[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 210 (Wednesday, November 1, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74981-74982]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-24127]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Technical Information Service


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; 
Extension of Currently Approved Information Collection; Comment 
Request; Limited Access Death Master File Systems Safeguards 
Attestation Forms

AGENCY: National Technical Information Service, 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 of 1995 (PRA), 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 
preceding submission of the collection to OMB.

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed 
information collection must be received on or before January 2, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments by 
mail to Daniel Ramsey, Supervisory Program Manager, Office of Program 
Management, National Technical Information Service, Department of 
Commerce or by email to [email protected] or [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0692-0016 in the subject line of your 
comments. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise 
sensitive or protected information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
specific questions related to collection activities should be directed 
to Daniel Ramsey, Supervisory Program Manager, Office of Program 
Management, National Technical Information Service, Department of 
Commerce, 5301 Shawnee Road, Alexandria, VA 22312, email: 
[email protected] or telephone: 703-605-6703.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

Title of Information Collection

(A) ``Limited Access Death Master File (LADMF) Accredited Conformity 
Assessment Body Systems Safeguards Attestation Form'' (ACAB Systems 
Safeguards Attestation Form)
(B) ``Limited Access Death Master File (LADMF) State or Local 
Government Auditor General (AG) or Inspector General (IG) Systems 
Safeguards Attestation Form'' (AG or IG Systems Safeguards Attestation 
Form)

    This notice informs the public that the National Technical 
Information Service (NTIS) is requesting approval for extension of the 
above information collection for use in connection with the final rule 
for the ``Certification Program for Access to the Death Master File.'' 
The final rule was promulgated under section 203 of the Bipartisan 
Budget Act of 2013, Public Law 113-67 (Act) and published on June 1, 
2016 (81 FR 34882). The rule became effective on November 28, 2016 (15 
CFR part 1110). No changes are being proposed to the currently approved 
information collection.
    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.
    To accommodate the requirements of the final rule, NTIS is using 
both the ACAB Systems Safeguards Attestation Form and the AG or IG 
Systems Safeguards Attestation Form.
    The ACAB Systems Safeguards Attestation Form requires an 
``Accredited Conformity Assessment Body'' (ACAB), as defined in the 
final rule, to attest that a Person seeking certification or a 
Certified Person seeking renewal of certification has information 
security systems, facilities and procedures in place to protect the 
security of the Limited Access DMF, as required under ection 
1110.102(a)(2) of the final rule. The ACAB Systems Safeguards 
Attestation Form collects information based on an assessment by the 
ACAB conducted within three years prior to the date of the Person or 
Certified Person's submission of a completed certification statement 
under Section 1110.101(a) of the final rule. This collection includes 
specific requirements of the final rule, which the ACAB must certify 
are satisfied, and the provision of specific information by the ACAB, 
such as the date of the assessment and the auditing standard(s) used 
for the assessment.
    Section 1110.501(a)(2) of the final rule provides that a state or 
local government office of AG or IG and a Person or Certified Person 
that is a department or agency of the same state or local government, 
respectively, are not considered to be owned by a common ``parent'' 
entity under Section 1110.501(a)(1)(ii) for the purpose of determining 
independence, and attestation by the AG or IG is possible. The AG or IG 
Systems Safeguards Attestation Form is for the use of a state or local 
government AG or IG to attest on behalf of a state or local government 
department or agency Person or Certified Person. The AG or IG Systems 
Safeguards Attestation Form requires the state or local government AG 
or IG to attest that a Person seeking certification or a Certified 
Person seeking renewal of certification has information security 
systems, facilities and procedures in place to protect the security of 
the Limited Access DMF, as required under Section 1110.102(a)(2) of the 
final rule. The AG or IG Systems Safeguards Attestation Form collects 
information based on an assessment by the state or local government AG 
or IG conducted within three years prior to the date of the Person or 
Certified Person's submission of a completed certification statement 
under Section 1110.101(a) of the final rule. This collection includes 
specific requirements of the final rule, which the state or local 
government AG or IG must certify are satisfied, and the provision of 
specific information by the state or local government AG or IG, such as 
the date of the assessment.

II. Method of Collection

    The information will be collected by paper format, email, and mail.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0692-0016.
    Form Number(s): NTIS FM100A and NTIS FM100B.
    Type of Review: Regular submission: extension of a current 
information collection.
    Affected Public: Accredited Conformity Assessment Bodies and state 
or local government Auditors General or Inspectors General attesting 
that a Person seeking certification or a Certified Person seeking 
renewal of certification under the final rule for the ``Certification 
Program for Access to the Death Master File'' has information security 
systems, facilities and procedures in place to protect the

[[Page 74982]]

security of the Limited Access DMF, as required by the final rule.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: ACAB Systems Safeguards 
Attestation Form: NTIS expects to receive approximately 240 ACAB 
Systems Safeguards Attestation Forms from Persons and Certified Persons 
annually. AG or IG Systems Safeguards Attestation Form: NTIS expects to 
receive approximately 20 AG or IG Systems Safeguards Attestation Forms 
from Persons and Certified Persons annually.
    Estimated Time per Response: ACAB Systems Safeguards Attestation 
Form: 3 hours. AG or IG Systems Safeguards Attestation Form: 3 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: ACAB Systems Safeguards 
Attestation Form: 720 (240 x 3 hours = 720 hours). AG or IG Systems 
Safeguards Attestation Form: 60 (20 x 3 hours = 60 hours).
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: ACAB Systems Safeguards 
Attestation Form: NTIS expects to receive approximately 240 ACAB 
Systems Safeguards Attestation Forms annually at a fee of $247 per 
form, for a total cost of $59,280. This total annual cost reflects the 
cost to the Federal Government for the ACAB Systems Safeguards 
Attestation Forms, which consists of the expenses associated with NTIS 
personnel reviewing and processing these forms. NTIS estimates that it 
will take ACAB's senior auditor three hours to complete the form at a 
rate of approximately $204 per hour, for a total additional cost to the 
public of $146,880 (720 burden hours x $204/hour = $146,880). NTIS 
estimates the total annual cost to the public for the ACAB Systems 
Safeguards forms to be $206,160 ($59,280 in fees + $146,880 in staff 
time = $206,160). AG or IG Systems Safeguards Attestation Form: NTIS 
expects to receive approximately 20 AG or IG Systems Safeguards 
Attestation Forms annually at a fee of $247 per form, for a total cost 
of $4,940. This total annual cost reflects the cost to the Federal 
Government for the AG or IG Systems Safeguards Attestation Forms, which 
consists of the expenses associated with NTIS personnel reviewing and 
processing these forms. NTIS estimates that it will take an AG or IG 
senior auditor three hours to complete the form at a rate of 
approximately $204 per hour, for a total additional cost to the public 
of $12,240 (60 burden hours x $204/hour = $12,240). NTIS estimates the 
total annual cost to the public for AG or IG Systems Safeguards 
Attestation Forms to be $17,180 ($4,940 in fees + $12,240 in staff time 
= $17,180).
    NTIS estimates the total annual cost to the public for both the 
ACAB Systems Safeguards Attestation Forms and the AG or IG Systems 
Safeguards Attestation Forms to be $223,340 ($206,160 for ACAB Systems 
Safeguards Attestation Forms + $17,180 for AG or IG Systems Safeguards 
Attestation Forms).
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Section 203 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013, 
Public Law 113-67; 15 CFR part 1110.

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, 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 Information Collection Review (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 Under Secretary of 
Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2023-24127 Filed 10-31-23; 8:45 am]
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