[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 60 (Friday, March 28, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 14792-14793]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-7910]


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FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM

12 CFR Part 265

[Docket No. R-0968]


Rules Regarding Delegation of Authority

AGENCY: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board) 
is delegating to an individual member the Board's authority to approve 
extensions of the 180-day period for final Board action on applications 
to establish certain foreign bank offices in the United States. This 
delegation of authority is intended to aid in the efficient processing 
of such foreign bank office applications.

EFFECTIVE DATE: March 22, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul A. Vogel, Senior Attorney (202/
452-3428), Sara M. Craig, Attorney (202/452-2263), Legal Division, 
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. For the hearing 
impaired only, Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD), contact 
Dorthea Thompson (202/452-3544), Board of Governors of the Federal 
Reserve System, 20th and C Streets, NW, Washington, DC 20551.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 7(d) of the International Banking 
Act of 1978 (IBA), as amended by the Economic Growth and Regulatory 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1996 (Pub. L. No. 104-208, 110 Stat. 26), 
permits the Board to extend the 180-day period within which the Board 
must take final action on an application by a foreign bank to establish 
a U.S. branch or agency or to acquire ownership or control of a 
commercial lending company in the United States. The Board may extend 
this period an additional 180 days after providing notice of, and the 
reasons for, the extension to the applicant foreign bank and to the 
State bank supervisor or the Comptroller of the Currency, as 
appropriate (12 U.S.C. 3105(d)(7)(A)).
    The Board has delegated to an individual Board member the authority 
to approve such extensions pursuant to section 7(d) of the IBA. Section 
11(k) of the Federal Reserve Act provides that the Board is authorized 
and empowered to delegate any of its functions, other than those 
relating to rulemaking or pertaining principally to monetary and credit 
policies, to one or more administrative law judges, members or 
employees of the Board, or Federal Reserve banks. 12 U.S.C. 248(k). 
This delegation of authority is consistent with previous Board 
practices with respect to extensions of time periods mandated by 
Regulation K.
    The provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA)(5 U.S.C. 
553) relating to notice, public participation, and deferred effective 
date have not been followed in connection with the adoption of this 
amendment because the change to be effected is procedural in nature and 
does not constitute a substantive rule subject to the requirements of 
that section. The APA grants a specific exemption from its requirements 
relating to notice and public participation in this instance (12 U.S.C. 
553(b)(3)(A)), and good cause exists to find that the nature of this 
amendment makes a notice and public comment procedure unnecessary.

Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis

    Pursuant to the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), the 
Board hereby certifies that this rule will not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

    In accordance with section 3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995 (44 U.S.C. Ch. 35; 5 CFR part 1320 Appendix A.1), the Board 
reviewed the rule under the authority delegated to the Board by the 
Office of Management and Budget. No collections of information pursuant 
to the Paperwork Reduction Act are contained in the rule.

List of Subjects in 12 CFR Part 265

    Authority delegations (Government agencies), Banks, banking, 
Federal Reserve System.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Board amends 12 CFR 
part 265 as set forth below:

PART 265--RULES REGARDING DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY

    1. The authority citation for Part 265 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 12 U.S.C. 248 (i) and (k).

    2. Section 265.4 is amended by adding paragraph (a)(4) to read as 
follows:


Sec. 265.4  Functions delegated to Board members.

    (a) * * *

[[Page 14793]]

    (4) Extension of time period for final Board action. To extend for 
an additional 180 days the 180-day period within which final Board 
action is required on an application pursuant to section 7(d) of the 
International Banking Act.
* * * * *
    By order of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve 
System, March 24, 1997.
William W. Wiles,
Secretary of the Board.
[FR Doc. 97-7910 Filed 3-27-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6210-01-P