Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 40 / Tuesday, March 2, 2010 / Notices 9489 

1The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision is 

a committee of banking supervisory authorities, 

which was established by the central bank 

Governors of the Group of Ten countries in 1975. 

It consists of senior representatives of bank 

supervisory authorities and central banks from 

Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, 

China, France, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, India, 

Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, 

the Netherlands, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, 

South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, 

the United Kingdom and the United States. It 

usually meets at the Bank for International 

Settlements (BIS) in Basel, Switzerland, where its 

permanent Secretariat is located. 

2Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, 

Strengthening the resilience of the banking sector, 

consultative document, December 17, 2009. 

3Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, 

Revisions to the Basel II market risk framework, July 

2009. 4Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, 

Guidelines for computing capital for incremental 

risk in the trading book, July 2009. 5Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, 

Enhancements to the Basel II framework, July 2009. 6See footnote 2. 7Basel Committee on Banking and Supervision, 

International Framework for liquidity risk 

measurement, standards and monitoring, 

consultative document, December 17, 2009. 8See 12 CFR Part 3, Appendix C. 9See 12 CFR Part 3, Appendix A. 

approval process, we invite comments 

on the following information collection. 

Comments should address one or 

more of the following points: 

a. Whether the proposed collection of 

information is necessary for the proper 

performance of the functions of OTS; 

b. The accuracy of OTS’s estimate of 

the burden of the proposed information 

collection; 

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 

information technology. 

We will summarize the comments 

that we receive and include them in the 

OTS request for OMB approval. All 

comments will become a matter of 

public record. In this notice, OTS is 

soliciting comments concerning the 

following information collection. 

Title of Proposal: Basel 

Comprehensive Quantitative Impact 

Study. 

OMB Number: 1550–0NEW. 

Form Numbers: N/A. 

Regulation requirement: 12 CFR Part 

567. 

Description: The International 

Convergence of Capital Measurement 

and Capital Standards: A Revised 

Framework, also known as the Basel II 

Capital Accord, sets out a general 

international capital framework for 

financial institutions. The Basel II 

Capital Accord was adopted under the 

auspices of the Basel Committee on 

Banking Supervision 1 (Basel 

Committee), and was implemented into 

domestic regulations in the United 

States by the Federal financial agencies 

on December 7, 2007 (72 FR 69288). In 

an effort to refine the Basel II Capital 

Accord, the Basel Committee will 

conduct a quantitative impact study 

(QIS) to assess the impact of the 

proposed revisions that were published 

by the Basel Committee on December 

17, 2009.2 As part of this effort, the OTS, 

in coordination with the other Federal 

financial agencies, is proposing to 

collect data from national financial 

institutions with respect to the 

following subjects: 

› Revisions to the Basel II market 

risk framework 3 and guidelines for 

computing capital for incremental risk 

in the trading book,4 including the 

incremental risk capital charge; the 

comprehensive risk measure for 

correlation trading portfolios; the new 

rules for securitization exposures in the 

trading book; and the revised capital 

charges for certain equity exposures 

subject to the standardized 

measurement method for market risk. 

› Enhancements to the Basel II 

framework 5 including the revised risk 

weights for re-securitizations held in the 

banking book. 

› Enhancements to strengthen the 

resilience of the financial institution 

sector 6 including the proposed changes 

to the definition of capital; the proposed 

introduction of a leverage ratio; and the 

proposed changes to the treatment of 

counterparty credit risk. 

› Liquidity enhancements referring 

to the international framework for 

liquidity risk measurement, standards 

and monitoring.7

› Operational risk and 

countercyclical tools. 

The OTS intends to collect data for 

the QIS from financial institutions 

subject to the Basel II Capital 

Framework 8 and those subject to the 

current risk-based capital guidelines 

(Basel I).9 Unless otherwise noted, all 

data would be reported on a 

consolidated basis. Ideally, financial 

institutions should include all their 

assets in this information collection. 

However, due to data limitations, 

inclusion of some assets (for example, 

the portfolio of a minor subsidiary) may 

not be feasible. Exclusion of such assets 

is acceptable, as long as the remaining 

assets are representative of the financial 

institution as a whole. 

Type of Review: New collection. 

Affected Public: Businesses or other 

for-profit. 

Estimated Number of Respondents: 5. 

Estimated Burden Hours per 

Response: 117. 

Estimated Frequency of Response: On 

occasion. 

Estimated Total Burden: 585 hours. 

Dated: February 24, 2010. 

Ira L. Mills, 

Paperwork Clearance Officer, Office of Chief 

Counsel, Office of Thrift Supervision. 

[FR Doc. 2010–4203 Filed 3–1–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6720–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

AFFAIRS 

[OMB Control No. 2900–0585] 

Proposed Information Collection 

(Brand Name or Equal) Activity: 

Comment Request 

AGENCY: Office of Acquisition and 

Logistics, Department of Veterans 

Affairs. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Office of Acquisition and 

Logistics (OA&L), Department of 

Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an 

opportunity for public comment on the 

proposed collection of certain 

information by the agency. Under the 

Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 

1995, Federal agencies are required to 

publish notice in the Federal Register 

concerning each proposed collection of 

information including each proposed 

extension of a currently approved 

collection and allow 60 days for public 

comment in response to the notice. This 

notice solicits comments on the 

information needed to allow firms to 

offer items that are equal to the brand 

name item stated in the bid. 

DATES: Written comments and 

recommendations on the proposed 

collection of information should be 

received on or before May 3, 2010. 

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments 

on the collection of information through 

Federal Docket Management System 

(FDMS) at http://www.Regulations.gov; 

or to Arita Tillman, Office of 

Acquisition and Logistics (049A5A), 

Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 

Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 

20420; or e-mail: arita.tillman@va.gov. 

Please refer to ‘‘OMB Control No. 2900– 

0585’’ in any correspondence. During 

the comment period, comments may be 

viewed online through FDMS. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Arita Tillman at (202) 461–6859 or Fax. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the 

PRA of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–13; 44 U.S.C. 

3501–3521), Federal agencies must 

obtain approval from the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) for each 

collection of information they conduct 

WReier-Aviles on DSKGBLS3C1PROD with NOTICES

9490 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 40 / Tuesday, March 2, 2010 / Notices 

or sponsor. This request for comment is 

being made pursuant to Section 

3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA. 

With respect to the following 

collection of information, OA&L invites 

comments on: (1) Whether the proposed 

collection of information is necessary 

for the proper performance of OA&L’s 

functions, including whether the 

information will have practical utility; 

(2) the accuracy of OA&L’s estimate of 

the burden of the proposed collection of 

information; (3) ways to enhance the 

quality, utility, and clarity of the 

information to be collected; and (4) 

ways to minimize the burden of the 

collection of information on 

respondents, including through the use 

of automated collection techniques or 

the use of other forms of information 

technology. 

Title: Veterans Affairs Acquisition 

Regulation (VAAR) Clause 852.211–77, 

Brand Name or Equal (was 852.210–77). 

OMB Control Number: 2900–0585. 

Type of Review: Extension of a 

currently approved collection. 

Abstract: VAAR clause 852.211–77 

advises bidders or offerors who are 

proposing to offer an item that is alleged 

to be equal to the brand name item 

stated in the bid, that it is the bidder’s 

or offeror’s responsibility to show that 

the item offered is in fact, equal to the 

brand name item. This evidence may be 

in the form of descriptive literature or 

material, such as cuts, illustrations, 

drawings, or other information. While 

submission of the information is 

voluntary, failure to provide the 

information may result in rejection of 

the firm’s bid or offer if the Government 

cannot otherwise determine that the 

item offered is equal. The contracting 

officer will use the information to 

evaluate whether or not the item offered 

meets the specification requirements. 

Affected Public: Business or other forprofit and not-for-profit institutions. 

Estimated Annual Burden: 1,666 

hours. 

Estimated Average Burden per 

Respondent: 10 minutes. 

Frequency of Response: On occasion. 

Estimated Number of Respondents: 

10,000. 

Dated: February 25, 2010. 

By direction of the Secretary. 

Denise McLamb, 

Program Analyst, Enterprise Records Service. 

[FR Doc. 2010–4214 Filed 3–1–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8320–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

AFFAIRS 

[OMB Control No. 2900–New (VA Form 10– 

0502)] 

Proposed Information Collection 

(Ethics Consultation Feedback Tool 

(ECFT)) Activity: Comment Request 

AGENCY: Veterans Health 

Administration, Department of Veterans 

Affairs. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Veterans Health 

Administration (VHA), Department of 

Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an 

opportunity for public comment on the 

proposed collection of certain 

information by the agency. Under the 

Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 

1995, Federal agencies are required to 

publish notice in the Federal Register 

concerning each proposed collection of 

information, including each proposed 

new collection, and allow 60 days for 

public comment in response to the 

notice. This notice solicits comments for 

information needed to improve the 

process of ethics consultation service. 

DATES: Written comments and 

recommendations on the proposed 

collection of information should be 

received on or before May 3, 2010. 

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments 

on the collection of information through 

the Federal Docket Management System 

(FDMS) at http://www.Regulations.gov; 

or to Mary Stout, Veterans Health 

Administration (193E1), Department of 

Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, 

NW., Washington, DC 20420 or e-mail: 

mary.stout@va.gov. Please refer to ‘‘OMB 

Control No. 2900–New (VA Form 10– 

0502)’’ in any correspondence. During 

the comment period, comments may be 

viewed online through FDMS. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Mary Stout at (202) 461–5867 or FAX 

(202) 273–9381. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the 

PRA of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–13; 44 U.S.C. 

3501–3521), Federal agencies must 

obtain approval from the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) for each 

collection of information they conduct 

or sponsor. This request for comment is 

being made pursuant to Section 

3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA. 

With respect to the following 

collection of information, VHA invites 

comments on: (1) Whether the proposed 

collection of information is necessary 

for the proper performance of VHA’s 

functions, including whether the 

information will have practical utility; 

(2) the accuracy of VHA’s estimate of 

the burden of the proposed collection of 

information; (3) ways to enhance the 

quality, utility, and clarity of the 

information to be collected; and (4) 

ways to minimize the burden of the 

collection of information on 

respondents, including through the use 

of automated collection techniques or 

the use of other forms of information 

technology. 

Title: Ethics Consultation Feedback 

Tool (ECFT), VA Form 10–0502. 

OMB Control Number: 2900–New (VA 

Form 10–0502). 

Type of Review: New collection. 

Abstract: VA Form 10–0502 will use 

to collect data from patients and family 

members about their experience during 

the Ethics Consultation Service. VA will 

use the data to improve the process of 

ethics consultation (i.e., how ethics 

consultation is being performed) as well 

as its outcomes (i.e., how ethics 

consultation affects participants and the 

facility). 

Affected Public: Individuals or 

households. 

Estimated Annual Burden: 100. 

Estimated Average Burden per 

Respondent: 5 minutes. 

Frequency of Response: On occasion. 

Estimated Number of Respondents: 

1,200. 

Dated: February 25, 2010. 

By direction of the Secretary. 

Denise McLamb, 

Program Analyst, Enterprise Records Service. 

[FR Doc. 2010–4215 Filed 3–1–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8320–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

AFFAIRS 

[OMB Control No. 2900–0020] 

Proposed Information Collection 

(Designation of Beneficiary) Activity: 

Comment Request 

AGENCY: Veterans Benefits 

Administration, Department of Veterans 

Affairs. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Veterans Benefits 

Administration (VBA), Department of 

Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an 

opportunity for public comment on the 

proposed collection of certain 

information by the agency. Under the 

Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 

1995, Federal agencies are required to 

publish notice in the Federal Register 

concerning each proposed collection of 

information, including each proposed 

extension of a currently approved 

collection, and allow 60 days for public 

comment in response to the notice. This 

notice solicits comments on information 

WReier-Aviles on DSKGBLS3C1PROD with NOTICES