[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 246 (Thursday, December 23, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76945-76947]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-28041]


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FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM


Agency Information Collection Activities: Announcement of Board 
Approval Under Delegated Authority and Submission to OMB

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the final approval of proposed 
information collections by the Board of Governors of the Federal 
Reserve System (Board) under OMB delegated authority, as per 5 CFR 
1320.16 (OMB Regulations on Controlling Paperwork Burdens on the 
Public). Board-approved collections of information are incorporated 
into the official OMB inventory of currently approved collections of 
information. Copies of the OMB 83-Is and supporting statements and 
approved collection of information instruments are placed into OMB's 
public docket files. The Federal Reserve may not conduct or sponsor, 
and the respondent is not required to respond to, an information 
collection that has been extended, revised, or implemented on or after 
October 1,

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1995, unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Federal Reserve Board Clearance 
Officer--Cindy Ayouch--Division of Research and Statistics, Board of 
Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, DC 20551 (202-452-
3829)
    OMB Desk Officer--Mark Menchik--Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, New Executive 
Office Building, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, or email to 
[email protected]

Final Approval Under OMB Delegated Authority of the Extension for Three 
Years, With Revision, of the Following Reports

    1. Report title: Application for Employment with the Board of 
Governors of the Federal Reserve System
    Agency form number: FR 28
    OMB control number: 7100-0181
    Frequency: On occasion
    Reporters: Employment applicants
    Annual reporting hours: 2,500 hours
    Estimated average hours per response: 1 hour
    Number of respondents: 2,500
    General description of report: This information collection is 
required to obtain a benefit (sections 10(4) and 11(1) of the Federal 
Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. Sec. 244 and 248(1)). The Board is required to 
treat the information collected on the Application as confidential 
pursuant to the requirements of the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. Sec. 552a). 
Individual respondent data are regarded as confidential under the 
Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. Sections. 552(b)(2) and (b)(6)).
    Abstract: The Application collects information to determine the 
qualifications, suitability, and availability of applicants for 
employment with the Board. The Application asks about education, 
training, employment, and other information covering the period since 
the applicant left high school.
    Current Actions: On October 15, 2004, the Federal Reserve issued 
for public comment proposed revisions to the Application for Employment 
with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (FR 28) (69 
FR 61250). The comment period expired on December 14, 2004. The 
proposed revisions to the Application consisted of adding the 
applicant's email address and cell phone number and modifying the 
education and training section to inform applicants that educational 
claims must be from an accredited school. The Federal Reserve also 
proposed to modify the Applicant's Voluntary Self-Identification Form 
(FR 28s) to be consistent with the Office of Management and Budget's 
(OMBs) Statistical Policy Directive No. 15, (Race and Ethnic Standards 
for Federal Statistics and Administrative Reporting). The Federal 
Reserve Board also proposed to revise the Research Assistant Candidate 
Survey of Interests (FR 28i), by modifying the areas of interest, 
changing the rating scale format, adding a section on software packages 
used by the candidate, and adding a line for the candidate's name. The 
Federal Reserve did not receive any comments. Changes will be 
implemented as proposed.
    2. Report title: Compensation and Salary Surveys
    Agency form number: FR 29a, b, c
    OMB control number: 7100-0290
    Frequency: FR 29a, annually; FR 29b, on occasion; FR 29c, annually
    Reporters: Employers considered competitors for Federal Reserve 
employees
    Annual reporting hours: FR 29a, 150 hours; FR 29b, 50 hours
    Estimated average hours per response: FR 29a, 6 hours; FR 29b, 1 
hour
    Number of respondents: 35
    General description of report: This information collection is 
voluntary (sections 10(4) and 11(1) of the Federal Reserve Act (12 
U.S.C. 244 and 248(1)) and is given confidential treatment (5 U.S.C 552 
(b)(4) and (b)(6)).
    Abstract: The surveys collect information on salaries, employee 
compensation policies, and other employee programs from employers that 
are considered competitors for Federal Reserve employees. The data from 
the surveys primarily are used to determine the appropriate salary 
structure and salary adjustments for Federal Reserve employees.
    Current Actions: On October 15, 2004, the Federal Reserve issued 
for public comment proposed revisions to the Compensation and Salary 
Surveys (FR 29a, b, c) (69 FR 61250). The Federal Reserve proposed to 
discontinue the annual Compensation Trend Survey (FR 29c). The 
international consulting firm of Hay Management Consultants had 
conducted this survey, on behalf of the Federal Reserve, since 1991. 
However, since 2001, the Federal Reserve has relied on data published 
in other national compensation surveys. The Annual Salary Survey (FR 
29a) and the ad hoc surveys related to salary and other employment 
issues (FR 29b), will not be revised. The Federal Reserve did not 
receive any comments. Changes will be implemented as proposed.
    3. Report title: Studies of Board Publications
    Agency form number: FR 1373a,b
    OMB control number: 7100-0301
    Frequency: FR 1373a, three times per year; FR 1373b, eight times 
per year
    Reporters: FR 1373a, community-based educators, key stakeholders, 
and other educators who have previously requested consumer education 
materials from the Federal Reserve; FR 1373b, current subscribers of 
the publications being surveyed.
    Annual reporting hours: FR 1373a, 368 hours; FR 1373b, 446 hours.
    Estimated average hours per response: FR 1373a, 30 minutes 
(survey), 90 minutes (panel discussion); FR 1373b, 15 minutes.
    Number of respondents: FR 1373a, 445; FR 1373b, 517.
    General description of report: This information collection is 
voluntary. The FR 1373a study is authorized pursuant to the Federal 
Trade Commission Improvement Act (15 U.S.C. Sec.  57(a)); the FR 1373 b 
study is authorized pursuant to 12 U.S.C. Sec.  248(i). The specific 
information collected is not considered confidential.
    Abstract: The FR 1373a study allows the Federal Reserve to: 1) 
conduct periodic reviews and evaluations of the consumer education 
materials, and 2) develop and evaluate consumer education materials 
under consideration for distribution. The FR 1373b study helps Federal 
Reserve evaluate other Board publications. In addition, the Federal 
Reserve uses the FR 1373b data to help determine if it should continue 
to issue certain publications and, if so, whether the public would like 
to see changes in the method of information delivery, frequency, 
content, format, or appearance.
    Current Actions: On October 15, 2004, the Federal Reserve issued 
for public comment proposed revisions to the Studies of Board 
Publications (FR 1373a, b) (69 FR 61250). The Federal Reserve proposed 
to revise the FR 1373a by adding focus group or guided discussions once 
a year with three groups of fifteen respondents. Each discussion will 
take an estimated ninety minutes. The goal for such focused discussions 
will be to identify what issues consumers want addressed and how they 
would like to receive this information. The Federal Reserve will work 
with community groups or other appropriate stakeholders to recruit 
small groups of consumers to serve as voluntary respondents. The 
Federal Reserve did not receive any comments. Changes will be 
implemented as proposed.


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    Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, December 17, 
2004.
Jennifer J. Johnson,
Secretary of the Board.
[FR Doc. 04-28041 Filed 12-22-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE: 6210-01-S