.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information about the filings or procedures should be directed to Policy Planning and Program Management Division, Office of Foreign Assets Control, Department of the Treasury, 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, Annex—2d Floor, Washington, DC 20220.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

 

Title: OFAC Form for OFAC License Applications to Unblock Funds Transfers.

Agency Form Number: TD-F 90-22.54.

OMB Number: 1505-0170.

Abstract: Transactions prohibited pursuant to the Trading With the Enemy Act, 50 U.S.C. App. 1-44, and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. 1701, may be authorized by means of specific licenses issued by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”). Such licenses are issued in response to applications submitted by persons or institutions whose property has been blocked or who wish to engage in transactions that would otherwise be prohibited. Form TD-F 90-22.54, which provides a standardized method of all applicants seeking the unblocking of funds transfers, is available in electronic format on OFAC's website. Use of the form greatly facilitates and speeds these applicant's submissions and OFAC's processing of such applications while simultaneously obviating the need for applicants to write lengthy letters to OFAC, thus reducing the overall burden of the application process. Since February 2000, use of the form to apply for the unblocking of funds transfers has been mandatory pursuant to a revision in OFAC's regulations at 31 CFR 501.801. See 65 FR 10708, February 29, 2000.

Current Actions: There are no changes being made to the form at this time.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Affected Public: Individuals/businesses and other for-profit institutions/banking institutions.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,000.

Estimated Time Per Respondent: 30 minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,500.

The following paragraph applies to all of the collections of information covered by this notice:

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless the collection of information displays a valid Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) control number. Books or records relating to a collection of information must be retained for five years.

Request for Comments

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or 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 of information 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.

Approved: August 6, 2002.

Loren L. Dohm,

Deputy Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.