[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 9 (Tuesday, January 14, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2508-2509]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-00509]


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 DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY


Departmental Offices; Proposed Collection; Comment Request

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 burdens, invites the general public and 
other Federal agencies to comment on an information collection that is 
due for extension approval by the Office of Management and Budget. The 
Office of International Affairs within the Department of the Treasury 
is soliciting comments concerning the collection of data for the Annual 
Report of Foreign-Residents' Holdings of U.S. Securities, including 
Selected Money Market Instruments. The next such collection, which is a 
benchmark survey, is to be conducted as of June 30, 2014.

DATES: Written comments should be received on or before March 17, 2014 
to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Dwight Wolkow, International 
Portfolio Investment Data Systems, Department of the Treasury, Room 
5422, 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington DC 20220. In view of 
possible delays in mail delivery, please also notify Mr. Wolkow by 
email ([email protected]), FAX (202-622-2009) or telephone 
(202-622-1276).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Copies of the proposed forms and 
instructions are unchanged from the previous survey that was conducted 
as of June 30, 2013 (Form SHLA(2013)), except that the ``who must 
report'' section of the instructions is designed for a benchmark 
survey. Forms and instruction are available on the Treasury's TIC Web 
page for ``Forms SHL/SHLA & SHC/SHCA'' (Part I.A), at: http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/tic/Pages/forms-sh.aspx. Requests for additional information should be directed to Mr. 
Wolkow.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Treasury Department Form SHLA/SHL, Foreign-Residents' 
Holdings of U.S. Securities, including Selected Money Market 
Instruments.
    OMB Number: 1505-0123
    Abstract: These forms are used to conduct annual surveys of 
holdings by foreign-residents of U.S. securities for portfolio 
investment purposes. These data are used by the U.S. Government in the 
formulation of international and financial policies and for the 
computation of the U.S. balance of payments accounts and the U.S. 
international investment position. These data will also be used to 
provide information to the public and to meet international reporting 
commitments.
    The benchmark survey (Form SHL) is conducted once every five years, 
and requires reporting by all significant U.S.-resident custodians and 
U.S.-resident security issuers. In non-benchmark years an annual survey 
(Form SHLA) is conducted, and requires reports primarily from the very 
largest U.S.-resident custodians and issuers. The data requested will 
be the same in Form SHL and, during the four succeeding years, in Form 
SHLA. The determination of who must report in the annual surveys (SHLA) 
will be based upon the securities data submitted during the previous 
benchmark survey. The data collected under the annual surveys (SHLA) 
will be used in conjunction with the results of the previous benchmark 
survey to compute economy-wide estimates for the non-benchmark years.
    Current Actions: No changes in the forms or instructions will be 
made from the previous survey that was conducted as of June 30, 2013, 
except that the ``who must report'' section of the instructions is 
designed for a benchmark survey.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Business/Financial Institutions.
    Forms: TDF SHLA, Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 (1505-0123); TDF SHL, 
Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 (1505-0123).
    Estimated Number of Respondents: An annual average (over five 
years) of 191, but this varies widely from about 540 in benchmark years 
(once every five years) to about 104 in each of the other years (four 
out of every five years).
    Estimated Average Time per Respondent: an annual average (over five 
years) of about 168 hours, but this will vary widely from respondent to 
respondent. (a) In the year of a benchmark survey, which is conducted 
once every five years, it is estimated that exempt respondents will 
require an average of 17 hours; for custodians of securities, the 
estimate is a total of 321 hours on average, but this figure will vary 
widely for individual custodians; and for issuers of securities that 
have data to report and are not custodians, the estimate is 61 hours on 
average. (b) In a non-benchmark year, which occurs four years out of 
every five years, for the largest custodians of securities, the 
estimate is a total of 486 hours on average; and for the largest 
issuers of securities that have data to report and are not custodians, 
the estimate is 110 hours on average.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: An annual average (over five 
years) of 32,060 hours.
    Frequency of Response: Annual.
    Request for Comments: Comments submitted in response to this notice 
will be summarized and/or included in the request for Office of 
Management and Budget approval. All comments will become a matter of 
public record. The public is invited to submit written comments 
concerning: (a) Whether the Survey is necessary for the proper 
performance of the functions of the Office, including whether the 
information collected has practical uses; (b) the accuracy of the above 
burden estimates; (c) ways to enhance the quality, usefulness and 
clarity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to minimize the 
reporting and/or recordkeeping burdens on respondents, including the 
use of information technologies to automate the collection of the data; 
and (e) estimates of capital or start-up costs of operation,

[[Page 2509]]

maintenance and purchases of services to provide information.

Dwight Wolkow,
Administrator, International Portfolio Investment Data Systems.
[FR Doc. 2014-00509 Filed 1-13-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-25-P