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[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 71 (Thursday, April 12, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 21989]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-8738]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

[Docket No. DHS-2012-0001]

Critical Infrastructure Private Sector Clearance Program Request

AGENCY: National Protection and Programs Directorate, DHS.

ACTION: 60-day notice and request for comments; Reinstatement, with 
change, of a previously approved collection.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), National Protection 
and Programs Directorate (NPPD), Office of Infrastructure Protection 
(IP) will submit the following Information Collection Request to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35).

DATES: Comments are encouraged and will be accepted until June 11, 
2012. This process is conducted in accordance with 5 CFR 1320.1.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and questions about this Information 
Collection Request should be forwarded to DHS/NPPD/IP/Monika Junker, 
245 Murray Lane, SW., Mail Stop 0609, Arlington, VA 20598-0609. Emailed 
requests should go to Monika Junker, monika.junker@dhs.gov. Written 
comments should reach the contact person listed no later than June 11, 
2012. Comments must be identified by ``DHS-2012-0001''and may be 
submitted by one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
     Email: Include the docket number in the subject line of 
the message.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the words 
``Department of Homeland Security'' and the docket number for this 
action. Comments received will be posted without alteration at http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Critical Infrastructure Private Sector 
Clearance Program (PSCP) sponsors clearances for private sector 
partners who are responsible for critical infrastructure protection, 
but would not otherwise be eligible for a clearance under Executive 
Order 12829. These partners are subject matter experts within specific 
industries and sectors. The PSCP requires individuals to complete a 
clearance request form that initiates the clearance process. DHS Sector 
Specialists or Protective Security Advisors email the form to the 
individual who then emails back the completed form, minus their date 
and place of birth and social security number. The clearance request 
form is signed by both the Federal official who nominated the applicant 
and by the Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection. Upon 
approval to process, the PSCP Administrator will contact the nominee to 
obtain the social security number, date and place of birth, and will 
then enter this data into e-QIP--Office of Personnel Management's 
secure portal for investigation processing. Once the data is entered in 
e-QIP, the applicant can complete the online security questionnaire. 
The PSCP maintains all applicants' information in the Master Roster, 
which contains all the information found on the clearance request form 
in addition to their clearance information (date granted, level of 
clearance, date non-disclosure agreements signed, and type/date of 
investigation). The Administrator of the Master Roster maintains the 
information so as to track clearance processing and investigation 
information and to have the most current contact information for the 
participants from each sector.
    OMB is particularly interested in comments that:
    1. 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;
    2. 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;
    3. Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and
    4. 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 
submissions of responses.

Analysis

    Agency: Department of Homeland Security, National Protection and 
Programs Directorate, Office of Infrastructure Protection.
    Title: Critical Infrastructure Private Sector Clearance Program 
Request.
    OMB Number: 1670-0013.
    Frequency: Once.
    Affected Public: Designated private sector employees of critical 
infrastructure entities or organizations.
    Number of Respondents: 450 (estimate).
    Estimated Time per Respondent: 10 minutes.
    Total Burden Hours: 75.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Recordkeeping Burden: $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $0.

    Dated: April 4, 2012.
David Epperson,
Chief Information Officer, National Protection and Programs 
Directorate, Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 2012-8738 Filed 4-11-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-9P-P
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