[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 176 (Monday, September 14, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47011-47012]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-22056]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY


National Protection and Programs Directorate; Assessment 
Questionnaire--Voluntary Chemical Assessment Tool (VCAT)

AGENCY: National Protection and Programs Directorate, DHS.

ACTION: 60-Day notice and request for comments; new information 
collection request, 1670-NEW.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security, National Protection and 
Programs Directorate, has submitted the following information 
collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).

DATES: Comments are encouraged and will be accepted until November 13, 
2009. This process is conducted in accordance with 5 CFR 1320.1.

ADDRESSES: Comments and questions about this Information Collection 
Request should be forwarded to Amanda Norman, Program Analyst, DHS/
NPPD/IP/IICD, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism 
Standards (CFATS), issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) 
in April 2007, mandates that chemical facilities conduct a security 
vulnerability assessment (SVA) and then develop a site security plan 
(SSP) to implement security measures that adhere to standards specified 
by the Department. All facilities complete a top-screen process that 
determines whether or not completion of an SVA is required. Those 
facilities that do not meet the threshold do not conduct an SVA, 
however there is no means by which they can assess the risks and/or 
vulnerabilities of their facility. To fill this gap, the Methodology 
Technical Implementation (MTI) office, within the Infrastructure 
Information Collection Division (IICD), in the Office of Infrastructure 
Protection (IP), National Protection and Program Directorate (NPPD), 
supports the automation of sector-approved risk and vulnerability 
assessment methodologies that are compliant with the criteria outlined 
in the National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP). The method is to 
provide a Web-based, automated assessment tool to the Chemical Sector 
for voluntary use by chemical facilities that allow owners/operators to 
identify their current vulnerability and risk levels through an all-
hazards approach. The application, titled Voluntary Chemical Assessment 
Tool (VCAT), will enable owners/operators to evaluate the theoretical 
vulnerability and risk associated with the effects of the selected 
threats, thus allowing the Chemical Sector to more thoroughly 
understand, prioritize and analyze its assets or systems. This 
application will facilitate cost benefit analysis, allowing owners/
operators to select the best combination of physical security 
countermeasures and mitigation strategies to reduce overall risk. 
Collection of this information is directed and supported by Homeland 
Security Presidential Directive (HSPD) 7, ``Critical Infrastructure 
Identification, Prioritization, and Protection,'' December 17, 2003.
    After Chemical sector specific agency (SSA) and private sector 
partners access the VCAT system (see supporting statement for VCAT User 
Accounts), the user will be prompted with the VCAT Assessment 
questionnaire and will answer various questions to input the data. This 
information will be used to supplement existing CIKR protection

[[Page 47012]]

activities conducted by DHS NPPD. More specifically, the information 
will be used to address facility assessments, response planning, and 
risk mitigation execution and related CIKR protection and incident 
management activities.
    The Office of Management and Budget is particularly interested in 
comments which:
    1. Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    2. Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of 
the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
    3. Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and
    4. Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic 
submissions of responses.

Analysis

    Agency: Department of Homeland Security, National Protection and 
Programs Directorate.
    Title: Assessment Questionnaire--Voluntary Chemical Assessment Tool 
(VCAT).
    DHS Form: Not Applicable.
    OMB Number: 1670--NEW.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, Federal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 50.
    Estimated Time per Respondent: 8 hours.
    Total Burden Hours: 400 annual burden hours.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.00.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $0.00.

Thomas Chase Garwood, III,
Chief Information Officer, National Protection and Programs 
Directorate, Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. E9-22056 Filed 9-11-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-9P-P