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AGENCY:

Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, Treasury.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on an information collection requirement concerning the Report of International Transportation of Currency or Monetary Instruments (the “CMIR”). This request for comment 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 should be received on or before June 19, 2006 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all written comments to: Office of Chief Counsel, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, Department of the Treasury, P.O. Box 39, Vienna, VA 22183-0039, Attention: PRA Comments—Report of International Transportation of Currency or Monetary Instruments. Comments also may be submitted by electronic mail to the following Internet address: “regcomments@fincen.gov” with the caption in the body of the text, “Attention: PRA Comments—Report of International Transportation of Currency or Monetary Instruments.”

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or for a copy of the form should be directed to: Office of Regulatory Policy, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network at (202) 354-6400. A copy of the form may also be obtained from the FinCEN Web site at http://www.fincen.gov/​reg_​bsaforms.html.

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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Report of International Transportation of Currency or Monetary Instruments.

OMB Number: 1506-0014.

Form Number: FinCEN Form 105.

Abstract: The Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), Titles I and II of Pub. L. 91-508, as amended, codified at 12 U.S.C. 1829b, 12 U.S.C. 1951-1959, and 31 U.S.C. 5311-5332, authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury inter alia to issue regulations requiring records and reports that are 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 or to implement counter-money laundering programs and compliance procedures. Regulations implementing Title II of the BSA appear at 31 CFR part 103. The authority of the Secretary to administer the BSA has been delegated to the Director of Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.

Pursuant to the BSA, “a person or an agent or bailee of the person shall file a report * * * when the person, agent, or bailee knowingly—(1) transports, is about to transport, or has transported, monetary instruments of more than $10,000 at one time—(A) from a place in the United States to or through a place outside the United States; or (B) to a place in the United States from or through a place outside the United States; or (2) receives monetary instruments of more than $10,000 at one time transported into the United States from or through a place outside the United States.” 31 U.S.C. 5316(a). The requirement of 31 U.S.C. 5316(a) has been implemented through regulations promulgated at 31 CFR 103.23 and through the instructions to the CMIR.

Information collected on the CMIR is made available, in accordance with strict safeguards, to appropriate criminal law enforcement and regulatory personnel in the official performance of their duties. The information collected is of use in investigations involving international and domestic money laundering, tax evasion, fraud, and other financial crimes.

Current Actions: No changes are being made at this time.

Type of Review: Extension of currently approved collection.

Affected Public: Individuals, business or other for-profit institutions, and not-for-profit institutions.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 280,000.

Estimated Time Per Respondent: 11 minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 51,333 hours.

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless the collection of information displays a valid OMB control number. 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 Start Printed Page 19924minimize 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.

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