[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 227 (Monday, November 25, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64872-64873]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-25431]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Technical Information Service


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

AGENCY: National Technical Information Service, Department of 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

[[Page 64873]]

collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before January 24, 
2020.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to John W. Hounsell, Program 
Manager, Office of Program Management, National Technical Information 
Service, Department of Commerce, 5301 Shawnee Road, Alexandria, VA 
22312 (or at [email protected]). All comments received are part of 
the public record. Comments will generally be posted without change. 
All Personally Identifiable Information (for example, name and address) 
voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do 
not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or 
protected information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to John W. Hounsell, at 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 the renewal of an information 
collection described in Section II for use in connection with the final 
rule entitled ``Certification Program for Access to the Death Master 
File.'' The final rule was published on June 1, 2016 and became 
effective on November 28, 2016. The information collection described in 
Section II, was approved and became effective on January 3, 2017.

II. Method of Collection

    Title of Information Collection: ``Limited Access Death Master File 
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 (81 FR 34882, June 1, 2016). 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.
    The final rule requires that a Person seeking access to the Limited 
Access Death Master File establish a legitimate fraud prevention 
interest or legitimate business purpose pursuant to a law, governmental 
rule, regulation, or fiduciary duty. The Certification Form collects 
information that NTIS will use to evaluate whether the respondent 
qualifies to receive the Limited Access Death Master File under the 
rule.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0692-0013.
    Form Number(s): NTIS FM161.
    Type of Review: Regular submission. Renewal of currently approved 
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 250 applications and renewals for certification every 
year.
    Estimated Time per Response: 2.5 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 625 (250 x 2.5 hour = 625 
hours).
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: NTIS expects to receive 
approximately 250 applications annually at a fee of $2,930 per 
application, for a total cost to the public of $732,500. 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 $62,500 (625 total burden hours x $100/hour 
= $62,500). NTIS estimates the total annual cost to the public to be 
$795,000 ($732,500 in fees + $62,500 in staff time = $795,000). The 
total annual cost reflects the cost to the Federal Government, which 
consists of the expenses associated with NTIS personnel reviewing and 
processing the Certification Application Forms.

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 the potential 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,
Departmental Lead PRA Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer, 
Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2019-25431 Filed 11-22-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-04-P