Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

SUMMARY:

Background. On June 15, 1984, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) delegated to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board) its approval authority under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), as per 5 CFR 1320.16, to approve of and assign OMB control numbers to collection of information requests and requirements conducted or sponsored by the Board under conditions set forth in 5 CFR 1320 Appendix A.1. Board-approved collections of information are incorporated into the official OMB inventory of currently approved collections of information. Copies of the Paperwork Reduction Act Submission, supporting statements and approved collection of information instruments are placed into OMB's public docket files. The Federal Reserve may not conduct or sponsor, and the respondent is not required to respond to, an information collection that has been extended, revised, or implemented on or after October 1, 1995, unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

Request for Comment on Information Collection Proposals

The following information collections, which are being handled under this delegated authority, have received initial Board approval and are hereby published for comment. At the end of the comment period, the proposed information collections, along with an analysis of comments and recommendations received, will be submitted to the Board for final approval under OMB delegated authority. Comments are invited on the following:

a. Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the Federal Reserve's functions; including whether the information has practical utility;

b. The accuracy of the Federal Reserve's estimate of the burden of the proposed 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; and

d. Ways to minimize the burden of information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before October 18, 2010.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments, identified by FR 29a,b, by any of the following methods:

• Agency Web Site: http://www.federalreserve.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments at http://www.federalreserve.gov/generalinfo/foia/ProposedRegs.cfm.
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• E-mail: regs.comments@federalreserve.gov. Include the OMB control number in the subject line of the message.
• FAX: 202/452-3819 or 202/452-3102.
• Mail: Jennifer J. Johnson, Secretary, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 20th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20551.

All public comments are available from the Board's Web site at http://www.federalreserve.gov/generalinfo/foia/ProposedRegs.cfm as submitted, unless modified for technical reasons. Accordingly, your comments will not be edited to remove any identifying or contact information. Public comments may also be viewed electronically or in paper form in Room MP-500 of the Board's Martin Building (20th and C Streets, NW.) between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays.

Additionally, commenters should send a copy of their comments to the OMB Desk Officer by mail to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, U.S. Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, Room 10235, 725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503 or by fax to 202-395-6974.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

A copy of the PRA OMB submission, including the proposed reporting form and instructions, supporting statement, and other documentation will be placed into OMB's public docket files, once approved. These documents will also be made available on the Federal Reserve Board's public Web site at: http://www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/reportforms/review.cfm or may be requested from the agency clearance officer, whose name appears below.

Michelle Shore, Federal Reserve Board Clearance Officer (202-452-3829), Division of Research and Statistics, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, DC 20551. Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) users may contact (202-263-4869).

Proposal to approve under OMB delegated authority the extension for three years, without revision, of the following report:

Report title: Compensation and Salary Surveys.

Agency form number: FR 29a,b.

OMB control number: 7100-0290.

Frequency: FR 29a, annually; FR 29b, on occasion.

Reporters: Employers considered competitors for Federal Reserve employees.

Estimated annual reporting hours: FR 29a, 210 hours; FR 29b, 50 hours.

Estimated average hours per response: FR 29a, 6 hours; FR 29b, 1 hour.

Number of respondents: 45.

General description of report: This information collection is authorized pursuant sections 10(4) and 11(1) of the Federal Reserve Act, (12 U.S.C. section 244 and 248(1)) and is voluntary. These statutory provisions grant the Federal Reserve Board independence to determine its employees' salaries and compensation. Individual respondent data are regarded as confidential under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C 552 (b)(4) and (6)). Any aggregate reports produced are not subject to FOIA exemptions.

Abstract: The Federal Reserve along with other Financial Institutions Reforms, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989 (FIRREA) agencies conduct the FR 29a survey jointly. The FR 29b is collected by Board staff. The FR 29a,b collect information on salaries, employee compensation policies, and other employee programs from employers that are considered competitors of the Federal Reserve Board. The data from the surveys primarily are used to determine the appropriate salary structure and salary adjustments for Federal Reserve Board employees so that salary ranges are competitive with other organizations offering similar jobs.