[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 111 (Tuesday, June 10, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34653-34654]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-14530]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: NARA is giving public notice that the agency proposes to 
request use of the Financial Disclosure Form, a new Standard Form, that 
will be used to make personnel security determinations, including 
whether to grant a security clearance, to allow access to classified 
information, sensitive areas, and equipment; or to permit assignment to 
a sensitive national security position. The public is invited to 
comment on the proposed information collection pursuant to the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before August 11, 2003 
to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to: Paperwork Reduction Act Comments 
(NHP), Room 4400, National Archives and Records Administration, 8601 
Adelphi Rd, College Park, MD 20740-6001; or faxed to 301-837-3213; or 
electronically mailed to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the proposed information collection and supporting statement 
should be directed to Tamee Fechhelm at telephone number 301-837-1694, 
or fax number 301-837-3213.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995 (Pub. L. 104-13), NARA invites the general public and other 
Federal agencies to comment on proposed information collections. The 
comments and suggestions should address one or more of the following 
points: (a) whether the proposed information collection is necessary 
for the proper performance of the functions of NARA; (b) the accuracy 
of NARA's estimate of the burden of the proposed information 
collection; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (d) ways, including the use of 
information technology, to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on respondents. The comments that are submitted will be 
summarized and included in the NARA request for Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) approval. All comments will become a matter of public 
record. In this notice, NARA is soliciting comments concerning the 
following information collection:
    Title: Financial Disclosure Form.
    OMB number: 3095-NEW.
    Agency form number: Standard Form NEW.
    Type of review: Regular.
    Affected public: Business or other for-profit, Federal government.
    Estimated number of respondents: 25,897.
    Estimated time per response: 2 hours.
    Frequency of response: On occasion.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 51,794 hours.
    Abstract: Executive Order 12958 as amended, ``Classified National 
Security Information'' authorizes the Information Security Oversight 
Office (ISOO) to develop standard forms that promote the implementation 
of the Government's security classification program. This is a 
continuing authority, which was first given to ISOO with the issuance 
of the predecessor executive order on security classification, 
Executive Order 12356. Prior to E.O. 12356, executive branch agencies 
developed their own forms to address security needs. For example, each 
agency had a different cover sheet for each of the classification 
levels. With the issuance of Standard Forms SF 703, 704 and 705 in 
1985, executive branch agencies began using the same standard form to 
serve as a shield to protect classified information at the Top Secret, 
Secret and Confidential levels. These forms promoted and continue to 
promote consistency and uniformity in the protection of classified 
information. An individual can go from one agency to another and know 
that an orange cover sheet has Top Secret information attached to it 
(SF 703).
    In the wake of the Aldrich Ames espionage case, Congress passed

[[Page 34654]]

legislation in 1994 (50 U.S.C. 436) that authorized investigative 
agencies to obtain financial information about Government employees 
with access to classified information who are suspected of compromising 
classified information. To facilitate investigations and as a condition 
for obtaining a security clearance, Executive Order 12968, ``Access to 
Classified Information,'' issued on August 4, 1995, required: (1) All 
employees granted access to classified information to provide written 
consent (SF 713) for access to certain financial records under 
specified conditions; and (2) that employees who have regular access to 
particularly sensitive classified information submit, as a condition of 
maintaining access to such information, relevant information concerning 
their financial condition as may be necessary to ensure appropriate 
security. The Security Policy Board, created in 1993 by Presidential 
Directive to consolidate security policy groups and abolished in 
February, 2001 by National Security Presidential Directive Number 1, 
originally developed a draft consent form and a draft financial 
disclosure form after lengthy meetings/negotiations with the major 
classifying agencies.
    Under the new policy coordinating structure created by National 
Security Presidential Directive 1 of April 21, 2001, several policy 
coordinating committees (PCCs) were established to serve as the main 
``day-to-day'' forum for interagency coordination of national security 
policy. The PCC on Records Access and Information Security is the PCC 
that handles security classification and personnel security matters. It 
is this PCC that resurrected the Financial Disclosure Form to solicit 
views from its members and to obtain final approval. The members of 
this PCC include NSC as Chairman, NSC as Executive Secretary, 
Department of Defense, Director Central Intelligence Agency, Department 
of State, Department of Justice, Department of Energy, Office of 
Management and Budget, Information Security Oversight Office and an 
industry observer. The Director of Records Access at the NSC chairs 
this committee. All members unanimously endorsed the Financial 
Disclosure Form now submitted for processing as a Standard Form.
    The Financial Disclosure Form will contain information that will be 
used to make personnel security determinations, including whether to 
grant a security clearance; to allow access to classified information, 
sensitive areas, and equipment; or to permit assignment to sensitive 
national security positions. The data may later be used as a part of a 
review process to evaluate continued eligibility for access to 
classified information or as evidence in legal proceedings.
    The Financial Disclosure Form will help law enforcement obtain 
pertinent information in the preliminary stages of potential espionage 
and counter terrorism cases. The PCC on Records Access and Information 
Security forwarded the current form to the Information Security 
Oversight Office for issuance. The Office of Management and Budget is 
aware of the form.

    Dated: June 2, 2003.
L. Reynolds Cahoon,
Assistant Archivist for Human Resources and Information Services.
[FR Doc. 03-14530 Filed 6-9-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7515-01-P