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

[Federal Register: September 9, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 174)]

[Notices]

[Page 53169-53171]

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

[DOCID:fr09se03-85]

FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM

Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

SUMMARY:

Background

On June 15, 1984, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) delegated to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board) its

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approval authority under the Paperwork Reduction Act, as per 5 CFR 1320.16, to approve of and assign OMB control numbers to collection of information requests and requirements conducted or sponsored by the Board under conditions set forth in 5 CFR 1320 Appendix A.1. Board- approved collections of information are incorporated into the official OMB inventory of currently approved collections of information. Copies of the OMB 83-I's and supporting statements and approved collection of information instruments are placed into OMB's public docket files. The Federal Reserve may not conduct or sponsor, and the respondent is not required to respond to, an information collection that has been extended, revised, or implemented on or after October 1, 1995, unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

Request For Comment on Information Collection Proposals.

The following information collections, which are being handled under this delegated authority, have received initial Board approval and are hereby published for comment. At the end of the comment period, the proposed information collections, along with an analysis of comments and recommendations received, will be submitted to the Board for final approval under OMB delegated authority. Comments are invited on the following:

1. whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the Federal Reserve's functions; including whether the information has practical utility;

2. the accuracy of the Federal Reserve's estimate of the burden of the proposed 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; and

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

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before November 10, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to Ms. Jennifer J. Johnson, Secretary, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 20th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20551. However, because paper mail in the Washington area and at the Board of Governors is subject to delay, please consider submitting your comments by e- mail to regs.comments@federalreserve.gov, or faxing them to the Office of the Secretary at 202-452-3819 or 202-452-3102. Members of the public may inspect comments in Room MP-500 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on weekdays pursuant to 261.12, except as provided in 261.14, of the Board's Rules Regarding Availability of Information, 12 CFR 261.12 and 261.14.

A copy of the comments may also be submitted to the OMB desk officer for the Board: Joseph Lackey, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, Room 3208, Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: A copy of the proposed form and instructions, the Paperwork Reduction Act Submission (OMB 83-I), supporting statement, and other documents that will be placed into OMB's public docket files once approved may be requested from the agency clearance officer, whose name appears below.

Cindy Ayouch, Federal Reserve Board Clearance Officer (202-452- 3829), Division of Research and Statistics, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, DC 20551. Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) users may contact (202-263-4869), Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, DC 20551.

Proposal to Approve Under OMB Delegated Authority the Extension for Three Years, Without Revision, of the Following Report:

1. Report title: Monthly Report of Traveler's Checks Outstanding

   Agency form number: FR 2054

   OMB control number: N/A

   Frequency: Monthly

   Reporters: Nonbank issuers of travelers checks in the United States

   Annual reporting hours: 84 hours

   Estimated average hours per response: 1 hour

   Number of respondents: 7

   General description of report: This information collection is voluntary (12 U.S.C. 353 et seq.) and is given confidential treatment (5 U.S.C. 552(b)(4)).

   Abstract: The report collects the month-end total amount outstanding of dollar- denominated traveler's checks issued by seven major nonbank issuers. The Federal Reserve uses these data in the computation of the nonbank traveler's check component of the monetary aggregates.

   Proposal to Approve Under OMB Delegated Authority the Extension for Three Years, With Revision, of the Following Reports:

1. Report title: The Government Securities Dealers Reports: The Weekly Report of Dealer Positions (FR 2004A), The Weekly Report of Cumulative Dealer Transactions (FR 2004B), The Weekly Report of Dealer Financing and Fails (FR 2004C), The Weekly Report of Specific Issues (FR 2004SI), The Daily Report of Specific Issues (FR 2004SD), and The Daily Report of Dealer Activity in Treasury Financing (FR 2004WI).

   Agency form number: FR 2004

   OMB control number: 7100-0003

   Frequency: Weekly, Daily

   Reporters: Primary dealers in the U.S. government securities market

   Annual reporting hours: 12,342 hours

   Estimated average hours per response: FR 2004A, 1.5 hours; FR 2004B, 2 hours; FR 2004C, 1.25 hours; FR 2004SI, 2 hours; FR 2004SD, 2 hours; FR 2004WI, 1 hour.

   Number of respondents: 22

   General description of report: This information collection is voluntary (12 U.S.C. 248 (a)(2), 353-359, and 461(c)); however, primary dealers are expected to file the report with the Federal Reserve. Individual respondent data are regarded as confidential under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552 (b)(4) and (b)(8)).

   Abstract: The FR 2004A collects data as of Wednesday of each week on dealers' outright positions in Treasury and other marketable debt securities. The FR 2004B collects data cumulated for the week ended Wednesday on the volume of transactions made by dealers in the same instruments for which positions are reported on the FR 2004A. The FR 2004C collects data as of Wednesday of each week on the amounts of dealer financing and fails. The FR 2004SI collects data as of Wednesday of each week on outright, financing, and fails positions in current or on-the-run issues. Under certain circumstances the FR 2004SI data can also be collected on a daily basis for on-the-run and off-the-run securities. The FR 2004WI collects daily information on a next- business-day basis on positions in to-be-issued Treasury coupons securities, mainly the trading on a when-issued delivery basis.

   Current actions: The Federal Reserve proposes to make the following modifications to the reporting series: 1) delete the columns for cumulative weekly volume and average weekly rates for repurchase agreements on the FR 2004C, 2) include a new column, FRBNY Security ID, on the FR 2004SI,

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   3) formalize the collection of the FR 2004SI daily data in the new reporting form, FR 2004SD, 4) publish all data collected on the FR 2004C, (5) change the data submission schedule to be uniform across the four weekly reports, and (6) adjust row and column headings to be uniform across reports and to more clearly identify the data to be reported. The revised reporting forms would be implemented as of January 7, 2004.

   Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, September 3, 2003.

   Jennifer J. Johnson, Secretary of the Board.

   [FR Doc. 03-22850 Filed 9-8-03; 8:45 am]

   BILLING CODE 6210-01-S