[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 187 (Tuesday, September 27, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66256-66257]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-23208]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE


Proposed Revised Information Collection; Comment Request; Limited 
Access Death Master File Subscriber Certification Form

AGENCY: National Technical Information Service, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The purpose of this notice is to allow 
for 60 days of public comment.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before November 28, 
2016.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to John W. Hounsell, Business and Industry Specialist, 
Office of Product and Program Management, National Technical 
Information Service, Department of Commerce, 5301 Shawnee Road, 
Alexandria, VA 22312, email: [email protected] or telephone: 703-605-
6184.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    This notice informs the public that the National Technical 
Information Service (NTIS) is requesting approval of a revised 
information collection described in Section II for use in connection 
with the final rule for the ``Certification Program for Access to the 
Death Master File.'' The final rule was published on June 1, 2016 (81 
FR 34882), with the rule to become effective on November 28, 2016. The 
revised information collection described in Section II, if approved, 
will become effective on the effective date of the final rule.

II. Method of Collection

    Title of Information Collection: ``Limited Access Death Master File 
Subscriber Certification Form'' (Certification Form).
    Description of the need for the information and the proposed use: 
NTIS issued a final rule establishing a program through which persons 
may become eligible to obtain access to Death Master File (DMF) 
information about an individual within three years of that individual's 
death. The final rule was promulgated under Section 203 of the 
Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013, Public Law 113-67 (Act). The Act 
prohibits the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) from disclosing DMF 
information during the three-year period following an individual's 
death (Limited Access DMF), unless the person requesting the 
information has been certified to access the Limited Access DMF 
pursuant to certain criteria in a program that the Secretary 
establishes. The Secretary delegated the authority to carry out Section 
203 to the Director of NTIS.
    Initially, on March 26, 2014, NTIS promulgated an interim final 
rule, establishing a temporary certification program (79 FR 16668) for 
persons who seek access to the Limited Access DMF. Subsequently, on 
December 30, 2014, NTIS issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (79 FR 
78314). NTIS adjudicated the comments received, and, on June 1, 2016, 
published a final rule (81 FR 34822).
    NTIS created the Certification Form used with the interim final 
rule for Persons and Certified Persons to provide information to NTIS 
describing the basis upon which they are seeking certification. In the 
notice of proposed rulemaking, NTIS discussed proposed revisions to the 
Certification Form (79 FR 78314 at 78320-21). The final rule requires 
that Persons and Certified Persons provide additional information to 
improve NTIS's ability to determine whether a Person or Certified 
Person meets the requirements of the Act (81 FR 34882).

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0692-0013.
    Form Number(s): NTIS FM161.
    Type of Review: Revised information collection.
    Affected Public: Members of the public seeking certification or 
renewal of certification for access to the Limited Access Death Master 
File under the final rule for the ``Certification Program for Access to 
the Death Master File.''
    Estimated Number of Respondents: NTIS expects to receive 
approximately 560 applications and renewals for certification every 
year.
    Estimated Time per Response: 2.5 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,400 (560 applications x 2.5 
hours = 1,400 hours).
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: NTIS expects to receive up 
to 560 applications annually at a fee of $1,575 per application, for a 
total cost of $882,000. This total annual cost reflects the cost to the 
Federal Government, which consists of the expenses associated with NTIS 
personnel reviewing and processing the revised Certification Form. In 
addition, NTIS expects that preparation of the application will require 
a senior administrative staff person 2.5 hours at a rate of $100/hour, 
for a total cost to the public of $140,000 (1,400 total burden hours x 
$100/hour = $140,000). NTIS

[[Page 66257]]

estimates the total annual cost to the public to be $1,022,000 
($882,000 in fees + $140,000 in staff time = $1,022,000).

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed 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 
(including hours and cost of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

Sheleen Dumas,
PRA Departmental Lead, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-23208 Filed 9-26-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-13-P