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[Federal Register: June 2, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 106)]
[Notices]
[Page 31095]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02jn04-43]

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COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION


Futures Market Self-Regulation

AGENCY: Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

ACTION: Reopening comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``Commission'') is
reopening the comment period for interested parties to comment on
proposed amendments to a 1984 agreement (``Joint Audit Agreement'')
allocating certain audit and other financial surveillance
responsibilities among designated self-regulatory organizations
(``DSROs''). The proposed amendments were submitted for Commission
approval, and published for comment in accordance with Commission
Regulation 1.52(g) and in conjunction with the Commission's ongoing
review of the self-regulatory system for futures markets.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before June 18, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons should submit their views and comments to
Jean A. Webb, Secretary, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Three
Lafayette Centre, 1155 21st Street, NW., Washington, DC 20581. In
addition, comments may be sent by facsimile transmission to (202) 418-
5521, or by electronic mail to [email protected]. Reference should be
made to ``Futures Market Self-Regulation''. This document also will be
available for comment at  href="http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.regulations.gov" shape="rect">http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.regulations.gov.''


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas J. Smith, Associate Deputy
Director and Chief Accountant, or Natalie A. Markman, Senior Special
Counsel, Division of Clearing and Intermediary Oversight, Commodity
Futures Trading Commission, Three Lafayette Centre, 1155 21st Street,
NW., Washington, DC 20581. Telephone (202) 418-5450.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 12, 2004, the Commission published
a notice for request for comment on proposed amendments to the Joint
Audit Agreement.\1\ The proposed amendments would revise the terms of
an agreement entered into by several self-regulatory organizations
(``SROs'') in 1984 to allocate some of the supervisory responsibilities
that each SRO bears for its member futures commission merchants
(``FCMs''). Such supervisory responsibilities are imposed on SROs by
various Core Principles of the Commodity Exchange Act (the ``Act''),\2\
as amended by the Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000.\3\ In
order to avoid duplicative supervisory burdens upon FCMs that are
members of more than one SRO, the Commission permits SROs to enter into
voluntary, cooperative agreements to allocate some of their
responsibilities among themselves so that each FCM has a single DSRO.
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    \1\ 69 FR 19166 (Apr. 12, 2004).
    \2\ 7 U.S.C. 1 et seq. (2000).
    \3\ See Pub. L. 106-554, 114 Stat. 2763 (Dec. 21, 2000).
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    The Commission established a 45-day period for submitting public
comment on the proposed amendments to the Joint Audit Agreement, ending
May 27, 2004. By letter dated May 18, 2004, an association of futures
industry participants requested an extension of the original comment
period. In support of the request, the commenter observed that the
Commission soon would be publishing another request for comment
concerning the governance of SROs, and that industry participants would
benefit from an opportunity to review and consider such request for
comment for purposes of providing comment on the proposed amendments to
the Joint Audit Agreement.
    In response to this request and in order to ensure that an adequate
opportunity is provided for submission of meaningful comments, the
Commission has determined to reopen the comment period on the proposed
amendments to the Joint Audit Agreement until June 18, 2004.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 26, 2004 by the Commission.
Jean A. Webb,
Secretary of the Commission.
[FR Doc. 04-12364 Filed 6-1-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6351-01-M
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