[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 199 (Wednesday, October 15, 2003)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 59308-59309]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-26076]


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FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE BOARD

12 CFR Parts 910 and 913

[No. 2003-25]
RIN 3069-AB07


Amendments to the Privacy Act and Freedom of Information Act; 
Implementation

AGENCY: Federal Housing Finance Board.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Housing Finance Board (Finance Board) is adopting 
as a final rule the interim final rule that revised its Privacy Act 
regulation to reflect an agency reorganization and to make it more 
``user-friendly'' by using plain language and where appropriate, a 
question-and-answer format. The rule also amended the fee schedule in 
the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) regulation, which the Finance 
Board uses to determine the amount of the fee it charges to duplicate 
records under both the FOIA and the Privacy Act, to take into account 
increased salary and operating costs.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The final rule will become effective on November 14, 
2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janice A. Kaye, Senior Attorney-
Advisor, Office of General Counsel, by electronic mail at 
[email protected], by telephone at 202/408-2505, or by regular mail at the 
Federal Housing Finance Board, 1777 F Street, NW., Washington, DC 
20006.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    In July 2003, the Finance Board published an interim final rule 
with request for comments that revised its

[[Page 59309]]

Privacy Act and FOIA regulations. See 68 FR 39810 (July 3, 2003). The 
revised Privacy Act regulation (12 CFR part 913) is written in a 
``user-friendly'' format using plain language and, where appropriate, a 
question-and-answer format. It reflects a reassignment of 
responsibility and authority for the agency's Privacy Act program to 
the Office of General Counsel. The rule also amended the fee schedule 
in the FOIA regulation (12 CFR 910.9), which the Finance Board uses to 
determine the amount of the fee it charges to duplicate records under 
both the FOIA and the Privacy Act, to take into account increased 
salary and operating costs. The 60-day public comment period for the 
interim final rule closed on September 2, 2003. See 68 FR at 39811.

II. Analysis of Public Comments and the Final Rule

    The Finance Board received no comments in response to the interim 
final rule. Thus, for the reasons set forth in detail in the interim 
final rulemaking, the Finance Board is adopting the interim final rule 
as a final rule with one technical change to redesignate Sec.  
913.7(c)(1)(vii) as Sec.  913.7(c)(1)(vi).

III. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Finance Board adopted the amendments to parts 910 and 913 in 
the form of an interim final rule and not as a proposed rule. 
Therefore, the provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility Act do not 
apply. See 5 U.S.C. 601(2), 603(a).

IV. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The final rule does not contain any collections of information 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. See 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. 
Consequently, the Finance Board has not submitted any information to 
the Office of Management and Budget for review.

List of Subjects

12 CFR Part 910

    Administrative practice and procedure, Archives and records, 
Confidential business information, Federal home loan banks, Freedom of 
information.

12 CFR Part 913

    Administrative practice and procedure, Archives and records, 
Freedom of information, Privacy.

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For the reasons stated in the preamble, the Finance Board hereby adopts 
the interim final rule revising 12 CFR parts 910 and 913 that was 
published at 68 FR 39810 on July 3, 2003, as a final rule with the 
following change:

PART 913--PRIVACY ACT REGULATION

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1. The authority citation for part 913 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552a.

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2. Redesignate Sec.  913.7(c)(1)(vii) as Sec.  913.7(c)(1)(vi).

    Dated: October 9, 2003.

    By the Board of Directors of the Federal Housing Finance Board.
John T. Korsmo,
Chairman.
[FR Doc. 03-26076 Filed 10-14-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6725-01-P