2023-02646. Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comment.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau or CFPB) is requesting to extend the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB's) approval for an existing information collection titled “Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (Regulation X)” approved under OMB Control Number 3170-0016.

DATES:

Written comments are encouraged and must be received on or before April 10, 2023 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments, identified by the title of the information collection, OMB Control Number (see below), and docket number (see above), by any of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

• Email: [e-mail]. Include Docket No. CFPB-2023-0013 in the subject line of the email.

• Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier: Comment Intake, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Attention: PRA Office), 1700 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20552. Because paper mail in the Washington, DC area and at the Bureau is subject to delay, commenters are encouraged to submit comments electronically.

Please note that comments submitted after the comment period will not be accepted. In general, all comments received will become public records, including any personal information provided. Sensitive personal information, such as account numbers or Social Security numbers, should not be included.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information should be directed to Anthony May, PRA Officer, at [phone], or email: [e-mail]. If you require this document in an alternative electronic format, please contact [e-mail]. Please do not submit comments to these email boxes.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title of Collection: Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (Regulation X).

OMB Control Number: 3170-0016.

Type of Review: Extension without change of a currently approved collection.

Affected Public: Private sector: business or other for-profits, not-for-profit institutions.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 12,506.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,087,981.

Abstract: Regulation X ^[1] implements the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA).^[2] Regulation X contains information collections in the form of various disclosure and recordkeeping requirements. The disclosures in this collection are required by the statute and implementing regulations. Consumers use the disclosures required by RESPA and Regulation X to inform their choice of settlement service providers, review the final terms of a settlement, understand whom to contact about questions concerning their mortgage loan, and identify/protect themselves against inaccurate or questionable loan servicing practices.

Regulation X requires these information collections. However, to the extent that compliance with requirements in Regulation Z ^[3] provides an exemption from compliance with similar requirements in Regulation X, any relevant information collection burden is accounted for in OMB Control Number 3170-0015.

Request for Comments: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Bureau, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) The accuracy of the Bureau's estimate of the burden of the collection of information, including the validity of the methods and the 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 the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB's approval. All comments will become a matter of public record.

Anthony May,

Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Footnotes

1.  12 CFR parts 1024.1-.41.

2.  12 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.

3.  12 CFR 1026.