[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 176 (Wednesday, September 11, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73723-73724]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-20428]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

[OMB Number 1123-0011]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection 
eComments Requested; Annual Certification Report and Equitable Sharing 
Agreement

AGENCY: Criminal Division (MLARS), Department of Justice.

ACTION: 30-Day notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Justice (DOJ), Money Laundering and Asset 
Recovery Section, Criminal Division, will be submitting the following 
information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget

[[Page 73724]]

(OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Comments are encouraged and will be accepted for 30 days until 
October 11, 2024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have comments especially on the 
estimated public burden or associated response time, suggestions, or 
need a copy of the proposed information collection instrument with 
instructions or additional information, please contact Teresa Franklin, 
Criminal Division (MLARS), 1400 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 
20005, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed information collection was 
previously published in the Federal Register, [89 FR 48192], on [June 
5, 2024], allowing a 60-day comment period. 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.

    Written comments and recommendations for this information 
collection should be submitted within 30 days of the publication of 
this notice on the following website 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 and entering either the title of the information collection or 
the OMB Control Number 1123-0011. This information collection request 
may be viewed at www.reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to view 
Department of Justice, information collections currently under review 
by OMB.
    DOJ seeks PRA authorization for this information collection for 
three (3) years. OMB authorization for an ICR cannot be for more than 
three (3) years without renewal. The DOJ notes that information 
collection requirements submitted to the OMB for existing ICRs receive 
a month-to-month extension while they undergo review.

Overview of This Information Collection

    1. Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved 
collection.
    2. Title of the Form/Collection: Annual Certification Report and 
Equitable Sharing Agreement.
    3. Agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of the 
Department of Justice sponsoring the collection: There is not an agency 
form number. The collection instrument is the Equitable Sharing 
Agreement and Certification. 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: Affected Public: State, Local and Tribal 
Governments.
    Abstract: This collection of information is authorized by 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. This collection request is classified as a revision due to a 
new version of the Equitable Sharing Guide, that will be published by 
the end of the calendar year, in addition to format changes and 
deleting and relabeling some fields.
    5. Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain a benefit.
    6. Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 6,000.
    7. Total Estimated Number of Responses: 6,000.
    8. Time per Response: .5 hours.
    9. Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 3,000 hours.
    10. Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $0.
    If additional information is required, contact: Darwin Arceo, 
Department Clearance Officer, Policy and Planning Staff, Justice 
Management Division, United States Department of Justice, Two 
Constitution Square, 145 N Street NE, 4W-218 Washington, DC 20530.

    Dated: September 5, 2024.
Darwin Arceo,
Department Clearance Officer for PRA, U.S. Department of Justice.
[FR Doc. 2024-20428 Filed 9-10-24; 8:45 am]
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