81 FR 81740 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Limited Access Death Master File Systems Safeguards Attestation Forms

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Technical Information Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 223 (November 18, 2016)

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 223 (Friday, November 18, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 81740-81741]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-27707]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Technical Information Service


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Limited Access 
Death Master File Systems Safeguards Attestation Forms

AGENCY: National Technical Information Service (NTIS), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The purpose of this notice is to allow 
for 60 days of public comment.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before January 17, 
2017.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to John W. Hounsell, Business and Industry Specialist, 
Office of Product and Program Management, National Technical 
Information Service, Department of Commerce, 5301 Shawnee Road, 
Alexandria, VA 22312, email: [email protected] or telephone: 703-605-
6184.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    This notice informs the public that the National Technical 
Information Service (NTIS) is requesting approval of a new information 
collection described in Section II for use in connection with the final 
rule for the ``Certification Program for Access to the Death Master 
File.'' The final rule was published on June 1, 2016 (81 FR 34882), 
with the rule to become effective on November 28, 2016. The new 
information collection described in Section II, if approved, will 
become effective on the effective date of the final rule.

II. Method of Collection

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)

    Description of the need for the information and the proposed use: 
NTIS issued a final rule establishing a program through which persons 
may become eligible to obtain access to Death Master File (DMF) 
information about an individual within three years of that individual's 
death. The final rule was promulgated under Section 203 of the 
Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013, Public Law 113-67 (Act). 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.
    On December 30, 2014, NTIS initially described a ``Limited Access 
Death Master File Systems Safeguards Attestation Form'' in the notice 
of proposed rulemaking (79 FR 78314 at 78321). 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 Section 
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

[[Page 81741]]

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.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: [0692-XXXX].
    Form Number(s): NTIS FM100A and NTIS FM100B.
    Type of Review: New 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 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 500 ACAB Systems Safeguards Attestation Forms from 
Persons and Certified Persons annually.
    AG or IG Systems Safeguards Attestation Form: NTIS expects to 
receive approximately 60 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: 1680.
    ACAB Systems Safeguards Attestation Form: 1500 (500 x 3 hours = 
1500 hours).
    AG or IG Systems Safeguards Attestation Form: 180 (60 x 3 hours = 
180 hours).

Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public

    ACAB Systems Safeguards Attestation Form: NTIS expects to receive 
approximately 500 ACAB Systems Safeguards Attestation Forms annually at 
a fee of $525 per form, for a total cost of $262,500. 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 an ACAB's senior auditor three hours to 
complete the form at a rate of approximately $135 per hour, for a total 
additional cost to the public of $202,500 (1500 burden hours x $135/
hour = $202,500). NTIS estimates the total annual cost to the public 
for the ACAB Systems Safeguards forms to be $465,000 ($262,500 in fees 
+ $202,500 in staff time = $465,000).
    AG or IG Systems Safeguards Attestation Form: NTIS expects to 
receive approximately 60 AG or IG Systems Safeguards Attestation Forms 
annually at a fee of $525 per form, for a total cost of $31,500. 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 $100 per 
hour, for a total additional cost to the public of $18,000 (180 burden 
hours x $100/hour = $18,000). NTIS estimates the total annual cost to 
the public for AG or IG Systems Safeguards Attestation Forms to be 
$49,500 ($31,500 in fees + $18,000 in staff time = $49,500).
    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 $514,500 ($465,000 for ACAB Systems 
Safeguards Attestation Forms + $49,500 for AG or IG Systems Safeguards 
Attestation Forms.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

Sheleen Dumas,
PRA Departmental Lead, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-27707 Filed 11-17-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-13-P