[Federal Register: August 9, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 152)]
[Notices]
[Page 46262]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09au05-134]
[[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
regs.comments@occ.treas.gov. 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 mmenchik@omb.eop.gov.
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