[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 163 (Wednesday, August 23, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49459-49460]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-13939]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM


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

AGENCY: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (``Board'')

ACTION: Notice of information collection to be submitted to OMB for 
review and approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), the Board, the Federal Deposit 
Insurance Corporation (``FDIC''), and the Office of the Comptroller of 
the Currency (``OCC'') (collectively, the ``agencies''), may not 
conduct or sponsor, and the respondent is not required to respond to, 
an information collection unless it displays a currently valid Office 
of Management and Budget (``OMB'') control number.
    On May 2, 2006, the Board, under the auspices of the Federal 
Financial Institutions Examination Council (``FFIEC'') and on behalf of 
the agencies, published a notice in the Federal Register (71 FR 25842) 
requesting public comment for 60 days on the extension, without 
revision, of the Country Exposure Report for U.S. Branches and Agencies 
of Foreign Banks (``FFIEC 019''), which is a currently approved 
information collection. The comment period for this notice expired on 
July 3, 2006. No comments were received. The Board hereby gives notice 
that it plans to submit to OMB on behalf of the agencies a request for 
approval of the FFIEC 019.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before September 22, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties are invited to submit written comments to 
the agency listed below. All comments, which should refer to the OMB 
control number, will be shared among the agencies.
    You may submit comments, identified by FFIEC 019 (7100-0213), by 
any of the following methods:
     Agency Web Site: http://www.federalreserve.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments on the http://www.federalreserve.gov/generalinfo/foia/ProposedRegs.cfm.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     E-mail: [email protected]. Include the OMB 
control number in the subject line of the message.
     FAX: 202-452-3819 or 202-452-3102.

[[Page 49460]]

     Mail: Jennifer J. Johnson, Secretary, Board of Governors 
of the Federal Reserve System, 20th Street and Constitution Avenue, 
N.W., Washington, DC 20551.
    All public comments are available from the Board's web site at 
www.federalreserve.gov/generalinfo/foia/ProposedRegs.cfm as submitted, 
unless modified for technical reasons. Accordingly, your comments will 
not be edited to remove any identifying or contact information. Public 
comments may also be viewed electronically or in paper in Room MP-500 
of the Board's Martin Building (20th and C Streets, N.W.) between 9:00 
a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on weekdays.
    Additionally, commenters should send a copy of their comments to 
the Desk Officer for the agencies by mail to U.S. Office of Management 
and Budget, 725 17th Street N.W., 10235, Washington, DC 20503 
or by fax to 202-395-6974.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional information or a copy of 
the collection may be requested from Michelle Long, Federal Reserve 
Board Clearance Officer, 202-452-3829, Division of Research and 
Statistics, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 20th and 
C Streets, N.W., Washington, DC 20551. Telecommunications Device for 
the Deaf (TDD) users may call 202-263-4869, Board of Governors of the 
Federal Reserve System, 20th and C Streets, N.W., Washington, DC 20551.

Proposal to request approval from OMB of the extension for three years, 
without revision, of the following currently approved collection of 
information:

    Report Title: Country Exposure Report for U.S. Branches and 
Agencies of Foreign Banks
    Form Number: FFIEC 019
    OMB Number: 7100-0213
    Frequency of Response: Quarterly
    Affected Public: U.S. branches and agencies of foreign banks
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 162
    Estimated Average Time per Response: 10 hours
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 6,480 hours
    General Description of Reports: This information collection is 
mandatory: 12 U.S.C. 3906 for all agencies; 12 U.S.C. 3105 and 3108 for 
the Board; sections 7 and 10 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 
U.S.C. 1817, 1820) for the FDIC; and the National Bank Act (12 U.S.C. 
161) for the OCC. The FFIEC 019 information collection is given 
confidential treatment under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 
552(b)(8)).
    Abstract: All individual U.S. branches and agencies of foreign 
banks that have more than $30 million in direct claims on residents of 
foreign countries must file the FFIEC 019 report quarterly. Currently, 
all respondents report adjusted exposure amounts to residents of their 
home country, regardless of amount, and to residents of the five other 
countries for which their adjusted exposure amounts are largest, 
provided these amounts are at least $20 million. The agencies collect 
these data to monitor the extent to which such branches and agencies 
are pursuing prudent country risk diversification policies and limiting 
potential liquidity pressures. No changes are proposed to the FFIEC 019 
reporting form or instructions.

Request for Comment

    Comments are invited on:
    a. Whether the information collection is necessary for the proper 
performance of the agencies' functions, including whether the 
information has practical utility;
    b. The accuracy of the agencies' estimate 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.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be shared among 
the agencies. All comments will become a matter of public record. 
Written comments should address the accuracy of the burden estimate and 
ways to minimize burden including the use of automated collection 
techniques or the use of other forms of information technology as well 
as other relevant aspects of the information collection request.

    Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, August 18, 
2006.
Robert deV. Frierson,
Deputy Secretary of the Board.
[FR Doc. E6-13939 Filed 8-22-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6210-01-S