[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 12 (Tuesday, January 20, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2752-2753]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-1073]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange 
Commission, Office of Filings and Information Services, 450 Fifth 
Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549.
Extension: Rule 55; SEC File No. 270-376; OMB Control No. 3235-0430.

    Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``Commission'') is soliciting comments on the collections of 
information summarized below. The Commission plans to submit the 
existing collection of information to the Office of Management and 
Budget (``OMB'') for extension and approval.
    Under rule 55, a filing must be under section 33(c)(1) of the Act 
for a ``safe harbor'' for acquisitions of foreign utility companies by 
registered holding companies. The filing is made only for foreign 
utility companies that meet specific criteria. Rule 55 is a proposal, 
and has not yet been adopted in final. The Commission estimates that 11 
annual responses together incur about 39,710 burden hours to comply 
with these requirements. The Commission estimates that the total annual 
reporting and recordkeeping burden is 110 (11 annual responses x 10 
hours = 110 burden hours). This represents a decrease of 39,600 hours 
annually in the paperwork burden from the prior estimate, and this 
decrease was caused by a decrease in the number of annual responses. 
The Commission needs the information because it gives the registered 
holding company a ``safe harbor'' when it acquires a foreign utility 
company that meets specified criteria. The Commission uses this 
information to determine the existence of detriment to the interests 
the Act was designed to protect. Compliance with the requirements to 
provide the information is mandatory. The information will not be kept 
confidential.
    The estimate of average burden hours is made solely for the 
purposes of the Paperwork Reduction Act. The estimate is not derived 
from a comprehensive or even a representative survey or study of the 
costs of Commission rules and forms.
    Written comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the agency, including whether the information will 
have 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 collected; and (d) 
ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
respondents, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology. Consideration will 
be given to comments and suggestions submitted in writing within 60 
days of this publication.
    Please direct your written comments to Kenneth A. Fogash, Acting 
Associate Executive Director/CIO, Office of Information Technology, 
Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 5th Street, NW., Washington, DC 
20549.


[[Page 2753]]


    Dated: January 9, 2004.
Margaret H. McFarland,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 04-1073 Filed 1-16-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-P