[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 187 (Wednesday, September 26, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 49221]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-24102]


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OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT


Submission for OMB Review: Comment Request for Clearance of a New 
Information Collection; Standard Form 86 Certification (SF 86C)

AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Public 
Law 104-13, May 22, 1995) and 5 CFR 1320.5(a)(1)(iv), this notice 
announces that the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has 
submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for 
clearance of a new information collection.
    The Standard Form 86, Questionnaire for National Security 
Positions, is completed by persons performing or seeking to perform 
national security duties for the Federal government. That form is used 
by OPM and by other Federal agencies to initiate the background 
investigation required to determine placement in national security 
positions in accordance with 42 U.S.C. 2165, 22 U.S.C. 2585, E.O. 
10450, Security Requirements for Government Employment, issued April 
27, 1953, and E.O. 12968, Access to Classified Information, issued 
August 2, 1995.
    There are many situations where individuals are required to fill 
out an SF 86 when the sole purpose is to determine if any information 
on a previously executed SF 86 has changed. This requires extensive 
execution even if nothing has changed.
    The information collection being proposed is a certification device 
(tentatively numbered SF 86C) that allows reporting of changes in 
previously reported information on the SF 86. Certification will be in 
lieu of executing a new SF 86, and will allow the individual to 
indicate that there have been no changes in the data provided on the 
most recently filed SF 86, or, where there are changes, to provide the 
new changed information. No investigation will be initiated based 
solely on the execution of this form. However, information provided on 
this form may provide cause to require execution of a new SF 86 in 
order for an investigation to be scheduled. This is no different than 
if an SF 86 had been used in the first place to ``update'' information. 
This certification device will ask for nothing more or less than is 
asked for on the current SF 86.
    OPM published a request for comments on this information device in 
the Federal Register on November 19, 1999 (Vol. 64, No. 223, Page 
63349). A total of 51 responses were received; 42 from private citizens 
and 9 from Federal agencies. Although a few were neutral (e.g., made a 
suggestion), the vast majority were very supportive of this form. Many 
citizen responses were from individuals in private industry who have to 
undergo periodic screening for security clearances at their job. Some 
were from Facility Security Officers in industry who spoke on behalf of 
their employer in supporting the form. We have considered all the 
comments and revised the form accordingly.
    It was estimated that upwards of one and one-quarter (1.25) hours 
would be saved by individuals filling out this form versus executing a 
complete Standard Form 86. Representatives of private industry who are 
very involved in working on classified projects were asked to comment 
on the number of individuals who would be favorably affected by using 
this form. Industry estimated that over 10,000 people would benefit 
from this form. We opine that that estimate is conservative. Federal 
employees and employers would benefit equally, and the number would be 
greater than the estimate of private industry. OPM estimates at least 
50,000 respondents would complete only the SF 86C, taking 15 minutes to 
do so, involving an annual burden of 12,500 hours, but saving 62,500 
hours of burden for those who no longer need to complete a SF 86.
    For copies of this request, please contact Mary Beth Smith-Toomey 
at (202) 606-8358, FAX (202) 418-3251 or by E-Mail at [email protected]. 
Please include a mailing address with your request.

DATES: Comments on this proposal should be received no later than 
October 26, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Send or deliver written comments to:
Richard A. Ferris, Associate Director, Investigations Service, Office 
of Personnel Management, Room 5416, 1900 E Street, NW., Washington, DC 
20415-4000

or

Joseph Lackey, OPM Desk Officer, Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, 17th Street and 
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: John H. Crandell, Chief, Oversight 
and Technical Assistance Division, Investigations Service, OPM, (202) 
606-2084 or fax (202) 606-2390.

Office of Personnel Management.
Kay Coles James,
Director.
[FR Doc. 01-24102 Filed 9-25-01; 8:45 am]
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