Proposed Collection; Comment Request, 79483-79484 [E8-30814]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 249 / Monday, December 29, 2008 / Notices Dated: December 16, 2008. Anthony Corollo, Acting Director, Water Division, EPA Region 5. [FR Doc. E8–30815 Filed 12–24–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL–8758–1] Scientific Workshop To Inform EPA’s Response to National Academy of Science Comments on the Health Effects of Dioxin in EPA’s 2003 Dioxin Reassessment dwashington3 on PROD1PC60 with NOTICES AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of scientific workshop and poster submissions. SUMMARY: The National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA), a part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Research and Development, is sponsoring a three-day public, scientific workshop, including a public review of the recent scientific literature on 2,3,7,8Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin (TCDD) dose-response, to assist EPA in responding to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) report, Health Risks from Dioxin and Related Compounds: Evaluation of the EPA Reassessment (NAS, 2006). (See 73 FR 70999 for information on the preliminary literature search results for TCDD doseresponse. The literature search was conducted in collaboration with the Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratories.) The Track Group, an EPA contractor, will organize and facilitate the workshop. Members of the public may attend the workshop as observers and may participate in open comment periods. Space is limited and registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. As part of the registration process, members of the public may choose to submit a poster citation and abstract limited to 250 words. Space for displaying posters is limited, and abstract submissions will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. DATES: The workshop will be held February 18–20, 2009, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. A poster session will be held on February 19, 2009, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. During this time, workshop participants will view the posters, and poster authors should be available to answer questions. Posters may be installed and displayed between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on February 19, 2009, and must be taken down at the VerDate Aug<31>2005 13:19 Dec 24, 2008 Jkt 217001 79483 end of that time. To ensure presentation of a poster, poster abstracts must be submitted to EPA’s contractor, The Track Group, in advance of the workshop with a deadline of January 23, 2009. ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held at the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza, 35 West Fifth St., Cincinnati, Ohio 45202; telephone: (513) 421–9100. The Track Group, an EPA contractor, is organizing and facilitating the workshop. A special conference room rate is available by mentioning ‘‘the Dioxin Workshop.’’ Registration and poster abstract submission are available online at https:// dioxinworkshop.eventbrite.com or call the conference registration line at (703) 738–4633. To obtain copies of background information, please see the NCEA Web site: https://www.epa.gov/ ncea/; copies are not available from The Track Group. Special Accomodations: EPA welcomes the attendance of the public at this workshop and will make every effort to accommodate persons with disabilities. If you require special accommodations due to a disability, please contact The Track Group, 85 S. Bragg Street, Suite 301, Alexandria, VA 22312; telephone: (703) 738–4633, facsimile: (703) 997–0760, at least 7 days before the workshop. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For workshop information, registration, and logistics, contact The Track Group, 85 S. Bragg Street, Suite 301, Alexandria, VA 22312; telephone: (703) 738–4633; facsimile: (703) 997–0760. For technical information, contact Glenn E. Rice, National Center for Environmental Assessment, (Mail Code: MS A–110), Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268; telephone: (513) 569–7813; facsimile: (513) 487–2539; or e-mail: rice.glenn@epa.gov. The three key findings of the NAS (2006) were for EPA to address: ‘‘(1) Justification of approaches to doseresponse modeling for cancer and noncancer endpoints, (2) transparency and clarity in selection of key data sets for analysis, and (3) transparency, thoroughness and clarity in quantitative uncertainty analysis.’’ EPA’s goal for this open, public workshop is to ensure that its technical response focuses on the key issues and considers the most meaningful science to inform its understanding of these issues, while maintaining transparency throughout the process and providing opportunity for outside comment and input. Participants in the workshop will consist of a wide range of invited scientific experts and EPA scientific staff, representing a variety of areas of expertise related to TCDD. Public participation opportunities include designated open comment periods and an evening scientific poster session. The purpose of the poster session is to provide a forum for scientists to present recent studies relevant to TCDD doseresponse assessment. Scientists with significant expertise and experience with TCDD or dioxin-related compound biology will be invited to serve on expert panels for discussions throughout the workshop. These expert panels will be asked to highlight significant and emerging TCDD research and make recommendations to EPA regarding the design and scope of the dose-response analyses for TCDD, including recommendations for evaluating associated uncertainties. Open comment periods will be included in the agenda following each expert panel discussion. Preliminary information on the program agenda is available on the NCEA Web page at https://www.epa.gov/ ncea/. Recommendations from the expert panels will be made available on the NCEA Web page after the workshop. This workshop is designed to inform EPA’s response to the NAS report, Health Risks from Dioxin and Related Compounds: Evaluation of the EPA Reassessment (NAS, 2006), by enlisting expert scientist and public comment and input. The main objectives of the workshop are to (1) identify the key significant comments offered by the NAS in their evaluation of the TCDD dose-response assessment in the EPA Reassessment (EPA, 2003), (2) discuss approaches for addressing these comments, and (3) identify the key published literature needed to support the EPA response. Dated: December 17, 2008. Peter W. Preuss, Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment. [FR Doc. E8–30811 Filed 12–24–08; 8:45 am] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PO 00000 Frm 00047 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 BILLING CODE 6560–50–P FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY Proposed Collection; Comment Request AGENCY: Federal Housing Finance Agency. E:\FR\FM\29DEN1.SGM 29DEN1 79484 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 249 / Monday, December 29, 2008 / Notices ACTION: 60-day Notice of Submission of Information Collection for Approval from Office of Management and Budget. SUMMARY: In accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) is seeking public comments concerning the information collection known as ‘‘Advances to Housing Associates,’’ which has been assigned control number 2590–0001 by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Pending OMB approval of an emergency extension request, a regular clearance request for OMB review and approval of a three-year extension of the control number is also beginning. OMB approval has been requested by December 31, 2008, the date of expiration. DATES: Interested persons may submit comments on or before February 27, 2009. Submit comments to the FHFA using any one of the following methods: E-mail: RegComments@fhfa.gov. Fax: (202) 408–2580. Mail/Hand Delivery: Federal Housing Finance Agency, Fourth Floor, 1700 G Street, NW., Washington DC 20552, ATTENTION: Public Comments/ Proposed Collection; Comment Request: Advances to Housing Associates. Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. If you submit your comment to the Federal eRulemaking Portal, please also send it by e-mail to the FHFA at regcomments@fhfa.gov to ensure timely receipt by the agency. Include the following information in the subject line of your submission: Federal Housing Finance Agency. Proposed Collection; Comment Request: Advances to Housing Associates. We will post all public comments we receive without change, including any personal information you provide, such as your name and address, on the FHFA Web site at https://www.fhfa.gov/ Default.aspx?Page=89. dwashington3 on PROD1PC60 with NOTICES ADDRESSES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jonathan F. Curtis, Senior Financial Analyst, by e-mail at jonathan.curtis@fhfa.gov, by telephone at (202) 408–2866, or by regular mail at the Federal Housing Finance Agency, 1625 Eye Street, NW., Washington DC 20006. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VerDate Aug<31>2005 13:19 Dec 24, 2008 Jkt 217001 A. Need for and Use of the Information Collection Section 10b of the Federal Home Loan Bank Act (Bank Act) (12 U.S.C. 1430b) authorizes the Federal Home Loan Banks (Banks) to make advances under certain circumstances to certified nonmember mortgagees. The FHFA refers to nonmember mortgagees as housing associates. In order to be certified as a housing associate, an applicant must meet the eligibility requirements set forth in section 10b of the Bank Act. Part 926 of the former Federal Housing Finance Board regulations 1 (12 CFR part 926) implements the statutory eligibility requirements and establishes uniform review criteria an applicant must meet in order to be certified as a housing associate by a Bank. More specifically, §§ 926.3 and 926.4 (12 CFR 926.3–926.4) implement the statutory eligibility requirements and provide guidance to an applicant on how it may satisfy such requirements. Section 926.5 (12 CFR 926.5) authorizes the Banks to approve or deny all applications for certification as a housing associate, subject to the statutory and regulatory requirements. Section 926.6 (12 CFR 926.6) permits an applicant to appeal a Bank decision to deny certification to the FHFA. Section 950.17 of the former Finance Board regulations (12 CFR 950.17) establishes the terms and conditions under which a Bank may make advances to a certified housing associate. Section 950.17 also imposes a continuing obligation on a housing associate to provide information necessary to determine if it remains in compliance with applicable statutory and regulatory requirements. The information collection contained in 12 CFR 926.1 through 926.6 and 950.17 is necessary to enable the Banks to determine whether an applicant satisfies the statutory and regulatory requirements to be certified initially and maintain its status as a housing associate eligible to receive Bank 1 Effective July 30, 2008, Division A of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, Public Law 110–289, 122 Stat. 2654 (2008), titled the Federal Housing Finance Regulatory Reform Act of 2008 (Reform Act), created the FHFA as an independent agency of the federal government. The Reform Act transferred supervisory and oversight responsibilities over Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the Banks, and the Bank’s Office of Finance from the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO) and the Federal Housing Finance Board to the FHFA. Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Banks continue to operate under rules, regulations, orders, resolutions, and determinations promulgated by OFHEO and the Finance Board until they are modified, terminated, set aside, or superseded by the FHFA. See Pub. L. 110–289, 122 Stat. 2795 and 2798 (codified at 12 U.S.C. 4511 note). PO 00000 Frm 00048 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 advances. The FHFA requires and uses the information collection to determine whether to uphold or overrule a Bank decision to deny housing associate certification to an applicant. The OMB control number for the information collection, which expires on December 31, 2008, is 2590–0001. The likely respondents include applicants for housing associate certification and current housing associates. B. Burden Estimate The FHFA estimates the total annual average number of applicants at one, with one response per applicant. The estimate for the average hours per application is 10 hours. The estimate for the annual hour burden for applicants is 10 hours (1 applicant × 1 response per applicant × 10 hours). The Finance Board estimates the total annual average number of maintenance respondents, that is, certified housing associates, at 64, with 1 response per housing associate. The estimate for the average hours per maintenance response is 0.5 hours. The estimate for the annual hour burden for certified housing associates is 32 hours (64 certified housing associates × 1 response per associate × 0.5 hours). The estimate for the total annual hour burden is 42 hours (64 housing associates × 1 response per associate × 0.5 hours + 1 applicant × 1 response per applicant × 10 hours). C. Comment Request The FHFA requests written comments on the following: (1) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of FHFA functions, including whether the information has practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the FHFA estimates of the burdens of the collection of information; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on applicants and housing associates, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Dated: December 19, 2008. James B. Lockhart, Director, Federal Housing Finance Agency. [FR Doc. E8–30814 Filed 12–24–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8070–01–P FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION Notice of Agreement Filed The Commission hereby gives notice of the filing of the following agreement E:\FR\FM\29DEN1.SGM 29DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 249 (Monday, December 29, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79483-79484]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-30814]


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FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY: Federal Housing Finance Agency.

[[Page 79484]]


ACTION: 60-day Notice of Submission of Information Collection for 
Approval from Office of Management and Budget.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) is seeking 
public comments concerning the information collection known as 
``Advances to Housing Associates,'' which has been assigned control 
number 2590-0001 by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Pending 
OMB approval of an emergency extension request, a regular clearance 
request for OMB review and approval of a three-year extension of the 
control number is also beginning. OMB approval has been requested by 
December 31, 2008, the date of expiration.

DATES: Interested persons may submit comments on or before February 27, 
2009.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to the FHFA using any one of the following 
methods:
    E-mail: RegComments@fhfa.gov.
    Fax: (202) 408-2580.
    Mail/Hand Delivery: Federal Housing Finance Agency, Fourth Floor, 
1700 G Street, NW., Washington DC 20552, ATTENTION: Public Comments/
Proposed Collection; Comment Request: Advances to Housing Associates.
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments. If you submit your comment to the 
Federal eRulemaking Portal, please also send it by e-mail to the FHFA 
at regcomments@fhfa.gov to ensure timely receipt by the agency. Include 
the following information in the subject line of your submission: 
Federal Housing Finance Agency. Proposed Collection; Comment Request: 
Advances to Housing Associates.
    We will post all public comments we receive without change, 
including any personal information you provide, such as your name and 
address, on the FHFA Web site at https://www.fhfa.gov/
Default.aspx?Page=89.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jonathan F. Curtis, Senior Financial 
Analyst, by e-mail at jonathan.curtis@fhfa.gov, by telephone at (202) 
408-2866, or by regular mail at the Federal Housing Finance Agency, 
1625 Eye Street, NW., Washington DC 20006.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Need for and Use of the Information Collection

    Section 10b of the Federal Home Loan Bank Act (Bank Act) (12 U.S.C. 
1430b) authorizes the Federal Home Loan Banks (Banks) to make advances 
under certain circumstances to certified nonmember mortgagees. The FHFA 
refers to nonmember mortgagees as housing associates. In order to be 
certified as a housing associate, an applicant must meet the 
eligibility requirements set forth in section 10b of the Bank Act. Part 
926 of the former Federal Housing Finance Board regulations \1\ (12 CFR 
part 926) implements the statutory eligibility requirements and 
establishes uniform review criteria an applicant must meet in order to 
be certified as a housing associate by a Bank. More specifically, 
Sec. Sec.  926.3 and 926.4 (12 CFR 926.3-926.4) implement the statutory 
eligibility requirements and provide guidance to an applicant on how it 
may satisfy such requirements. Section 926.5 (12 CFR 926.5) authorizes 
the Banks to approve or deny all applications for certification as a 
housing associate, subject to the statutory and regulatory 
requirements. Section 926.6 (12 CFR 926.6) permits an applicant to 
appeal a Bank decision to deny certification to the FHFA.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Effective July 30, 2008, Division A of the Housing and 
Economic Recovery Act of 2008, Public Law 110-289, 122 Stat. 2654 
(2008), titled the Federal Housing Finance Regulatory Reform Act of 
2008 (Reform Act), created the FHFA as an independent agency of the 
federal government. The Reform Act transferred supervisory and 
oversight responsibilities over Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the Banks, 
and the Bank's Office of Finance from the Office of Federal Housing 
Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO) and the Federal Housing Finance Board 
to the FHFA. Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Banks continue to 
operate under rules, regulations, orders, resolutions, and 
determinations promulgated by OFHEO and the Finance Board until they 
are modified, terminated, set aside, or superseded by the FHFA. See 
Pub. L. 110-289, 122 Stat. 2795 and 2798 (codified at 12 U.S.C. 4511 
note).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Section 950.17 of the former Finance Board regulations (12 CFR 
950.17) establishes the terms and conditions under which a Bank may 
make advances to a certified housing associate. Section 950.17 also 
imposes a continuing obligation on a housing associate to provide 
information necessary to determine if it remains in compliance with 
applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.
    The information collection contained in 12 CFR 926.1 through 926.6 
and 950.17 is necessary to enable the Banks to determine whether an 
applicant satisfies the statutory and regulatory requirements to be 
certified initially and maintain its status as a housing associate 
eligible to receive Bank advances. The FHFA requires and uses the 
information collection to determine whether to uphold or overrule a 
Bank decision to deny housing associate certification to an applicant.
    The OMB control number for the information collection, which 
expires on December 31, 2008, is 2590-0001. The likely respondents 
include applicants for housing associate certification and current 
housing associates.

B. Burden Estimate

    The FHFA estimates the total annual average number of applicants at 
one, with one response per applicant. The estimate for the average 
hours per application is 10 hours. The estimate for the annual hour 
burden for applicants is 10 hours (1 applicant x 1 response per 
applicant x 10 hours).
    The Finance Board estimates the total annual average number of 
maintenance respondents, that is, certified housing associates, at 64, 
with 1 response per housing associate. The estimate for the average 
hours per maintenance response is 0.5 hours. The estimate for the 
annual hour burden for certified housing associates is 32 hours (64 
certified housing associates x 1 response per associate x 0.5 hours).
    The estimate for the total annual hour burden is 42 hours (64 
housing associates x 1 response per associate x 0.5 hours + 1 applicant 
x 1 response per applicant x 10 hours).

C. Comment Request

    The FHFA requests written comments on the following: (1) Whether 
the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance 
of FHFA functions, including whether the information has practical 
utility; (2) the accuracy of the FHFA estimates of the burdens of the 
collection of information; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, 
and clarity of the information collected; and (4) ways to minimize the 
burden of the collection of information on applicants and housing 
associates, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.

    Dated: December 19, 2008.
James B. Lockhart,
Director, Federal Housing Finance Agency.
 [FR Doc. E8-30814 Filed 12-24-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8070-01-P
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