[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 123 (Tuesday, June 26, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 38141]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-15494]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Office of Foreign Assets Control


Proposed Collection; Comment Request for Electronic License 
Application Form

AGENCY: Office of Foreign Assets Control, Treasury.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Treasury, as part of its continuing 
effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general 
public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed and/or 
continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). 
Currently, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (``OFAC'') within the 
Department of the Treasury is soliciting comments concerning OFAC's 
Electronic License Application Form TD-F 90-22.54, which is referred to 
throughout this Notice as the ``OFAC Application for the Release of 
Blocked Funds.''

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before August 27, 2012 
to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov.
    Follow the instructions on the Web site for submitting comments.
    Fax: Attn: Request for Comments (OFAC Application for the Release 
of Blocked Funds) (202) 622-1657.
    Mail: Attn: Request for Comments (OFAC Application for the Release 
of Blocked Funds), Office of Foreign Assets Control, Department of the 
Treasury, 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20220.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
and the Federal Register Doc. number that appears at the end of this 
document. Comments received will be made available to the public via 
regulations.gov or upon request, without change and including any 
personal information provided.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Assistant Director for Sanctions 
Compliance & Evaluation, tel.: 202/622-2490, Assistant Director for 
Licensing, tel.: 202/622-2480, Assistant Director for Policy, tel.: 
202/622-4855, Office of Foreign Assets Control, or Chief Counsel 
(Foreign Assets Control), tel.: 202/622-2410, Office of the General 
Counsel, Department of the Treasury (not toll free numbers).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: OFAC Application for the Release of Blocked Funds.
    OMB Control Number: 1505-0170.
    Abstract: Transactions prohibited pursuant to the Trading With the 
Enemy Act, 50 U.S.C. App. 1-44, the International Emergency Economic 
Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq., and other authorities may be 
authorized by means of specific licenses issued by the Office of 
Foreign Assets Control (``OFAC''). Such licenses are issued in response 
to applications submitted by persons whose property and interests in 
property have been blocked or who wish to engage in transactions that 
would otherwise be prohibited. The OFAC Application for the Release of 
Blocked Funds, which provides a standardized method of application for 
all applicants seeking the unblocking of funds, is available in 
electronic format on OFAC's Web site. Use of the form greatly 
facilitates and speeds applicants' submissions and OFAC's processing of 
such applications. By obviating the need for applicants to write 
lengthy letters to OFAC, this form reduces the overall burden of the 
application process. Since February 2000, use of the OFAC Application 
for the Release of Blocked Funds to apply for the unblocking of funds 
has been mandatory pursuant to a revision in OFAC's regulations at 31 
CFR Sec.  501.801. See 65 FR 10707 February 29, 2000.
    Current Actions: The OFAC Application for the Release of Blocked 
Funds is being revised to include a space for applicants to provide an 
email address.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Individuals/businesses and other for-profit 
institutions/banking institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,000.
    Estimated Time per Respondent: 30 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,500.
    The following paragraph applies to all of the collections of 
information covered by this notice:
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to, a collection of information unless the collection of 
information displays a valid Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') 
control number.

Request for Comments

    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or 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, 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 collection of information 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.

    Dated: June 20, 2012.
Dawn D. Wolfgang,
Treasury PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-15494 Filed 6-25-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4811-25-P