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

[Federal Register: June 8, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 110)]

[Notices]

[Page 32094-32095]

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

[DOCID:fr08jn04-138]

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

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 Federa-

[[Page 32095]]

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 of an information collection titled, ``Transfer Agent Registration and Amendment Form TA-1.''

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: 1557-0124, 250 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 20219. In addition, you may send comments by facsimile transmission 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 Reference Room, 250 E Street, SW., Washington, DC. You can make an appointment to inspect the comments by calling (202) 874-5043.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: You can request additional information or a copy of the collection from John Ference 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 OMB approval of the following information collection:

Title: Transfer Agent Registration and Amendment Form B Form TA-1.

OMB Number: 1557-0124.

Description: The OCC is requesting comment on its proposed extension, without change, of the information collection titled Transfer Agent Registration and Amendment Form B Form TA-1. This collection covers Form TA-1 and Form TA-W (Withdrawal of Transfer Agent Registration.) Section 17A(c) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Act), as amended by the Securities Act Amendments of 1975, provides that all those authorized to transfer securities registered under Section 12 of the Act (transfer agents) shall register by filing with the appropriate regulatory agency an application for registration in such form and containing such information and documents as such appropriate regulatory agency may prescribe to be necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of this section. These forms were developed by the OCC, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve to satisfy this statutory requirement.

National bank transfer agents use Form TA-1 to register or amend registration as transfer agents. The OCC uses the information to determine whether to allow, deny, accelerate, or postpone an application. The OCC also uses the data to more effectively schedule and plan transfer agent examinations.

National bank transfer agents must file an amendment to Form TA-1 with the OCC within 60 calendar days following the date on which any information reported on Form TA-1 becomes inaccurate, misleading, or incomplete.

National bank transfer agents must file Form TA-W to withdraw their transfer agent registration.

The Securities and Exchange Commission maintains complete files on the registration data of all transfer agents registered pursuant to the Act. It utilizes the data to identify transfer agents and to facilitate development of rules and standards applicable to all registered transfer agents.

Type of Review: Extension of OMB approval.

Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 120.

Total Annual Responses: 60.

Frequency of Response: On occasion.

Total Estimated Annual Burden: 30 burden hours.

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 1, 2004. Stuart Feldstein, Assistant Director, Legislative & Regulatory Activities Division.

[FR Doc. 04-12846 Filed 6-7-04; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4810-33-P