[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 152 (Tuesday, August 9, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 46262]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-15666]



[[Page 46262]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request

AGENCY: Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Treasury.

ACTION: Notice and request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The OCC, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork 
and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal 
agencies to take this opportunity to comment on a continuing 
information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a respondent is not 
required to respond to, an information collection unless the 
information collection displays a currently valid OMB control number. 
The OCC is soliciting comment concerning its information collection 
titled, ``Fair Housing Home Loan Data System Regulation--12 CFR 27.'' 
The OCC also gives notice that it has sent the information collection 
to OMB for review and approval.

DATES: You should submit your comments by September 8, 2005.

ADDRESSES: You should direct your comments to:
    Communications Division, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, 
Public Information Room, Mailstop 1-5, Attention: 1557-0159, 250 E 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20219. In addition, comments may be sent by 
fax to (202) 874-4448, or by electronic mail to 
[email protected]. You can inspect and photocopy the comments 
at the OCC's Public Information Room, 250 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20219. You can make an appointment to inspect the comments by calling 
(202) 874-5043.
    Additionally, you should send a copy of your comments to Mark 
Menchik, OMB Desk Officer, 1557-0159, Office of Management and Budget, 
New Executive Office Building, Room 3208, Washington, DC 20503. 
Electronic mail address is [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: You can request additional information 
or a copy of the collection from Mary Gottlieb, OCC Clearance Officer, 
or Camille Dixon, (202) 874-5090, Legislative and Regulatory Activities 
Division, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, 250 E Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20219.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The OCC is proposing to extend for three 
years OMB approval of the following information collection:
    Title: Fair Housing Home Loan Data System Regulation--12 CFR 27.
    OMB Number: 1557-0159.
    Description: This submission covers an existing regulation and 
involves no change to the regulation or to the information collection, 
other than the number of institutions. The OCC requests only that OMB 
extend its approval of the information collection.
    The Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 3605) prohibits discrimination in 
the financing of housing on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or 
national origin. The Equal Credit Opportunity Act (15 U.S.C. 1691 et 
seq.) prohibits discrimination in any aspect of a credit transaction on 
the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital 
status, age, receipt of income from public assistance, or exercise of 
any right under the Consumer Credit Protection Act. The information 
collection requirements ensure bank compliance with applicable Federal 
law, further bank safety and soundness, provide protections for banks 
and the public, and further public policy interests.
    On May 12, 2005, the OCC published in the Federal Register (70 FR 
25157) a notice on the proposed clarifications to this information 
collection. The comment period expired on July 11, 2005. The OCC 
received no public comments and is now submitting its request to OMB 
for approval of this information collection.
    The information collection requirements in 12 CFR part 27 are as 
follows: Section 27.3 requires a national bank that is required to 
collect data on home loans under 12 CFR part 203 to present the data on 
Federal Reserve Form FR HMDA-LAR, or in automated format in accordance 
with the HMDA-LAR instructions, and to include one additional item (the 
reason for denial) on the HMDA-LAR. Section 27.3 also lists exceptions 
to the HMDA-LAR recordkeeping requirements. Section 27.3 further lists 
the information banks should obtain from an applicant as part of a home 
loan application, and states information that a bank must disclose to 
an applicant.
    Section 27.4 states that the OCC may require a national bank to 
maintain a Fair Housing Inquiry/Application Log if there is reason to 
believe that the bank is engaging in discriminatory practices or if 
analysis of the data compiled by the bank under the Home Mortgage 
Disclosure Act (12 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.) and 12 CFR part 203 indicates a 
pattern of significant variation in the number of home loans between 
census tracts with similar incomes and home ownership levels 
differentiated only by race or national origin.
    Section 27.5 requires a national bank to maintain the information 
for 25 months after the bank notifies the applicant of action taken on 
an application, or after withdrawal of an application.
    Section 27.7 requires a national bank to submit the information to 
the OCC upon its request, prior to a scheduled examination.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,908.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 1,908.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 3,764 hours.
    Written comments are invited on:
    a. Whether the information collection is necessary for the proper 
performance of the Agency's functions, and how the instructions can be 
clarified so that information gathered has more practical utility;
    b. The accuracy of the Agency's estimates of the burden of the 
information collection, including the validity of the methodology and 
assumptions used;
    c. Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected;
    d. Ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on 
respondents, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology; and
    e. Estimates of capital or start up costs and costs of operation, 
maintenance, and purchase of services to provide information.

Stuart Feldstein,
Assistant Director, Legislative and Regulatory Activities Division.
[FR Doc. 05-15666 Filed 8-8-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-33-P