[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 138 (Thursday, July 18, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43000-43001]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-17077]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Financial Crimes Enforcement Network


Financial Crimes Enforcement Network; Proposed Renewal Without 
Change; Comment Request; Imposition of Special Measure Against 
Commercial Bank of Syria, Including its Subsidiary Syrian Lebanese 
Commercial Bank, as a Financial Institution of Primary Money Laundering 
Concern

AGENCY: Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, Department of the 
Treasury.

ACTION: Request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and 
respondent burden, we invite comment on a proposed renewal, without 
change, to information collection requirements found in existing 
regulations imposing a special measure against the Commercial Bank of 
Syria, including its subsidiary Syrian Lebanese Commercial Bank, as a 
financial institution of primary money laundering concern. This request 
for comments is being made pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995 (``PRA''), Public Law 104-13, 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A).

DATES: Written comments are welcome and must be received on or before 
September 16, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be submitted to: Financial Crimes 
Enforcement Network, P.O. Box 39, Vienna, VA 22183, Attention: Comment 
Request; Imposition of Special Measure against Commercial Bank of 
Syria. Comments also may be submitted by electronic mail to the 
following Internet address: [email protected], again with a 
caption, in the body of the text, ``Attention: Comment Request; 
Imposition of Special Measure against Commercial Bank of Syria.''
    Inspection of comments: Comments may be inspected, between 10 a.m. 
and 4 p.m., in the FinCEN reading room in Vienna, VA. Persons wishing 
to inspect the comments submitted must request an appointment with the 
Disclosure

[[Page 43001]]

Officer by telephoning (703) 905-5034 (not a toll free call).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, 
Policy Division at (800) 949-2732. Select option 6.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Abstract: The Director of the Financial 
Crimes Enforcement Network (``FinCEN'') is the delegated administrator 
of the Bank Secrecy Act (``BSA''). The Act authorizes the Director to 
issue regulations to require all financial institutions defined as such 
pursuant to the Act to maintain or file certain reports or records that 
have been determined to have a high degree of usefulness in criminal, 
tax, or regulatory investigations or proceedings, or in the conduct of 
intelligence or counter-intelligence activities, including analysis, to 
protect against international terrorism.\1\ Regulations implementing 
section 5318A of title 31, United States Code can be found in part at 
31 CFR 1010.653. In general, the regulations require financial 
institutions, as defined at 31 U.S.C. 5312(a)(2) and 31 CFR 1010.100, 
to establish, document, and maintain programs as an aid in protecting 
and securing the U.S. financial system.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Public Law 91-508, as amended and codified at 12 U.S.C. 
1829b, 12 U.S.C. 1951-1959 and 31 U.S.C. 5311-5332. Language 
expanding the scope of the Bank Secrecy Act to intelligence or 
counter-intelligence activities to protect against international 
terrorism was added by section 358 of the Uniting and Strengthening 
America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and 
Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT) Act of 2001, Public Law 107-56.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Title: Imposition of Special Measure against Commercial Bank of 
Syria, Including its Subsidiary Syrian Lebanese Commercial Bank, as a 
Financial Institution of Primary Money Laundering Concern.
    Office of Management and Budget Control Number: 1506-0036.
    Abstract: FinCEN is issuing this notice to renew the imposition of 
a special measure against the Commercial Bank of Syria, including its 
subsidiary Syrian Lebanese Commercial Bank, as a financial institution 
of primary money laundering concern, pursuant to the authority 
contained in 31 U.S.C. 5318A.
    Current Action: Renewal without change to existing regulations.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses and other for-profit institutions.
    Burden: Estimated Number of Respondents: 5000.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 5000.
    Estimated Number of Hours: 5000. (Estimated at one hour per 
respondent).
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid 
control number assigned by the Office of Management and Budget 
(``OMB''). Records required to be retained under the BSA must be 
retained for five years. Generally, information collected pursuant to 
the BSA is confidential but may be shared as provided by law with 
regulatory and law enforcement authorities.
    Request for Comments: Comments submitted in response to this notice 
will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval. All 
comments will become a matter of public record. Comments are invited 
on: (a) Whether the 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 collection of information; (c) 
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected: (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; and (e) 
estimates of capital or start-up costs and costs of operation, 
maintenance and purchase of services to provide information.

    Dated: July 10, 2013.
Jennifer Shasky Calvery,
Director, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.
[FR Doc. 2013-17077 Filed 7-17-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-02-P