[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 48 (Tuesday, March 12, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11166-11167]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-5682]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Extension of 
Information Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY: Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Treasury.

ACTION: Notice and request for comment.

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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 it 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.''

DATES: You should submit written comments by May 13, 2002.

ADDRESSES: You should direct 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. Due to recent, temporary disruptions in the OCC's mail service, 
commenters are encouraged to submit comments by fax or e-mail. Comments 
may be sent by fax to (202) 874-4448, or by e-mail to 
[email protected]. 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.
    A copy of the comments should also be sent to the OMB Desk Officer 
for the OCC: Alexander T. Hunt, Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office 
Building, Room 3208, Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: You can request additional information 
from Jessie Dunaway, 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 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. 
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.
    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: 2,400.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 2,400.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 4,369 hours.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and included in the request for OMB

[[Page 11167]]

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: March 5, 2002.
Mark J. Tenhundfeld,
Assistant Director, Legislative and Regulatory Activities Division.
[FR Doc. 02-5682 Filed 3-11-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-33-P