[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 152 (Monday, August 9, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48260-48261]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-18121]


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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, Washington, DC 
20549

Extension:
    Rule 53; SEC File No. 270-376, OMB Control No. 3235-0426,
    Rule 57(b) and Form U-33-S, SEC File No. 270-376, OMB Control 
No. 3235-0429

    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 collection of 
information summarized below. The Commission plans to submit this 
existing collection of information to the Office of Management and 
Budget for extension and approval.
    Sections 32 and 33 of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 
1935, as amended (``Act''), and rules 53, 54, and 57(b) under the Act, 
permit, among other things, utility holding companies registered under 
the Act to make direct or indirect investments in exempt wholesale 
generators (``EWGs'') and foreign utility companies (``FUCOs''), as 
defined in sections 32 and 33 of the Act, respectively, without the 
prior approval of the Commission, if certain conditions are met. Rules 
53 and 54 do not create a reporting burden for respondents. Rule 53 
does, however, contain recordkeeping and retention requirements. As 
required by Congress, the Commission mandates the maintenance of 
certain books and records identifying investments in and earnings from 
all subsidiary EWGs or FUCOs in order to measure their financial effect 
on the registered systems.
    The Commission estimates that the total annual recordkeeping and 
record retention burden under rules 53 will be a total of 290 hours (10 
hours per respondent x 29 respondents = 290 burden hours). It is 
estimated that there will be no burden hours associated with rule 54.
    Under rule 57(b) there is an annual requirement for any public 
utility company that owns one or more FUCOs to file Form U-33-S. The 
information contained in Form U-33-S allows the Commission to monitor 
overseas investments by public utility companies.
    The Commission estimates that the total annual reporting burden 
under rule 57(b) will be 18 hours (3 hours per respondent x 6 filings = 
18 hours).
    These estimates of average burden hours are made solely for the 
purposes of the Paperwork Reduction Act and are not derived from a 
comprehensive or even a representative survey or study of the costs of 
SEC rules and forms.
    Rules 53, 54, and 57(b) each impose a mandatory recordkeeping 
requirement of this information collection. It is mandatory that 
qualifying companies provide the information required by rules 53, 54 
and 57(b). There is no requirement to keep the information confidential 
because it is public information.

[[Page 48261]]

    Written comments are invited on: (1) 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; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of 
the burden of the collection of information; (3) ways to enhance the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (4) 
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 R. Corey Booth, Director/
Chief Information Officer, Office of Information Technology, Securities 
and Exchange Commission, 450 5th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549.

    Dated: August 2, 2004.
Margaret H. McFarland,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 04-18121 Filed 8-6-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-U