Proposed Collection; Comment Request, 71199-71200 [E6-20805]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
71199
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 236 / Friday, December 8, 2006 / Notices
The RRB proposes the addition an
equivalent Internet version of Form SI–
3, Claim for Sickness Benefits to the
information collection. The internet
equivalent Form SI–3 will essentially
mirror the manual RRB Form SI–3
currently in use, but will also provide
the claimant the ability to change their
direct deposit information in addition to
the ability to complete and file the claim
via the Internet. Revisions to Form ID–
11a and ID–11b to add an item
requesting information regarding why a
claimant filed their claim late are also
proposed.
No changes are proposed to Form(s)
SI–1b, SI–7, SI–8, and ID–7h. Minor,
non-burden impacting editorial changes
are proposed to Form(s) SI–1a and SI–
3.
Estimate of Annual Respondent Burden
The estimated annual respondent
burden is as follows:
Annual
responses
Form #(s)
Time
(min)
Burden (hrs)
SI–1a ............................................................................................................................................
SI–1b(Doctor) ...............................................................................................................................
SI–3 (manual) ..............................................................................................................................
SI–3 (Internet) ..............................................................................................................................
SI–7 ..............................................................................................................................................
SI–8 ..............................................................................................................................................
ID–7H ...........................................................................................................................................
ID–11A .........................................................................................................................................
ID–11B .........................................................................................................................................
22,200
22,200
135,200
33,800
33,600
50
50
800
1,000
10
8
5
5
8
5
5
4
4
3,700
2,960
11,267
2,816
4,480
4
4
53
67
Total ......................................................................................................................................
248,900
........................
25,351
Additional Information or Comments
To request more information or to
obtain a copy of the information
collection justification, forms, and/or
supporting material, please call the RRB
Clearance Officer at (312) 751–3363 or
send an e-mail request to
Charles.Mierzwa@RRB.GOV. Comments
regarding the information collection
should be addressed to Ronald J.
Hodapp, Railroad Retirement Board, 844
North Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois
60611–2092 or send an e-mail to
Ronald.Hodapp@RRB.GOV. Written
comments should be received within 60
days of this notice.
Charles Mierzwa,
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. E6–20914 Filed 12–7–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
Proposed Collection; Comment
Request
Upon written request, copies available
from: Securities and Exchange
Commission, Office of Filings and
Information Services, Washington, DC
20549.
sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
Extension:
Rule 17f–6; SEC File No. 270–392; OMB
Control No. 3235–0447.
Notice is hereby given that, pursuant
to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(44 U.S.C. 3501–3520), the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the
‘‘Commission’’) is soliciting comments
on the collection of information
summarized below. The Commission
VerDate Aug<31>2005
19:05 Dec 07, 2006
Jkt 211001
plans to submit this existing collection
of information to the Office of
Management and Budget (‘‘OMB’’) for
extension and approval.
Rule 17f–6 (17 CFR 270.17f–6) under
the Investment Company Act of 1940
(15 U.S.C. 80a) permits registered
investment companies (‘‘funds’’) to
maintain assets (i.e., margin) with
futures commission merchants
(‘‘FCMs’’) in connection with
commodity transactions effected on
both domestic and foreign exchanges. 1
Prior to the rule’s adoption, funds
generally were required to maintain
these assets in special accounts with a
custodian bank.
The rule requires a written contract
that contains certain provisions
designed to ensure important safeguards
and other benefits relating to the
custody of fund assets by FCMs. To
protect fund assets, the contract must
require that FCMs comply with the
segregation or secured amount
requirements of the Commodity
Exchange Act (‘‘CEA’’) and the rules
under that statute. The contract also
must contain a requirement that FCMs
obtain an acknowledgment from any
clearing organization that the fund’s
assets are held on behalf of the FCM’s
customers according to CEA provisions.
Finally, FCMs are required to furnish to
the Commission or its staff on request
information concerning the fund’s assets
in order to facilitate Commission
inspections.
1 Custody of Investment Company Assets With
Futures Commission Merchants and Commodity
Clearing Organizations, Investment Company Act
Release No. 22389 (Dec. 11, 1996) (61 FR 66207
(Dec. 17, 1996)).
PO 00000
Frm 00080
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
The Commission estimates that
approximately 2,275 funds effect
commodities transactions and could
deposit margin with FCMs under Rule
17f–6 in connection with those
transactions. Commission staff estimates
that each fund uses and deposits margin
with two different FCMs in connection
with its commodity transactions.2
The Commission estimates that each
of the 2,275 funds spends an average of
1 hour annually complying with the
contract requirements of the rule (i.e.,
executing contracts that contain the
requisite provisions with additional
FCMs), for a total of 2,275 annual
burden hours. The estimate does not
include the time required by an FCM to
comply with the rule’s contract
requirements because, to the extent that
complying with the contract provisions
could be considered ‘‘collections of
information,’’ the burden hours for
compliance are already included in
other PRA submissions or are de
minimis.3 The estimate of average
burden hours is made solely for the
purposes of the Paperwork Reduction
2 This estimate is based on information
conversations with representatives of the fund
industry.
3 The rule requires a contract with the FCM to
contain three provisions. Two of the provisions
require the FCM to comply with existing
requirements under the CEA and rules adopted
under that Act. Thus, to the extent these provisions
could be considered collections of information, the
hours required for compliance would be included
in the collection of information burden hours
submitted by the Commodity Futures Trading
Commission for its rules. The third contract
provision requires that the FCM produce records or
other information requested by the Commission or
its staff. Commission staff has requested this type
of information from an FCM so infrequently in the
past that the annual burden hours are de minimis.
E:\FR\FM\08DEN1.SGM
08DEN1
71200
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 236 / Friday, December 8, 2006 / Notices
Act, and is not derived from a
comprehensive or even a representative
survey or study of the costs of
Commission rules and forms.
Compliance with the collection of
information requirements of the rule is
necessary to obtain the benefit of relying
on the rule. If an FCM furnishes records
pertaining to a fund’s assets at the
request of the Commission or its staff,
the records will be kept confidential to
the extent permitted by relevant
statutory or regulatory provisions. The
rule does not require these records be
retained for any specific period of time.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor,
and a person is not required to respond
to, a collection of information unless it
displays a currently valid control
number.
Written comments are invited on: (a)
Whether the collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of
the functions of the Commission,
including whether the information has
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
Commission’s estimate of the burden of
the collection of information; (c) ways to
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity
of the information collected; and (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.
Consideration will be given to
comments and suggestions submitted in
writing within 60 days after this
publication.
Please direct your written comments
to R. Corey Booth, Director/Chief
Information Officer, Securities and
Exchange Commission, C/O Shirley
Martinson, 6432 General Green Way,
Alexandria, VA 22312; or send an email to: PRA_Mailbox@sec.gov.
Dated: November 30, 2006.
Nancy M. Morris,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6–20805 Filed 12–7–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
[Securities Act of 1933, Release No. 8757/
December 4, 2006; Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, Release No. 54865/ December 4,
2006]
Order Approving Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board Budget
and Annual Accounting Support Fee
for Calendar Year 2007
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the
‘‘Act’’) established the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board (‘‘PCAOB’’)
VerDate Aug<31>2005
19:05 Dec 07, 2006
Jkt 211001
to oversee the audits of public
companies and related matters, to
protect investors, and to further the
public interest in the preparation of
informative, accurate and independent
audit reports. The PCAOB is to
accomplish these goals through
registration of public accounting firms
and standard setting, inspection, and
disciplinary programs. Section 109 of
the Act provides that the PCAOB shall
establish a reasonable annual
accounting support fee, as may be
necessary or appropriate to establish
and maintain the PCAOB. Section
109(h) amends Section 13(b)(2) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to
require issuers to pay the allocable share
of a reasonable annual accounting
support fee or fees, determined in
accordance with Section 109 of the Act.
Under Section 109(f), the aggregate
annual accounting support fee shall not
exceed the PCAOB’s aggregate
‘‘recoverable budget expenses,’’ which
may include operating, capital and
accrued items. Section 109(b) of the Act
directs the PCAOB to establish a budget
for each fiscal year in accordance with
the PCAOB’s internal procedures,
subject to approval by the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the
‘‘Commission’’).
On July 18, 2006, the Commission
amended its Rules of Practice related to
its Informal and Other Procedures to
add a rule that facilitates the
Commission’s review and approval of
PCAOB budgets and accounting support
fees.1 The new budget rule provides,
among other things, a timetable for the
preparation and submission of the
PCAOB budget and for Commission
actions related to each budget, a
description of the information that
should be included in each budget
submission, limits on the PCAOB’s
ability to incur expenses and obligations
except as provided in the approved
budget, procedures relating to
supplemental budget requests,
requirements for the PCAOB to furnish
on a quarterly basis certain budgetrelated information, and a list of
definitions that apply to the rule and to
general discussions of PCAOB budget
matters.
Although the new budget rule will not
take effect until the budget process for
fiscal year 2008, the PCAOB staff and
the Commission staff used their best
efforts to substantially comply with the
timetable and other requirements in the
new rule for the PCAOB budget
submission for 2007. Accordingly, in
March 2006 the PCAOB provided the
1 17 CFR 202.11. See Release No. 33–8724 (July
18, 2006) [71 FR 41998 (July 24, 2006)].
PO 00000
Frm 00081
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Commission with a narrative
description of its program issues and
outlook for the 2007 budget year, and in
April the Commission staff provided to
the PCAOB staff economic assumptions
and budgetary guidance for the 2007
budget year. The PCAOB subsequently
delivered a preliminary budget and
budget justification to the Commission.
The staff from the Commission’s Offices
of the Chief Accountant, Executive
Director and Information Technology
dedicated a substantial amount of time
to the review and analysis of the
PCAOB’s programs, projects and budget
estimates, reviewed the PCAOB’s
estimates of 2006 actual spending, and
attended several meetings with
management and staff of the PCAOB to
develop an understanding of the
PCAOB’s budget and operations. During
the course of the Commission’s review,
the Commission staff relied upon
representations and supporting
documentation from the PCAOB. Also,
substantially as provided in the new
rule, there was a ‘‘pass back’’ from the
Commission to the PCAOB. The PCAOB
approved its 2007 budget on November
30, 2006 and submitted that budget for
Commission approval.
After considering the above, the
Commission did not identify any
proposed disbursements in the 2007
budget adopted by the PCAOB that are
not properly recoverable through the
annual accounting support fee, and the
Commission believes that the aggregate
proposed 2007 annual accounting
support fee does not exceed the
PCAOB’s aggregate recoverable budget
expenses for 2007.
As part of its review of the 2007
PCAOB budget, the Commission notes
that the PCAOB has reaffirmed its
commitments, among other things, to
build upon its 2007 goals and objectives
to develop a comprehensive multi-year
strategic plan that is integrated with the
PCAOB budget process; to have the
auditors of its 2007 annual financial
statements opine on the PCAOB’s
internal control over financial reporting;
to devote staff resources to train both
PCAOB staff and the public on revisions
to the standard for auditing internal
control over financial reporting; and to
comply with the new Commission rule
related to the PCAOB budget approval
process in connection with its budget
for 2008. The Commission also
recognizes that the PCAOB, upon the
arrival of Chairman Olson in mid 2006,
appropriately has undertaken reviews in
a number areas, including its
compensation, recruiting and
information technology programs.
Because of the potential significance of
those reviews, during 2007 the PCAOB
E:\FR\FM\08DEN1.SGM
08DEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 236 (Friday, December 8, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71199-71200]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-20805]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Proposed Collection; Comment Request
Upon written request, copies available from: Securities and Exchange
Commission, Office of Filings and Information Services, Washington, DC
20549.
Extension:
Rule 17f-6; SEC File No. 270-392; OMB Control No. 3235-0447.
Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the ``Commission'') is soliciting comments on the
collection of information summarized below. The Commission plans to
submit this existing collection of information to the Office of
Management and Budget (``OMB'') for extension and approval.
Rule 17f-6 (17 CFR 270.17f-6) under the Investment Company Act of
1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a) permits registered investment companies
(``funds'') to maintain assets (i.e., margin) with futures commission
merchants (``FCMs'') in connection with commodity transactions effected
on both domestic and foreign exchanges. \1\ Prior to the rule's
adoption, funds generally were required to maintain these assets in
special accounts with a custodian bank.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Custody of Investment Company Assets With Futures Commission
Merchants and Commodity Clearing Organizations, Investment Company
Act Release No. 22389 (Dec. 11, 1996) (61 FR 66207 (Dec. 17, 1996)).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The rule requires a written contract that contains certain
provisions designed to ensure important safeguards and other benefits
relating to the custody of fund assets by FCMs. To protect fund assets,
the contract must require that FCMs comply with the segregation or
secured amount requirements of the Commodity Exchange Act (``CEA'') and
the rules under that statute. The contract also must contain a
requirement that FCMs obtain an acknowledgment from any clearing
organization that the fund's assets are held on behalf of the FCM's
customers according to CEA provisions. Finally, FCMs are required to
furnish to the Commission or its staff on request information
concerning the fund's assets in order to facilitate Commission
inspections.
The Commission estimates that approximately 2,275 funds effect
commodities transactions and could deposit margin with FCMs under Rule
17f-6 in connection with those transactions. Commission staff estimates
that each fund uses and deposits margin with two different FCMs in
connection with its commodity transactions.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ This estimate is based on information conversations with
representatives of the fund industry.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Commission estimates that each of the 2,275 funds spends an
average of 1 hour annually complying with the contract requirements of
the rule (i.e., executing contracts that contain the requisite
provisions with additional FCMs), for a total of 2,275 annual burden
hours. The estimate does not include the time required by an FCM to
comply with the rule's contract requirements because, to the extent
that complying with the contract provisions could be considered
``collections of information,'' the burden hours for compliance are
already included in other PRA submissions or are de minimis.\3\ The
estimate of average burden hours is made solely for the purposes of the
Paperwork Reduction
[[Page 71200]]
Act, and is not derived from a comprehensive or even a representative
survey or study of the costs of Commission rules and forms.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ The rule requires a contract with the FCM to contain three
provisions. Two of the provisions require the FCM to comply with
existing requirements under the CEA and rules adopted under that
Act. Thus, to the extent these provisions could be considered
collections of information, the hours required for compliance would
be included in the collection of information burden hours submitted
by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission for its rules. The third
contract provision requires that the FCM produce records or other
information requested by the Commission or its staff. Commission
staff has requested this type of information from an FCM so
infrequently in the past that the annual burden hours are de
minimis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Compliance with the collection of information requirements of the
rule is necessary to obtain the benefit of relying on the rule. If an
FCM furnishes records pertaining to a fund's assets at the request of
the Commission or its staff, the records will be kept confidential to
the extent permitted by relevant statutory or regulatory provisions.
The rule does not require these records be retained for any specific
period of time. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is
not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it
displays a currently valid control number.
Written comments are invited on: (a) Whether the collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
the Commission, including whether the information has practical
utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's estimate of the burden of
the collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (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. Consideration will be given to
comments and suggestions submitted in writing within 60 days after this
publication.
Please direct your written comments to R. Corey Booth, Director/
Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, C/O
Shirley Martinson, 6432 General Green Way, Alexandria, VA 22312; or
send an e-mail to: PRA--Mailbox@sec.gov.
Dated: November 30, 2006.
Nancy M. Morris,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6-20805 Filed 12-7-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
