Agency information collection activities; proposals, submissions, and approvals,

[Federal Register: August 9, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 152)]

[Notices]

[Page 46262]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr09au05-134]

[[Page 46262]]

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; 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. 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. The OCC is soliciting comment concerning its information collection titled, ``Fair Housing Home Loan Data System Regulation--12 CFR 27.'' The OCC also gives notice that it has sent the information collection to OMB for review and approval.

DATES: You should submit your comments by September 8, 2005.

ADDRESSES: You should direct your comments to:

Communications Division, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Public Information Room, Mailstop 1-5, Attention: 1557-0159, 250 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 20219. In addition, comments may be sent by fax to (202) 874-4448, or by electronic mail to regs.comments@occ.treas.gov. You can inspect and photocopy the comments

at the OCC's Public Information Room, 250 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 20219. You can make an appointment to inspect the comments by calling (202) 874-5043.

Additionally, you should send a copy of your comments to Mark Menchik, OMB Desk Officer, 1557-0159, Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, Room 3208, Washington, DC 20503. Electronic mail address is mmenchik@omb.eop.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: You can request additional information or a copy of the collection from Mary Gottlieb, OCC Clearance Officer, or Camille Dixon, (202) 874-5090, 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 for three years OMB approval of the following information collection:

Title: Fair Housing Home Loan Data System Regulation--12 CFR 27.

OMB Number: 1557-0159.

Description: This submission covers an existing regulation and involves no change to the regulation or to the information collection, other than the number of institutions. The OCC requests only that OMB extend its approval of the information collection.

The Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 3605) prohibits discrimination in the financing of housing on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The Equal Credit Opportunity Act (15 U.S.C. 1691 et seq.) prohibits discrimination in any aspect of a credit transaction on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age, receipt of income from public assistance, or exercise of any right under the Consumer Credit Protection Act. The information collection requirements ensure bank compliance with applicable Federal law, further bank safety and soundness, provide protections for banks and the public, and further public policy interests.

On May 12, 2005, the OCC published in the Federal Register (70 FR 25157) a notice on the proposed clarifications to this information collection. The comment period expired on July 11, 2005. The OCC received no public comments and is now submitting its request to OMB for approval of this information collection.

The information collection requirements in 12 CFR part 27 are as follows: Section 27.3 requires a national bank that is required to collect data on home loans under 12 CFR part 203 to present the data on Federal Reserve Form FR HMDA-LAR, or in automated format in accordance with the HMDA-LAR instructions, and to include one additional item (the reason for denial) on the HMDA-LAR. Section 27.3 also lists exceptions to the HMDA-LAR recordkeeping requirements. Section 27.3 further lists the information banks should obtain from an applicant as part of a home loan application, and states information that a bank must disclose to an applicant.

Section 27.4 states that the OCC may require a national bank to maintain a Fair Housing Inquiry/Application Log if there is reason to believe that the bank is engaging in discriminatory practices or if analysis of the data compiled by the bank under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (12 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.) and 12 CFR part 203 indicates a pattern of significant variation in the number of home loans between census tracts with similar incomes and home ownership levels differentiated only by race or national origin.

Section 27.5 requires a national bank to maintain the information for 25 months after the bank notifies the applicant of action taken on an application, or after withdrawal of an application.

Section 27.7 requires a national bank to submit the information to the OCC upon its request, prior to a scheduled examination.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,908.

Estimated Total Annual Responses: 1,908.

Frequency of Response: On occasion.

Estimated Total Annual Burden: 3,764 hours.

Written comments are invited on:

1. Whether the information collection is necessary for the proper performance of the Agency's functions, and how the instructions can be clarified so that information gathered has more practical utility;

2. The accuracy of the Agency's estimates of the burden of the information collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

3. Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected;

4. Ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and

5. Estimates of capital or start up costs and costs of operation, maintenance, and purchase of services to provide information.

Stuart Feldstein, Assistant Director, Legislative and Regulatory Activities Division.

[FR Doc. 05-15666 Filed 8-8-05; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4810-33-P