[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 71 (Monday, April 13, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 20525]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-07723]



[[Page 20525]]

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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

[OMB Number 1124-0001]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection 
eComments Requested; Extension of a Previously Approved Collection 
Registration Statement of Foreign Agents (NSD-1)

AGENCY: Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) Unit, 
Counterintelligence and Export Control Section (CES), National Security 
Division, U.S. Department of Justice.

ACTION: 30-Day notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Justice (DOJ), National Security Division 
(NSD), will be submitting the following information collection request 
to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. There were three 
official communications received by NSD reflecting comments and 
recommendations. One communication was signed by fourteen individuals. 
The FARA Unit staff responded to each communication, satisfactorily 
addressing each comment and recommendation.

DATES: Comments are encouraged and will be accepted for an additional 
30 days until May 13, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Written comments and recommendations 
for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days 
of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. 
Find this particular information collection by selecting ``Currently 
under 30-day Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search 
function.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Written comments and suggestions from the 
public and affected agencies concerning the proposed collection of 
information are encouraged. Your comments should address one or more of 
the following four points:

--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;
--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;
--Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and/or
--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 
submission of responses.

Overview of This Information Collection

    1. Type of Information Collection: Extension of a currently 
approved collection.
    2. The Title of the Form/Collection: Registration Statement 
(Foreign Agents).
    3. The agency form number: Form NSD-1. The applicable component 
within the Department of Justice is the Foreign Agents Registration Act 
(FARA) Unit, Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, in the 
National Security Division.
    4. Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as 
well as a brief abstract: Primary: Private Sector, Business or other 
for-profit. Other: Not-for-profit institutions, and individuals.
    Abstract: This form contains Registration Statement information 
used for registering foreign agents under the Foreign Agents 
Registration Act of 1938, as amended, 22 U.S.C. 611 et seq., (FARA).
    5. An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount of 
time estimated for an average respondent to respond: Based on the 
projected increases in registrations from 2017 to 2020, an estimated 
140 new registrants will complete Form NSD-1 (OMB 1124-0001). Based on 
sample testing, each respondent will need .75 hours to complete the 
form, which takes into consideration the improved e-File 4.0 webform 
features. The following factors were considered when creating the 
burden estimate: the estimated total number of respondents, the 
intuitive online FARA e-File registration process, and the prior 
collection of the necessary data to accurately complete the filing. NSD 
estimates that all of the approximately 140 respondents will fully 
complete the form.
    6. An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated 
with the collection: The estimated public burden associated with this 
collection is 105 annual burden hours. It is estimated that respondents 
that respondents will take .75 hours to complete the form. (140 
respondents x .75 hours = 105 annual burden hours).
    7. Beginning September 23, 2019, NSD completed its ongoing multi-
year design review, testing, and requirements enhancement efforts under 
the FARA e-File 4.0 initiative to a level where it began to rollout 
initial capabilities for new registrants only. NSD continues to make 
progress in enhancing the functionality of FARA e-File and Form NSD-1.
    If additional information is required contact: Melody D. Braswell, 
Department Clearance Officer, United States Department of Justice, 
Justice Management Division, Policy and Planning Staff, Two 
Constitution Square, 145 N Street NE, 3E.405A, Washington, DC 20530.

    Dated: April 8, 2020.
Melody D. Braswell,
Department Clearance Officer for PRA, U.S. Department of Justice.
[FR Doc. 2020-07723 Filed 4-10-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4410-PF-P