[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 193 (Wednesday, October 6, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 59972]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E4-2498]


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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 54, SEC File No. 270-376, OMB Control No. 3235-0427.

    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 and 54 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.
    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.
    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: September 28, 2004.
Margaret H. McFarland,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E4-2498 Filed 10-5-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-P