[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 34 (Thursday, February 20, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9721-9722]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-03119]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 34 / Thursday, February 20, 2020 / 
Notices  

[[Page 9721]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Agency Information Collection Activities

AGENCY: Office of the Chief Information Officer, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces and requests comments on the intention of the Office 
of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) to request approval for the 
continuation of and changes to the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
(USDA) Registration Form to Request Electronic Access Code information 
collection to allow USDA customers to securely and confidently share 
data and receive services electronically.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before April 20, 
2020 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: 
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: This website provides the 
ability to type short comments directly into the comment field on this 
web page or attach a file for lengthier comments. Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions at that site for 
submitting comments.
     Interested persons are invited to submit comments 
concerning this information collection to Adam Zeimet, 2150 Centre 
Avenue, Building A--Suite 350, Fort Collins, Colorado 80526. Fax 
comments should be sent to the attention of Adam Zeimet at fax number 
(970) 295-5238.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Adam Zeimet by telephone at (970) 295-
5678, or via email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Authority for obtaining information from 
customers is included in the Freedom to E-File Act (7 U.S.C. 7031-
7035), the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act 
(E-SIGN) (15 U.S.C. 7001-7031), the E-Government Act of 2002 (44 U.S.C. 
3601-3606; 3541-3549), and the GRAMM-LEACH-BLILEY ACT (Pub. L. 106-102, 
502-504). Customer information is collected through the USDA 
eAuthentication Service (eAuth), located at https://www.eauth.usda.gov. 
The USDA eAuth service provides both public citizens as well as federal 
government employees with a secure single sign-on capability for USDA 
applications, management of user credentials, and verification of 
identity, authorization, and electronic signatures. USDA's eAuth 
Application service obtains customer information through an electronic 
self-registration process provided through the eAuth website. This 
voluntary online self-registration process and identity proofing 
process (either in-person at a USDA Service Center or online with 
national credit bureaus) enables USDA customers to obtain accounts as 
authorized users that will provide single sign-on capability, self-
registration, and account management to access USDA Web applications 
and services via the internet.
    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
Chapter 35), this notice announces the intention of USDA-OCIO--Customer 
Experience Center--Identity and Access Services Branch (Identity, 
Credential, and Access Management Program) to request approval for an 
existing collection.
    Title: USDA Registration Form to Request Electronic Access Code.
    OMB Number: 0503-0014.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 4/30/2020.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The USDA OCIO 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 
eAuth account for each USDA customer desiring access to on-line 
services or applications that require user authentication. USDA 
customers may self-register for an account in accordance to OMB 
Memorandum M-19-17 and National Institute of Standards and Technology 
Special Publication 800-63-3 (or superseding publications). An 
eAuthentication account, without identity verification, provides users 
with limited access to USDA website portals and applications that have 
minimal security requirements. A customer with an eAuthentication 
account, with identity verification, is permitted 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 risk associated with 
these types of transactions, the identity of customers must be verified 
through a process called ``identity proofing''. Identity proofing can 
be accomplished for USDA customers in two ways: (1) By visiting a Local 
Registration Authority (LRA) at a USDA Service Center; or (2) Through 
an integrated online identity proofing service with a National Credit 
Bureau. The on-line identity proofing service provides registrants with 
a more efficient mechanism for identity verification. On-line identity 
proofing requires responses to at least four randomly selected identity 
questions that are verified by a national credit bureau identity 
proofing service in an automated interface. Once the user's identity if 
verified, they may use the associated credential to access USDA 
resources that utilize eAuthentication services.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to take three (3) minutes to complete the 
self-registration process for an eAuthentication account, without 
identity verification. Customers needing a higher form of access are 
required to provide additional information for identity proofing 
purposes. The data entry for identity verification is estimated to take 
three (3) minutes. For identity verification through a LRA, the time is 
estimated to take one (1) hour to travel to a USDA Service Center to 
visit a Local Registration Authority (expected to be approximately 15% 
of the registrants), or three (3) minutes when using the on-line 
identity proofing service (expected to be approximately 85% of the 
registrants).
    Respondents: Individual USDA Customers.

[[Page 9722]]

    Estimated Number of Respondents per account type:

 eAuthentication account, without identity proofing: 103,704
 eAuthentication account, with identity proofing: 34,692
    [cir] In Person ID Proofing (15%): 5,204
    [cir] Online/Remote ID Proofing (85%): 29,488

    Estimated Total Number of Respondents: 138,396.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 17,038.3 hours.
    Comments are invited on (1) 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) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden of the 
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of the information on those 
who respond, through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, technological or other forms of information technology 
collection methods. Copies of the information collection may be 
obtained from Mr. Zeimet by calling or emailing your request to the 
contact information above in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION section. 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: February 10, 2020.
Gary Washington,
Chief Information Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020-03119 Filed 2-19-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-KR-M