[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 239 (Thursday, December 16, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71521-71522]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-27268]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

[OMB Number 1123-0011]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection 
eComments Requested; Update With Changes, of a Previously Approved 
Collection Which Expires November, 2021: Department of Justice 
Equitable Sharing Agreement and Certification

AGENCY: Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Criminal Division, 
Department of Justice.

ACTION: 30-Day notice.

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SUMMARY: The Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Criminal 
Division, Department of Justice (DOJ), 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. The proposed information collection is published 
to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies.

DATES: Comments are encouraged and will be accepted for 30 days until 
January 18, 2022.

ADDRESSES: 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: This process is conducted in accordance with 
5 CFR 1320.10. 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 Bureau of Justice 
Statistics, 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,

[[Page 71522]]

including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
--Evaluate whether and if so how the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected can be enhanced; and
--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: Update with changes, of the 
Department of Justice Equitable Sharing Agreement and Certification, a 
previously approved collection for which approval will expire on 
November 30, 2021.
    2. The Title of the Form/Collection: Department of Justice 
Equitable Sharing Agreement and Certification.
    3. The agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of 
the Department sponsoring the collection: There is not an agency form 
number. The applicable component within the Department of Justice is 
the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (``MLARS''), in the 
Criminal Division.
    4. Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as 
well as a brief abstract: The Attorney General is required by statute 
to ``assure that any property transferred to a State or local law 
enforcement agency . . . will serve to encourage further cooperation 
between the recipient State or local agency and Federal law enforcement 
agencies.'' 21 U.S.C. 881(e)(3). MLARS ensures such cooperation by 
requiring that all such ``equitably shared'' funds be used only for law 
enforcement purposes and not be distributed to other governmental 
agencies by the recipient law enforcement agencies. By requiring that 
law enforcement agencies that participate in the Equitable Sharing 
Program (Program) file an Equitable Sharing Agreement and Certification 
(ESAC), MLARS can readily ensure compliance with its statutory 
obligations.
    The ESAC requires information regarding the receipt and expenditure 
of Program funds from the participating agency. Accordingly, it seeks 
information that is exclusively in the hands of the participating 
agency.
    5. An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount of 
time estimated for an average respondent to respond: An estimated 6,000 
state and local law enforcement agencies electronically file the ESAC 
annually with MLARS. It is estimated that it takes 30 minutes per year 
to enter the information. All of the approximately 6,000 agencies must 
fully complete the form each year to maintain compliance and continue 
participation in the Department of Justice Equitable Sharing Program.
    6. An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated 
with the collection: The estimated public burden associated with this 
collection is 3,000 hours. It is estimated that respondents will take 
30 minutes to complete the form. (6,000 participants x 30 minutes = 
3,000 hours).
    If additional information is required contact: Melody Braswell, 
Department Clearance Officer, United States Department of Justice, 
Justice Management Division, Policy and Planning Staff, Two 
Constitution Square, 145 N Street NE, 3E.405B, Washington, DC 20530.

    Dated: December 13, 2021.
Melody Braswell,
Department Clearance Officer for PRA, U.S. Department of Justice.
[FR Doc. 2021-27268 Filed 12-15-21; 8:45 am]
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