[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 122 (Tuesday, June 24, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35722-35723]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-14169]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Information 
Collection; Comment Request

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

ACTION: Notice and request for comment.

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

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 it 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.''

DATES: You should submit your comments by August 25, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You should direct all written 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. For 
security reasons, the OCC requires that visitors make an appointment to 
inspect comments. You may do so by calling (202) 874-5043. Upon 
arrival, visitors will be required to present valid government-issued 
photo identification and submit to security screening in order to 
inspect and photocopy comments.
    Additionally, you should send a copy of your comments to OCC Desk 
Officer, 1557-0159, by mail to U.S. Office of Management and Budget, 
725 17th Street, NW., 10235, Washington, DC 20503, or by fax 
to (202) 395-6974.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: You can request additional information 
from Mary Gottlieb, OCC Clearance Officer, (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 revise the following 
information collection:
    Title: Fair Housing Home Loan Data System Regulation--12 CFR 27.
    OMB Control No.: 1557-0159.
    Description: 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 OCC is responsible for ensuring that national banks 
comply with those laws. This information collection is needed to 
promote national bank compliance and for OCC to fulfill its statutory 
responsibilities.
    The information collection requirements in 12 CFR part 27 are as 
follows:
     Section 27.3(a) 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,\1\ 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(a) also lists exceptions to the HMDA-LAR recordkeeping 
requirements.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Loan Application Register, http://www.ffiec.gov/hmda/doc/hmdalar2007.doc.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Section 27.3(b) 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 27.3(c) sets forth additional information required 
to be kept in the loan file.
     Section 27.4 states that the OCC may require a national 
bank to maintain a Fair Housing Inquiry/Application Log found in 
Appendix III to part 27 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 required by Sec.  27.3 for 25 months after the bank 
notifies the applicant of action

[[Page 35723]]

taken on an application, or after withdrawal of an application.
     Section 27.7 requires a national bank to submit the 
information required by Sec. Sec.  27.3(a) and 27.4 to the OCC upon its 
request, prior to a scheduled examination using the Monthly Home Loan 
Activity Format form in Appendix I to part 27 and the Home Loan Data 
Form in Appendix IV to part 27.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,712.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 2,871.
    Estimated Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Estimated Time per Respondent: 2.68 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 4,595.84 hours.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will become 
a matter of public record. Comments are invited on:
    (a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the 
proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether 
the information has practical utility;
    (b) The accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
collection of information;
    (c) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected;
    (d) Ways to minimize the burden of the collection on respondents, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology; and
    (e) Estimates of capital or startup costs and costs of operation, 
maintenance, and purchase of services to provide information.

    Dated: June 16, 2008.
Michele Meyer,
Assistant Director, Legislative and Regulatory Activities Division.
[FR Doc. E8-14169 Filed 6-23-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-33-P