### 78937 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 249 / Friday, December 27, 2013 / Notices

8 Yen-denominated interest rate swaps are subject to the mandatory clearing requirement in both the U.S. and Japan.

9 Exemptive Order Regarding Compliance With Certain Swap Regulations, 78 FR 43785 (Jul. 22, 2013).

10 http://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/ SpeechesTestimony/opaomalia-29.

11 http://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/ SpeechesTestimony/omaliastatement071213b. legal framework to be comparable to the U.S.
framework. While the Commission has declined to provide even a partial comparability determination, at least in this instance the Commission has provided a reason: the differences in the scope of entities and products subject to the clearing requirement. 8 Such treatment creates uncertainty and is contrary to increased global harmonization efforts.

Third, in the Commission’s rush to meet the artificial deadline of December 21, 2013, as established in the Exemptive Order Regarding Compliance with Certain Swap Regulations (‘‘Exemptive Order’’), 9 the Commission failed to complete an important piece of the cross-border regime, namely, supervisory memoranda of understanding (‘‘MOUs’’) between the Commission and fellow regulators.

I have previously stated that these MOUs, if done right, can be a key part of the global harmonization effort because they provide mutually agreed-upon solutions for differences in regulatory regimes. 10 Accordingly, I stated that the Commission should be able to review MOUs alongside the respective comparability determinations and
vote on them at the same time. Without these MOUs, our fellow regulators are left wondering whether and how any differences, such as direct access to books and records,
will be resolved.

Finally, as I have consistently maintained, the substituted compliance process should allow other regulatory bodies to engage with
the full Commission. 11 While I am pleased that the Notices are being voted on by the Commission, the full Commission only gained access to the comment letters from foreign regulators on the Commission’s comparability determination draft proposals a few days ago. This is hardly a transparent

process.

Unclear Path Forward

Looking forward to next steps, the Commission must provide answers to several outstanding questions regarding these comparability determinations. In doing so,
the Commission must collaborate with foreign regulators to increase global
harmonization.

First, there is uncertainty surrounding the timing and outcome of the MOUs. Critical questions regarding information sharing, cooperation, supervision, and enforcement
will remain unanswered until the Commission and our fellow regulators
execute these MOUs.

Second, the Commission has issued timelimited no-action relief for the swap data repository reporting requirements. These comparability determinations will be done as separate notices. However, the timing and process for these determinations remain
uncertain. Third, the Commission has failed to provide clarity on the process for addressing the comparability determinations that it
declined to undertake at this time. The Notices only state that the Commission may address these requests in a separate notice at a later date given further developments in the law and regulations of other jurisdictions. To promote certainty in the financial markets, the Commission must provide a clear path forward for market participants and foreign regulators.

The following steps would be a better approach: (1) The Commission should extend the Exemptive Order to allow foreign regulators to further implement their regulatory regimes and coordinate with them to implement a harmonized substituted compliance process; (2) the Commission should implement a flexible, outcomes-based approach to the substituted compliance process and apply it similarly to all jurisdictions; and (3) the Commission should work closely with our fellow regulators to expeditiously implement MOUs that resolve regulatory differences and address regulatory oversight issues.

Conclusion

While I support the narrow comparability
determinations that the Commission has made, it was my hope that the Commission would work with foreign regulators to implement a substituted compliance process that would increase the global harmonization effort. I am disappointed that the Commission has failed to implement such a

process.

I do believe that in the longer term, the swaps regulations of the major jurisdictions will converge. At this time, however, the Commission’s comparability determinations
have done little to alleviate the burden of regulatory uncertainty and duplicative compliance with both U.S. and foreign regulations.

The G–20 process delineated and put in place the swaps market reforms in G–20 member nations. It is then no surprise that
the Commission must learn to coordinate with foreign regulators to minimize confusion and disruption in bringing much needed clarity to the swaps market. For all these shortcomings, I respectfully dissent from the Commission’s approval of the

Notices.

[FR Doc. 2013–30980 Filed 12–26–13; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 6351–01–P**

**CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND**
**COMMUNITY SERVICE**

**Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request** 

**AGENCY :**  Corporation for National and Community Service.

**ACTION :**  Notice.

**SUMMARY :**  The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance consultation program to provide the general public and federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of
information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA95) (44 U.S.C. Sec. 3506(c)(2)(A)). This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirement on respondents can be properly assessed.

Currently, CNCS is soliciting comments concerning its new AmeriCorps VISTA Sponsor Recruitment Practices Survey. AmeriCorps VISTA sponsor organizations will provide information about their approach to VISTA member recruitment in order for CNCS to design recruitment strategies and materials for the VISTA program. Completion of this information collection is not required to be considered for or to obtain grant funding support.

Copies of the information collection request can be obtained by contacting
the office listed in the Addresses section
of this notice.

**DATES :**  Written comments must be
submitted to the individual and office
listed in the **ADDRESSES** section by February 25, 2014.

**ADDRESSES :**  You may submit comments, identified by the title of the information collection activity, by any of the following methods:

(1) By mail sent to: Corporation for National and Community Service, AmeriCorps VISTA; Elizabeth Matthews, Outreach Specialist, 9110B; 1201 New York Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20525.

(2) By hand delivery or by courier to
the CNCS mailroom at Room 8100 at the mail address given in paragraph (1) above, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

(3) Electronically through

www.regulations.gov.

Individuals who use a
telecommunications device for the deaf (TTY–TDD) may call 1–800–833–3722 between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Elizabeth Matthews, (202–606–6774) or by email at ematthews@cns.gov.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  CNCS is particularly interested in comments
that:

• Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the


### 78938 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 249 / Friday, December 27, 2013 / Notices

functions of CNCS, including whether the information will have practical utility;

• Evaluate the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

• Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

• Minimize the burden of the
collection of information on those who are expected to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology (e.g., permitting electronic submissions of responses).

Background

AmeriCorps VISTA sponsor organizations will provide information about their approach to VISTA member recruitment in order for CNCS to design recruitment strategies and materials for the VISTA program. The information will be collected through the tool, SurveyGizmo, which will be delivered electronically through an email.

Current Action

This is a new information collection request. CNCS would like to submit AmeriCorps VISTA Sponsor Recruitment Practices Survey. AmeriCorps VISTA sponsor organizations will provide information about their approach to VISTA member recruitment in order for CNCS to design recruitment strategies and materials for the VISTA program. Completion of this information collection is not required to be considered for or to obtain grant funding support.

The information collection will
otherwise be used in the same manner as the existing application. CNCS also seeks to continue using the current application until the revised application is approved by OMB.

Type of Review: New. Agency: Corporation for National and Community Service.

Title: AmeriCorps VISTA Sponsor Recruitment Practices Survey.

OMB Number: None. Agency Number: None. Affected Public: AmeriCorps VISTA sponsor organizations. Sponsor organizations direct the VISTA project, supervise the AmeriCorps VISTA members, and provide necessary administrative support to complete the goals and objectives of the project.

Total Respondents: 1,800. Frequency: Once per respondent. Average Time Per Response: Averages
10 minutes. Estimated Total Burden Hours: 18,000 hours.

Total Burden Cost (capital/startup):

None.

Total Burden Cost (operating/ maintenance): None.

Comments submitted in response to
this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget approval of the information collection request; they will also become a matter of public record.

Dated: December 19, 2013.
Mary Strasser, Director, AmeriCorps VISTA.

[FR Doc. 2013–30921 Filed 12–26–13; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 6050–28–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE**

**Office of the Secretary**

**[Docket ID: DoD–2013–OS–0233]**

**Proposed Collection; Comment Request** 

**AGENCY :**  Office of the Secretary of Defense, DoD.

**ACTION :**  Notice and request for

comments.

**SUMMARY :**  In compliance with Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, and as part of an effort to streamline the process to seek feedback from the public on service delivery, the Department of Defense announces a proposed generic information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including
whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency’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; and (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.

**DATES :**  Consideration will be given to all comments received by February 25,

2014.

**ADDRESSES :**  You may submit comments, identified by docket number and title, by any of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

• Mail: Federal Docket Management System Office, 4800 Mark Center Drive, East Tower, Suite 02G09, Alexandria,

VA 22350–3100.

Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name, docket
number and title for this Federal Register document. The general policy
for comments and other submissions from members of the public is to make these submissions available for public viewing on the Internet at http:// www.regulations.gov as they are received without change, including any personal identifiers or contact
information.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  To request more information on this proposed information collection or to obtain a copy of the proposal and associated collection instruments, please write to the Information Management Division, ATTN: Public Collections Team, 4800 Mark Center Drive, East Tower, Suite 02G09, Alexandria, VA 22350–3100.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :** 

Title; Associated Form; and OMB
Number: Office of the Secretary of Defense Generic Clearance; OMB
Control Number 0704–TBD.

Needs and Uses: The proposed information collection activity provides a means to garner qualitative customer and stakeholder feedback in an efficient, timely manner, in accordance with the
Administration’s commitment to improving service delivery. By qualitative feedback we mean information that provides useful insights on perceptions and opinions, but are not statistical surveys that yield quantitative results that can be generalized to the population of study. This feedback will provide insights into customer or stakeholder perceptions, experiences and expectations, provide an early warning of issues with service,
or focus attention on areas where communication, training or changes in operations might improve delivery of products or services. These collections will allow for ongoing, collaborative and
actionable communications between the Agency and its customers and
stakeholders. It will also allow feedback to contribute directly to the improvement of program management.

Responses will be assessed to plan and inform efforts to improve or maintain the quality of service offered to the public. If this information is not collected, vital feedback from customers and stakeholders on the Agency’s
services will be unavailable.

Affected Public: Individuals orHouseholds; Business or Other ForProfit; Not-For-Profit Institutions; Farms; Federal Government; State, Local, or Tribal Government.