01-19431. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

Upon Written Requests, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Filings and Information Services, Washington, DC 20549.

Extension: Rule 15a-4, SEC File No. 270-7, OMB Control No. 3235-0010

Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget a request for extension of the previously approved collection of information discussed below.

Rule 15a-4 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) permits a natural person member of a securities exchange who terminates his or her association with a registered broker-dealer to continue to transact business on the exchange while the Commission reviews his or her application for registration as a broker-dealer if the exchange files a statement indicating that there does not appear to be any ground for disapproving the application. The total annual burden imposed by Rule 15a-4 is approximately 106 hours, based on approximately 25 responses (25 Respondents × 1 Response/Respondent), each requiring approximately 4.23 hours to complete. The total annual cost burden is $5875, based on approximately 25 responses, each costing approximately $235 to complete.

The Commission uses the information disclosed by applicants in Form BD: (1) To determine whether the applicant meets the standards for registration set forth in the provisions of the Exchange Act; (2) to develop a central information resource where members of the public may obtain relevant, up-to-date information about broker-dealers, municipal securities dealers and government securities broker-dealers, and where the Commission, other regulators and SROs may obtain information for investigatory purposes in connection with securities litigation; and (3) to develop statistical information about broker-dealers, municipal securities dealers and government securities broker-dealers. Without the information disclosed in Form BD, the Commission could not effectively implement policy objectives of the Exchange Act with respect to its investors protection function.

The statement submitted by the exchange assures the Commission that the applicant, in the opinion of the exchange, is qualified to transact business on the exchange during the time that the applications are reviewed.

Completing and filing Form BD is mandatory in order for a natural person member of a securities exchange who terminates his or her association with a registered broker-dealer to obtain the 45-day extension under Rule 15a-4. Compliance with Rule 15a-4 does not involve the collection of confidential information. Please note that an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number.

General comments regarding the above information should be directed to the following persons: (i) Desk Officer for the Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10102, New Executive Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20503; and (ii) Michael E. Bartell, Associate Executive Director, Office of Information Technology, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, D.C. 20549. Comments must be submitted to OMB within 30 days of this notice.

Dated: July 25, 2001.

Margaret H. McFarland,

Deputy Secretary.