[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 53 (Friday, March 18, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15363-15365]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-05795]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; Certification of Identity (Form BC-300)

AGENCY: Census Bureau, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, invites the general public and other 
Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information 
collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information 
collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The 
purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment on the 
proposed revision of the Certification of Identity (Form BC-300) as a 
Common Form, prior to the submission of the information collection 
request (ICR) to OMB for approval.

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed 
information collection must be received on or before May 17, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments by 
email to <[email protected]>. Please reference ``Certification of 
Identity (Form BC-300)'' in the subject line of your comments. You may 
also submit comments, identified by Docket Number USBC-2022-0005, to 
the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. All 
comments received are part of the public record. No comments will be 
posted to http://www.regulations.gov for public viewing until after the 
comment period has closed. 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. You may submit 
attachments to electronic comments in Microsoft Word, Excel, or Adobe 
PDF file formats.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
specific questions related to collection activities should be directed 
to Vernon E. Curry, Chief, Freedom of Information Act/Privacy Act 
Officer, U.S. Census Bureau, at 301-763-7325, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Census Bureau's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Office 
receives an estimated 250 Privacy Act requests annually. In order to 
protect the public's privacy and adhere to Privacy regulations, the 
Census Bureau's FOIA Office developed the Certification of Identity 
(Form BC-300) to assist with accurately identifying and providing 
personnel records to requesters. The Form BC-300 asks requesters to 
provide general information such as name, address, date of birth 
(D.O.B), description of the request, etc. The form provides added 
protection in managing sensitive records regulated under the Privacy 
Act. This form will be hosted by the Census Bureau as a Common Form.

II. Method of Collection

    The Privacy Act of 1974 (the Privacy Act), as amended, 5 U.S.C. 
552a, establishes a code of fair information practices that governs the 
collection, maintenance, use, and dissemination of information about 
individuals that is maintained in systems of records by federal 
agencies. Regulations at 15 CFR part 4, subpart B prescribe how an 
individual must make a request for access to his or her own personal 
records to the Census Bureau under the Privacy Act. Generally, one may 
submit a request for access to his or her own personal records by 
appearing in person, electronically through the FOIA public website, or 
by writing to the Census FOIA Office. The regulations require that the 
requestor describe the records in enough detail to enable Census Bureau 
personnel to locate the applicable system of records containing the 
information with a reasonable amount of effort. 15 CFR 4.4(c). A 
request made under the Privacy Act should include the information 
listed at 15 CFR 4.24(b), including whenever possible, a description of 
the records sought, the time periods they were compiled, and the name 
or identifying number of each system of records where they are kept. 
Furthermore, requestor must provide documentation or proof of identity. 
15 CFR 4.24(d). These documents include information such as the 
requestor's full name, current address, D.O.B, and place of birth, and 
where required, a notarized or sworn statement of identity. All Privacy 
Act requests not made in person must contain a verification of identity 
that either is notarized or signed under penalty of perjury. 15 CFR 
4.24(d). The Census Bureau is prohibited by federal law from disclosing 
any information contained in the records, except upon written request 
from the person to whom the information pertains or to a legal 
representative.
    The Form BC-300 is used to collect general information in order to 
sufficiently identify a respondent to ensure accurate records are 
provided to the right person as stated in 15 CFR 4.24(d). The Form BC-
300 asks for name, address, D.O.B., description of request, and 
signature, in accordance with 15 CFR 4.24(d). The form explains the 
purpose and includes the Privacy Act Statement, the disclosure 
statement, the authorities under which the Census Bureau is authorized 
to collect the information, and an explanation of burden to the 
requester. The Form BC-300 is a ``public use'' form meaning that this 
form is used for all public and internal agency requests for personal 
records.
    The Form BC-300 is accessible electronically and is printable. The 
Census Bureau plans to develop the form as a fillable form that can be 
submitted online to help minimize the requester's processing time for 
filling out and submitting the form. The Census Bureau will receive all 
Form BC-300s either electronically submitted through the Census FOIA 
website, FOIAonline.gov, by fax, or via postal mail. In all 
circumstances, proper identification of the requestor must be obtained 
to ensure distribution of accurate records to the correct individuals. 
Providing this information is voluntary; however, if not provided, the 
Census Bureau will be unable to provide the requested personal records.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-1018.
    Form Number(s): Form BC-300.
    Type of Review: Regular submission, Request for a Revision of a 
Currently Approved Collection, as a Common Form.
    Affected Public: Individuals requesting the release of his or her 
own records.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 250 (annual respondents).
    Estimated Time per Response: 6 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 25.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 (This is not the cost of 
respondents' time, but the indirect costs respondents may incur for 
such things as purchases of specialized software or hardware needed to 
report, or expenditures for accounting or records maintenance services 
required specifically by the collection.)
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: In accordance with 15 CFR part 4, subpart B, the 
U.S. Census Bureau requires the submission of sufficient information to 
identify individuals that submit requests by mail or otherwise not in 
person under the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. Section 552a.

IV. Request for Comments

    We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau 
to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is 
necessary for the proper functions of the Department,

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including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) 
Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the time and cost burden for 
this proposed collection, including the validity of the methodology and 
assumptions used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, 
and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the 
reporting burden on those who are to respond, including the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. We will include, or summarize, each comment in our 
request to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, 
phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information 
in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--
including your personal identifying information--may be made publicly 
available at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold 
your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2022-05795 Filed 3-17-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P