Availability of Unpublished Information

FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE BOARD

12 CFR Part 905

[No. 99-54]

RIN 3069-AA81

Availability of Unpublished Information

AGENCY: Federal Housing Finance Board.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Housing Finance Board (Finance Board) is adopting

without change as a final rule the interim final rule that added a new

part 905 to its regulations governing the availability of unpublished

information. The final rule describes the procedures a person or entity

must follow when requesting unpublished Finance Board information

either by document or by testimony of current or former Finance Board

employees or agents and the practices and procedures the Finance Board

will use in responding to such requests.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The final rule will become effective on December 9,

1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janice A. Kaye, Attorney-Advisor,

Office of General Counsel, by telephone at 202/408-2505, by electronic

mail at [email protected], or by regular mail at the Federal Housing

Finance Board, 1777 F Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

In August 1999, the Finance Board published an interim final rule

with request for comments that added a new part 905 to its regulations.

See 64 FR 44103 (August 13, 1999), codified at 12 CFR part 905. Part

905 establishes procedures that must be followed by persons or entities

requesting unpublished Finance Board information either by document or

by testimony of current or former Finance Board employees or agents,

and practices and procedures the Finance Board will use in responding

to such requests. The 60-day public comment period for the interim

final rule closed on October 12, 1999. See id.

II. Analysis of Public Comments and the Final Rule

The Finance Board received no comments in response to the interim

final rule. Thus, for the reasons set forth in detail in the interim

final rulemaking, the Finance Board is adopting the interim final rule

that added part 905 to govern the availability of unpublished

information as a final rule without change.

III. Regulatory Flexibility Act

The Finance Board adopted part 905 in the form of an interim final

rule and not as a proposed rule. Therefore, the provisions of the

Regulatory Flexibility Act do not apply. See 5 U.S.C. 601(2) and

603(a).

IV. Paperwork Reduction Act

The final rule does not contain any collections of information

pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. See 44 U.S.C. 3501 et

seq. Consequently, the Finance Board has not submitted any information

to the Office of Management and Budget for review.

List of Subjects in 12 CFR Part 905

Confidential business information, Federal home loan banks, Freedom

of information, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

For the reasons stated in the preamble, the Finance Board hereby

adopts the interim final rule adding 12 CFR part 905 that was published

at 64 FR 44103 on August 13, 1999, as a final rule without change.

By the Board of Directors of the Federal Housing Finance Board.

Dated: November 1, 1999.

Bruce A. Morrison,

Chairperson.

[FR Doc. 99-29245 Filed 11-8-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6725-01-P