[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 131 (Monday, July 11, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39715-39716]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-13538]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Office of the Chief Information Officer; Notice of Proposed 
Information Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY: Office of the Chief Information Officer, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to allow 60 days for public 
comment in the Federal Register preceding submission to OMB. In 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice 
announces the intention of the Office of the Chief Information Officer 
(OCIO) to request approval for information collection necessary to 
allow USDA customers to securely and confidently share data and receive 
services electronically. Authority for obtaining information from 
customers is included in the Freedom to E-File Act, the Government 
Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA), the Electronic Signatures in Global 
and National Commerce Act (E-SIGN), and the E-Government Act of 2002. 
Customer information is collected through the USDA eAuthentication 
Service, located at http://www.eauth.egov.usda.gov. USDA's 
eAuthentication Service plays a vital role in the Expanded Electronic 
Government (e-Government) initiative of the President's Management 
Agenda. The USDA eAuthentication Service provides the public and 
government businesses with a single sign-on capability for USDA 
applications, management of user credentials, and verification of 
identity, authorization, and electronic signatures. USDA's 
eAuthentication Service obtains customer information through an 
electronic self-registration process provided through the 
eAuthentication Web site. This voluntary online self-registration 
process enables USDA customers, as well as employees, to obtain 
accounts as authorized users that will provide single sign-on 
capability to access USDA Web applications and services via the 
Internet. The USDA eAuthentication system stems from the Web-based 
Centralized Authentication and Authorization Facility (WebCAAF), the 
former USDA authentication system.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by September 9, 2005 to 
be assured consideration.

[[Page 39716]]


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Owen Unangst, Program Manager, 
Office of the Chief Information Officer, United States Department of 
Agriculture, NRCS Information Technology Center, 2150 Centre Avenue 
Building A, Fort Collins, CO 80526-1891 or via e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: USDA eAuthentication Service Customer 
Registration.
    OMB Control Number: 0503-0014.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: The USDA OCIO has developed the eAuthentication Service 
as a management and technical process that addresses user 
authentication and authorization prerequisites for providing services 
electronically. The process requires a one-time electronic self-
registration to obtain an eAuthentication account for each USDA 
customer desiring access to online services or applications that 
require user authentication. USDA customers can self-register for a 
Level 1 or Level 2 Access account. A Level 1 Access account provides 
users with limited access to USDA Web site portals and applications 
that have minimal security requirements. A Level 2 Access account 
enables users to conduct official electronic business transactions via 
the Internet, enter into a contract with the USDA, and submit forms 
electronically via the Internet to USDA Agencies. Due to the increased 
customer access associated with a Level 2 Access account, customers 
must be authenticated in person at a USDA Service Center by a local 
registration authority, in addition to an electronic self-registration. 
Once an account is activated, customers may use the associated user ID 
and password that they created to access USDA resources that are 
protected by eAuthentication. It is estimated to take 8 minutes to 
complete the self-registration process for a Level 1 Access account. A 
Level 2 Access account registration is estimated to be completed in 1 
hour 10 minutes due to the travel time to the USDA Service Center.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for the collection of 
information is estimated to average 8 minutes for a Level 1 Access 
account and 1 hour 10 minutes for a Level 2 Access account per 
customer.
    Respondents: Individual USDA Customers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 38,604.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 18,909.
    Proposed topics for comment include: (a) Whether the collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agencies' estimate of burden, 
including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) 
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; or (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
the information on those who respond, including the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or techniques or other forms of 
information technology.
    Comments should be sent to the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office 
of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 
[email protected] or Fax (202) 395-5806, and to Owen 
Unangst, Program Manager, Office of the Chief Information Officer, 
United States Department of Agriculture, NRCS Information Technology 
Center, 2150 Centre Avenue Building A, Fort Collins, CO 80526-1891, e-
mail [email protected]. All comments received will be available 
for public inspection during regular business hours at the same 
address. Copies of the information collection may be obtained from Mr. 
Unangst at the address above. All responses to this notice will be 
summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments 
will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: July 5, 2005.
Dave Combs,
Acting Chief Information Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer.
[FR Doc. 05-13538 Filed 7-8-05; 8:45 am]
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