Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 120 / Thursday, June 21, 2001 / Notices 33279

A detailed agenda will be available

approximately one week before the

meeting. Copies of the agenda can be

requested by telephone or obtained from

the Board’s Web site at www.nwtrb.gov.

Beginning on September 1, 2001,

transcripts of the workshop will be

available on the Board’s Web site, via email, on computer disk, and on a

library-loan basis in paper format from

Davonya Barnes of the Board staff.

A block of rooms has been reserved at

the Arlington Hilton & Towers. When

making a reservation, please state that

you are attending the NWTRB

workshop. To obtain the special

workshop rate, reservations must be

made by June 27, 2001. For more

information, contact the NWTRB; Karyn

Severson, External Affairs; 2300

Clarendon Boulevard, Suite 1300;

Arlington, VA 22201–3367; (tel) 703–

235–4473; (fax) 703–235–4495; (e-mail)

info@nwtrb.gov.

The Nuclear Waste Technical Review

board was created by Congress in the

Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act

of 1987. The Board’s purpose is to

evaluate the technical and scientific

validity of activities undertaken by the

Secretary of Energy related to managing

the disposal of the nations’s spent

nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive

waste. In the same legislation, Congress

directed the DOE to characterize a site

at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, to

determine its suitability as the location

of a potential repository for the

permanent disposal of spent nuclear

fuel and high-level radioactive waste.

Dated: June 15, 2001.

William D. Barnard,

Executive Director Nuclear Waste Technical

Review Board.

[FR Doc. 01–15586 Filed 6–20–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6820–AM–M

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE

COMMISSION

Proposed Collection; Comment

Request

Upon Written Request, Copies Available

From: Securities and Exchange

Commission, Office of Filings and

Information Services, Washington, DC

20549

Extension:

Regulation 12B, OMB Control No.

3235–0062, SEC File No. 270–70

Form 15, OMB Control No. 3235–

0167, SEC File No. 270–170

Form F–4, OMB Control No. 3235–

0325, SEC File No. 270–288

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 soliciting comments

on the collections of information

summarized below. The Commission

plans to submit these existing

collections of information to the Office

of Management and Budget for

extension and approval.

Regulation 12B includes rules

governing Securities Exchange Act of

1934 (‘‘Exchange Act’’) registration

statements and reports. The purpose of

the regulation is to set forth guidelines

for the uniform preparation of Exchange

Act documents. Regulation 12B is

assigned one burden hour for

administrative convenience because the

regulation simply prescribes the

disclosure that must appear in other

filings under the federal securities laws.

Form 15 is a certification of

termination of a class of security under

Section 12(g) or notice of suspension of

duty to file reports pursuant to Sections

13 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange

Act of 1934. The information collected

is to inform the public when a registrant

does not file periodic reports.

Approximately 2,000 issuers file Form

15 annually and it takes approximately

a total of 1.5 hours per response for a

total of 3,000 annual burden hours.

Form F–4 is used by foreign issuers to

register securities in business

combinations, reorganizations and

exchange offers pursuant to the federal

securities laws. If the information

disclosed on Form F–4 were not

required, the objectives of the Securities

Act would not be met. Form F–4 is filed

by foreign issuers. Approximately 450

issuers file Form F–4 annually and it

takes approximately 1,311 hours per

response for a total of 589,950 annual

burden hours.

Written comments are invited on: (a)

Whether the proposed collection of

information is necessary for the proper

performance of the function of the

agency, including whether the

information will have practical utility;

(b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate

of the burden of the collection of

information; (c) ways to enhance the

quality, utility, and clarity of the

information 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.

Please direct your written comments

to Michael E. Bartell, Associate

Executive Director, Office of

Information Technology, Securities and

Exchange Commission, 450 5th Street,

N.W. Washington, DC 20549.

Dated: June 12, 2001.

Margaret H. McFarland,

Deputy Secretary.

[FR Doc. 01–15626 Filed 6–20–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8010–01–M

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE

COMMISSION

Submission of OMB Review; Comment

Request

Upon Written Request; Copies Available

From: Securities and Exchange

Commission, Office of Filings and

Information Services, Washington, DC

20549

Extension:

Rule 19d–1, SEC File No. 270–242,

OMB Control No. 3235–0206,

Rule 19d–3, SEC File No. 270–245,

OMB Control No. 3235–0204,

Rule 19h–1, SEC File No. 270–247,

OMB Control No. 3235–0259

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’’) has submitted to the

Office of Management and Budget

(‘‘OMB’’) requests for extension of the

previously approved collections of

information discussed below.

Rule 19d–1 under the Securities

Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Exchange Act’’)

prescribes the form and content of

notices to be filed with the Commission

by self-regulatory organizations

(‘‘SROs’’) for which the Commission is

the appropriate regulatory agency

concerning the following final SRO

actions: (1) disciplinary sanctions

(including summary suspensions); (2)

denials of membership, participation or

association with a member; and (3)

prohibitions or limitations on access to

SRO services.

The Rule enables the Commission to

obtain reports from the SROs containing

information regarding SRO

determinations to discipline members or

associated persons of members, deny

membership or participation or

association with a member, and similar

adjudicated findings. The Rule requires

that such actions be promptly reported

to the Commission. The Rule also

requires that the reports and notices

supply sufficient information regarding

the background, factual basis and issues

involved in the proceeding to enable the

Commission (1) to determine whether

the matter should be called up for

review on the Commission’s own

motion and (2) to ascertain generally

whether the SRO has adequately carried

33280 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 120 / Thursday, June 21, 2001 / Notices

1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2Securities Exchange Act Release No. 44276 (May

8, 2001), 66 FR 26895.

3NSCC’s main clearing fund formulas are found

in its Procedure XV.

4Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 37202

(May 10, 1996), 61 FR 24993 [File No. SR–NSCC–

95–17]; 38622 (May 19, 1997), 62 FR 27285 [File

No. SR–NSCC–97–04]; 40034 (May 27, 1998), 63 FR

30277 [File No. SR–NSCC–98–03]; 41478 (June 4,

1999), 64 FR 31664 [File No. SR–NSCC–99–06];

42864 (May 30, 2000), 65 FR 36204 [File No. SR–

NSCC–99–09] (Commission approval date corrected

in Federal Register, 65 FR 42065); and 44277 (May

8, 2001) [File No. NSCC–2001–05].

out its responsibilities under the

Exchange Act.

It is estimated that 10 respondents

will utilize this application procedure

annually, with a total burden of 1,750

hours, upon past submissions. This

figure is based on 10 respondents,

spending approximately 275 hours each.

Each respondent submitted

approximately 110 responses. The staff

estimates that the average number of

hours necessary to comply with the

requirements of Rule 19d–1 for each

submission is 2.5 hours. The average

cost per hour, per each submission is

approximately $101. Therefore, the total

cost of compliance for all the

respondents is $277,750. (10

respondents × 110 responses per

respondent × 2.5 hrs per response ×

$101 per hour).

The filing of notices pursuant to the

Rule is mandatory for the SROs, but

does not involve the collection of

confidential information. Rule 19d–1

does not have a retention of records

requirement.

Rule 19d–3 under the Exchange Act

prescribes the form and content of

applications to the Commission for

review of final disciplinary sanctions,

denials of membership, participation or

association or prohibitions or

limitations of access to services that are

imposed by SROs. The Commission

uses the information provided in the

application filed pursuant to Rule 19d–

3 to review final actions taken by SROs

including: (1) Disciplinary sanctions; (2)

denials of membership, participation or

association; and (3) prohibitions on or

limitations of access to SRO services.

It is estimated that approximately 50

respondents will utilize this application

procedure annually, with a total burden

for all respondents of 900 hours, based

upon past submissions. The staff

estimates that the average number of

hours necessary to comply with the

requirements of Rule 19d–3 to complete

each submission is 18 hours. The

average cost per hour is approximately

$101, for completion of each

submission. Therefore, the total cost of

compliance for all respondents, per year

is $90,900. (50 submissions × 18 hours

× $101 per hour).

A respondent is not required to retain

the Rule 19d–3 submission for any

specified period of time. The filing of a

motion seeking review of a final action

is mandatory only if the respondent

wants Commission review. The

submission does not involve the

collection of confidential information.

Rule 19h–1 under the Exchange Act

prescribes the form and content of

notices and applications by SROs

regarding proposed admissions to, or

continuances in, membership,

participation or association with a

member of any person subject to a

statutory disqualification.

The Commission uses the information

provided in the submissions filed

pursuant to Rule 19h–1 to review

decisions of SROs to permit the entry

into or continuance in the securities

business of persons who have

committed serious misconduct. The

filings submitted pursuant to the Rule

also permit inclusion of an application

to the Commission for consent to

associate with a member of an SRO

notwithstanding a Commission order

barring such association.

The Commission reviews filings made

pursuant to the Rule to ascertain

whether it is in the pubic interest to

permit the employment in the securities

business of persons subject to statutory

disqualification. The filings contain

information that is essential to the staff’s

review and ultimate determination on

whether an association or employment

is in the public interest and consistent

with investor protection.

It is estimated that approximately 5

respondents will make submissions

pursuant to this Rule annually with a

total burden of 225 hours for all

respondents to complete all

submissions. The staff estimates that the

average number of hours necessary to

comply with the requirements of Rule

19h–1 is 4.5 hours per submission. The

average cost per hour is approximately

$101 for completion of each submission.

Therefore, the total cost of compliance

for all respondents is $22,725. (50

responses × 4.5 hours per response ×

$101 per hour).

A respondent is not required to retain

the Rule 19h–1 submission for any

specified period of time. The filing of

notices is mandatory but does not

involve the collection of confidential

information.

Please note that an agency may not

conduct or sponsor, and a person is not

required to respond to, a collection of

information unless it displays a

currently valid control number.

General comments regarding the

above information should be directed to

the following persons: (i) Desk Officer

for the Securities and Exchange

Commission, Office of Information and

Regulatory Affairs, Office of

Management and Budget, Room 10102,

New Executive Office Building,

Washington, D.C. 20503; and (ii)

Michael E. Bartell, Associate Executive

Director, Office of Information

Technology, Securities and Exchange

Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW.,

Washington, DC 20549. Comments must

be submitted to OMB within 30 days of

this notice.

Dated: June 15, 2001.

Margaret H. McFarland,

Deputy Secretary.

[FR Doc. 01–15625 Filed 6–20–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8010–01–M

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE

COMMISSION

[Release No. 34–44431; File No. SR–NSCC–

2001–04]

Self-Regulatory Organizations;

National Securities Clearing

Corporation; Order Approving a

Proposed Rule Change To Modify and

Consolidate Clearing Fund Rules

June 15, 2001.

On April 24, 2001, the National

Securities Clearing Corporation

(‘‘NSCC’’) filed with the Securities and

Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’)

and on April 30, 2001, amended a

proposed rule change (File No. SR–

NSCC–2001–04) pursuant to Section

19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act

of 1934 (‘‘Act’’).1 Notice of the proposal

was published in the Federal Register

on May 15, 2001.2 No comment letters

were received. For the reasons

discussed below, the Commission is

approving the proposed rule change.

I. Description

Under the proposal, NSCC will

consolidate its clearing fund rules and

standards of financial responsibility and

operational capacity, currently found in

various rules and procedures, into

Procedure XV 3 of its Rules and

Procedures.

Under Addendum O,4 NSCC collects

additional clearing fund deposits from

settling members on surveillance. The

additional clearing fund deposits are

based on a risk-based margining

(‘‘RBM’’) methodology that includes, but

is not limited to, calculations based on

portfolio volatility and, where

applicable, market maker domination.

The rule change extends these RBM

requirements to all NSCC members in