6644 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 28 / Thursday, February 10, 2000 / Notices

NUCLEAR REGULATORY

COMMISSION

Regulatory Guide; Issuance,

Availability

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission

has issued a new guide in its Regulatory

Guide Series. This series has been

developed to describe and make

available to the public such information

as methods acceptable to the NRC staff

for implementing specific parts of the

Commission’s regulations, techniques

used by the staff in evaluating specific

problems or postulated accidents, and

data needed by the staff in its review of

applications for permits and licenses.

Regulatory Guide 1.180, ‘‘Guidelines

for Evaluating Electromagnetic and

Radio-Frequency Interference in SafetyRelated Instrumentation and Control

Systems,’’ endorses design, installation,

and testing practices acceptable to the

NRC staff for addressing the effects of

electromagnetic interference, radiofrequency interference, and power

surges on safety-related instrumentation

and control systems in a nuclear power

plant. The guide endorses, with certain

conditions, the design and installation

practices described in the Institute of

Electrical and Electronics Engineers

standard, IEEE Std 1050–1996, ‘‘IEEE

Guide for Instrumentation and Control

Equipment Grounding in Generating

Stations.’’ Electromagnetic compatibility

testing practices from military and

commercial standards are endorsed to

address electromagnetic emissions,

electromagnetic and radio-frequency

interference immunity, and power surge

withstand capability.

Comments and suggestions in

connection with items for inclusion in

guides currently being developed or

improvements in all published guides

are encouraged at any time. Written

comments may be submitted to the

Rules and Directives Branch, Division of

Administrative Services, Office of

Administration, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory

Commission, Washington, DC 20555.

Regulatory guides are available for

inspection or downloading at the NRC’s

Public Electronic Reading Room at

<www.nrc.gov>. Single copies of

regulatory guides may be obtained free

of charge by writing the Reproduction

and Distribution Services Section, U.S.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission,

Washington, DC 20555–0001, or by fax

to (301) 415–2289, or by email to

<DISTRIBUTION@NRC.GOV>. Issued

guides may also be purchased from the

National Technical Information Service

on a standing order basis. Details on this

service may be obtained by writing

NTIS, 5285 Port Royal Road,

Springfield, VA 22161. Regulatory

guides are not copyrighted, and

Commission approval is not required to

reproduce them.

(5 U.S.C. 552(a))

Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 21st day

of January 2000.

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Ashok C. Thadani,

Director, Office of Nuclear Regulatory

Research.

[FR Doc. 00–3092 Filed 2–9–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7590–01–P

RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD

Proposed Collection; Comment

Request

SUMMARY: In accordance with the

requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of

the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

which provides opportunity for public

comment on new or revised data

collections, the Railroad Retirement

Board (RRB) will publish periodic

summaries of proposed data collections.

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether

the proposed information collection is

necessary for the proper performance of

the functions of the agency, including

whether the information has practical

utility; (b) the accuracy of the RRB’s

estimate of the burden of the collection

of the information; (c) ways to enhance

the quality, utility, and clarity of the

information to be collected; and (d)

ways to minimize the burden related to

the collection of information on

respondents, including the use of

automated collection techniques or

other forms of information technology.

Title and purpose of information

collection: Employee Representative’s

Status and Compensation Reports; OMB

3220–0014.

Under Section 1(b)(1) of the Railroad

Retirement Act (RRA), the term

‘‘employee’’ includes an individual who

is an employee representative. As

defined in Section 1(c) of the RRA, an

employee representative is an officer or

official representative of a railway labor

organization other than a labor

organization included in the term

‘‘employer,’’ as defined in the RRA, who

before or after August 29, 1935, was in

the service of an employer under the

RRA and who is duly authorized and

designated to represent employees in

accordance with the Railway Labor Act,

or, any individual who is regularly

assigned to or regularly employed by

such officer or official representative in

connection with the duties of his or her

office. The requirements relating to the

application for employee representative

status and the periodic reporting of the

compensation resulting from such status

is contained in 20 CFR 209.10.

The RRB utilizes Forms DC–2a,

Employee Representative’s Status

Report, and DC–2, Employee

Representative’s Report of

Compensation to obtain the information

needed to determine employee

representative status and to maintain a

record of creditable service and

compensation resulting from such

status. Completion is required to obtain

or retain a benefit. One response is

requested of each respondent.

Minor editorial changes are proposed

to Form DC–2a and Form DC–2. The

completion time for Form DC–2 is

estimated at 30 minutes per response.

The RRB estimates that approximately

65 Form DC–2’s are received annually.

The RRB estimates that less than 10

Form DC–2a’s are received annually.

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.

Comments regarding the information

collection should be addressed to

Ronald J. Hodapp, Railroad Retirement

Board, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago,

Illinois 60611–2092. Written comments

should be received within 60 days of

this notice.

Chuck Mierzwa,

Clearance Officer.

[FR Doc. 00–3128 Filed 2–9–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7905–01–M

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE

COMMISSION

Request for Public Comment

Upon Written Request, Copies Available

From: Securities and Exchange Commission,

Office of Filings and Information Services,

Washington, D.C. 20549.

Extension: Rule 6e–2, SEC File No. 270–

177, OMB Control No. 3235–0177.

Notice is hereby given that pursuant

to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Securities

and Exchange Commission

(‘‘Commission’’) is publishing the

following summary of collection for

public comment.

Rule 6e–2 [17 CFR 270.6e–2] under

the Investment Company Act of 1940

(‘‘Act’’) is an exemptive rule which

permits separate accounts, formed by

life insurance companies, to fund

certain variable life insurance products.

The rule exempts such separate

accounts from the registration

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 28 / Thursday, February 10, 2000 / Notices 6645

requirements under the Act, among

others, on condition that they comply

with all but certain designated

provisions of the Act and meet the other

requirements of the rule. The rule sets

forth several information collection

requirements.

Rule 6e–2 provides a separate account

with an exemption from the registration

provisions of section 8 of the Act if the

account files with the Commission Form

N–6EI–1, a notification of claim of

exemption.

The rule also exempts a separate

account from a number of other sections

of the Act, provided that the separate

account makes certain disclosure in its

registration statements, reports to

contractholders, proxy solicitations, and

submissions to state regulatory

authorities, as prescribed by the rule.

Paragraph (b)(9) of Rule 6e–2 provides

an exemption from the requirements of

section 17(f) of the Act and imposes a

reporting burden and certain other

conditions. Section 17(f) requires that

every registered management company

meet various custody requirements for

its securities and similar investments.

Paragraph (b)(9) applies only to

management accounts that offer life

insurance contracts subject to Rule 6e–

2.

Since 1997, there have been no filings

under paragraph (b)(9) of Rule 6e–2 by

management accounts. Further, all

variable life separate accounts that have

filed post-effective amendments to their

registration statements during this

period have been structured as unit

investment trusts and thus have not

been subject to the requirements of

paragraph (b)(9) of the rule. Therefore,

since 1997, there has been no cost or

burden to the industry regarding the

information collection requirements of

paragraph (b)(9) of Rule 6e–2.

Written 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 collection

of information; (c) ways to enhance the

quality, utility, and clarity of the

information to be 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 of this

publication.

Direct your written comments to

Michael E. Bartell, Associate Executive

Director, Office of Information

Technology, Securities and Exchange

Commission, 450 Fifth Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20549.

Dated: February 3, 2000.

Margaret H. McFarland,

Deputy Secretary.

[FR Doc. 00–3032 Filed 2–9–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8010–01–M

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE

COMMISSION

[Investment Company Act Release No.

24278; 812–11562]

First American Investment Funds, Inc.,

et al.; Notice of Application

February 4, 2000.

AGENCY: Securities and Exchange

Commission (‘‘Commission’’).

ACTION: Notice of an application under

sections 6(c), 10(f), and 17(b) of the

Investment Company Act of 1940

(‘‘Act’’) for an exemption from sections

10(f) and 17(a)(1) of the Act.

SUMMARY OF THE APPLICATION: The

requested order would permit certain

registered management investment

companies to purchase certain securities

from an affiliated underwriter and

through group orders placed with an

underwriting syndicate that includes

the affiliated underwriter.

APPLICANT: First American Investment

Funds, Inc. (‘‘FAIF’’); Minnesota

Municipal Income Portfolio, Inc.;

Minnesota Municipal Term Trust, Inc.;

Minnesota Municipal Term Trust, Inc.-

II.; U.S. Bank National Association

(‘‘U.S. Bank’’); and U.S. Bancorp Piper

Jaffray Inc. (‘‘Piper Jaffray’’).

FILING DATES: The application was filed

on April 2, 1999 and was amended on

December 22, 1999. Applicants have

agreed to file an additional amendment,

the substance of which is incorporated

in this notice, during the notice period.

HEARING OR NOTIFICATION OF HEARING: An

order granting the application will be

issued unless the Commission orders a

hearing. Interested persons may request

a hearing by writing to the

Commission’s Secretary and serving

applicants with a copy of the request,

personally or by mail. Hearing requests

should be received by the Commission

by 5:30 p.m. on February 29, 2000 and

should be accompanied by proof of

service on applicants in the form of an

affidavit or, for lawyers, a certificate of

service. Hearing requests should state

the nature of the writer’s interest, the

reason for the request, and the issues

contested. Persons may request

notification by writing to the

Commission’s Secretary.

ADDRESSES: Secretary, Securities and

Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street,

NW., Washington, DC 20549-0609.

Applicants, c/o James D. Alt, Esq.,

Dorsey & Whitney LLP, 220 South Sixth

Street, Minneapolis, MN 55402.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Rachel H. Graham, Senior Counsel, at

(202) 942–0583, or Nadya B. Roytblat,

Assistant Director, at (202) 942–0564

(Division of Investment Management,

Office of Investment Company

Regulation).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

following is a summary of the

application. The complete application

may be obtained for a fee from the

Commission’s Public Reference Branch,

450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.

20549–0102 (telephone (202) 942–8090).

Applicants’ Representations

1. FAIF is an open-end management

investment company registered under

the Act. FAIF offers its shares in several

series, including the Minnesota

Intermediate Tax Free Fund and the

Minnesota Tax Free Fund. Minnesota

Municipal Income Portfolio, Inc.,

Minnesota Municipal Term Trust, Inc.,

and Minnesota Municipal Term Trust,

Inc.-II are closed-end management

investment companies registered under

the Act. The two named series of FAIF,

together with the three closed-end

investment companies, collectively are

referred to in this notice as the ‘‘Funds.’’

The Funds invest primarily in debt

securities of the State of Minnesota, its

political subdivisions, authorities,

agencies, instrumentalities and

corporations, the interest on which is

exempt from federal and Minnesota

personal income taxes (‘‘Minnesota TaxExcempt Securities’’).

2. U.S. Bank, which is exempt from

registration as an investment adviser

under the Investment Advisers Act of

1940 (‘‘Advisers Act’’) pursuant to

section 202(a)(11) of the Advisers Act,

serves as investment adviser to each

Fund. U.S. Bank is a wholly-owned

subsidiary of U.S. Bancorp.

3. Piper Jaffray, a registered brokerdealer and investment banking firm, is

a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of

U.S. Bancorp. Applicants state that

Piper Jaffray is one of the leading

underwriters of most types of Minnesota

Tax-Exempt Securities based on both

dollar volume and number of new

issues. In 1998, Piper Jaffray served as

underwriter of approximately $2.4

billion in principal amount of

Minnesota Tax-Exempt Securities.

According to applicants, this amount