[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 14 (Tuesday, January 24, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8190-8191]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-01483]


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OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT ETHICS


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Proposed Collection; Comment Request for a Modified OGE Form 
278e Executive Branch Personnel Public Financial Disclosure Report

AGENCY: Office of Government Ethics (OGE).

ACTION: Notice of request for agency and public comments.

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SUMMARY: After publication of this second round notice, OGE intends to 
submit a modified OGE Form 278e Executive Branch Personnel Public 
Financial Disclosure Report to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for review and approval of a three-year extension under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Written comments by the public and the agencies on this proposed 
extension are invited and must be received by February 23, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this paperwork notice to the 
Office of Management and Budget, Attn: Desk Officer for OGE, via fax at 
202-395-6974 or email at [email protected]. (Include 
reference to ``OGE Form 278e paperwork comment'' in the subject line of 
the message.)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brandon Steele at the U.S. Office of 
Government Ethics; telephone: 202-482-9209; TTY: 800-877-8339; FAX: 
202-482-9237; Email: [email protected]. An electronic copy of the OGE 
Form 278e is available in the Forms Library section of OGE's Web site 
at http://www.oge.gov. A paper copy may also be obtained, without 
charge, by contacting Mr. Steele.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Executive Branch Personnel Public Financial Disclosure 
Report.
    Form Number: OGE Form 278e.
    OMB Control Number: 3209-0001.
    Type of Information Collection: Extension with modifications of a 
currently approved collection.
    Type of Review Request: Regular.
    Respondents: Private citizen Presidential nominees to executive 
branch positions subject to Senate confirmation; other private citizens 
who are potential (incoming) Federal employees whose positions are 
designated for public disclosure filing; those who file termination 
reports from such positions after their Government service ends; and 
Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 4,884.
    Estimated Time per Response: 3 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 14,652 hours.
    Abstract: The OGE Form 278 collects information from certain 
officers and high-level employees in the executive branch for conflicts 
of interest review and public disclosure. The form is also completed by 
individuals who are nominated by the President for high-level executive 
branch positions requiring Senate confirmation and new entrants to 
other public reporting positions in the executive branch. The financial 
information collected relates to: Assets and income; transactions; 
gifts, reimbursements and travel expenses; liabilities; agreements or 
arrangements; outside positions; and compensation over $5,000 paid by a 
source--all subject to various reporting thresholds and exclusions. The 
information is collected in accordance with section 102 of the Ethics 
in Government Act, 5 U.S.C. app. section 102, as amended by the Stop 
Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-105) 
(STOCK Act) and OGE's implementing financial disclosure regulations at 
5 CFR part 2634.
    OGE published a first round notice of its intent to request 
paperwork clearance for a modified OGE Form 278e Executive Branch 
Personnel Public Financial Disclosure Report. See 81 FR 71503 (October 
17, 2016). OGE received two responses, one of which did not actually 
address the information collection. The other response suggested

[[Page 8191]]

that the form require additional information and opposes the changes on 
the grounds that they would ``streamline'' the form and reduce 
transparency. OGE declined to adopt these recommendations. The 
information required on the form is dictated by the Ethics in 
Government Act, as amended, and OGE's implementing regulations. With 
regard to the changes made to the form, OGE believes that they make the 
form more user-friendly and more clear and therefore improve, not 
impede, transparency.
    Request for Comments: Agency and public comment is again invited 
specifically on the need for and practical utility of this information 
collection, the accuracy of OGE's burden estimate, the enhancement of 
quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected, and the 
minimization of burden (including the use of information technology). 
Comments received in response to this notice will be summarized for, 
and may be included with, the OGE request for extension of OMB 
paperwork approval. The comments will also become a matter of public 
record.

    Approved: January 17, 2017.
Walter M. Shaub, Jr.,
Director, Office of Government Ethics.
[FR Doc. 2017-01483 Filed 1-23-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6345-03-P