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[Federal Register: January 29, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 19)]
[Notices]               
[Page 4833-4834]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29ja10-86]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

[Docket No. DHS-2009-0156]

 
National Protection and Programs Directorate; Assessment 
Questionnaire--Voluntary Chemical Assessment Tool (VCAT)

AGENCY: National Protection and Programs Directorate, Department of 
Homeland Security.

ACTION: 30-Day Notice and request for comments; New Information 
Collection Request, 1670-NEW.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security, National Protection and 
Programs Directorate has submitted the following information collection 
request (ICR) 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). The National Protection and 
Programs Directorate is soliciting comments concerning new collection 
request, Assessment Questionnaire--Voluntary Chemical Assessment Tool 
(VCAT). DHS previously published this information collection request 
(ICR) in the Federal Register on September 14, 2009, at 74 FR 47010, 
for a 60-day public comment period. No comments were received by DHS. 
The purpose of this notice is to allow an additional 30 days for public 
comments.

DATES: Comments are encouraged and will be accepted until March 1, 
2010. This process is conducted in accordance with 5 CFR 1320.10.

[[Page 4834]]


ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments on 
the proposed information collection to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget. Comments should be 
addressed to OMB Desk Officer, Department of Homeland Security and sent 
via electronic mail to oira_submission@omb.eop.gov or faxed to (202) 
395-5806.
    The Office of Management and Budget is particularly interested in 
comments which:
    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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If additional information is required 
contact: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Amanda Norman, 
Program Analyst, DHS/NPPD/IP/IICD, Amanda.Norman@dhs.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DHS Sector Specific Agency (SSA) for the 
Chemical Sector partnered with the Methodology Technical Implementation 
(MTI) office, within the Infrastructure Information Collection Division 
(IICD), in the Office of Infrastructure Protection (IP), National 
Protection and Program Directorate (NPPD), which supports the 
automation of sector-approved risk and vulnerability assessment 
methodologies that are compliant with the criteria outlined in the 
National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP), to develop a Web-based, 
automated assessment tool for voluntary use by chemical facilities. 
This application, titled Voluntary Chemical Assessment Tool (VCAT), 
allows owners/operators to identify their current vulnerability and 
risk levels through an all-hazards approach. The application enables 
owners/operators to evaluate the theoretical vulnerability and risk 
associated with the effects of the selected threats, thus allowing the 
Chemical Sector to more thoroughly understand, prioritize and analyze 
its assets or systems. VCAT facilitates cost benefit analysis, allowing 
owners/operators to select the best combination of physical security 
countermeasures and mitigation strategies to reduce overall risk. 
Collection of this information is directed and supported by Homeland 
Security Presidential Directive (HSPD) 7, ``Critical Infrastructure 
Identification, Prioritization, and Protection,'' December 17, 2003.
    After Chemical SSA and private sector partners access the VCAT 
system (see supporting statement for VCAT User Accounts), the user will 
be prompted with the VCAT Assessment questionnaire and will answer 
various questions to input the data. This information will be used to 
supplement existing critical infrastructure and key resources (CIKR) 
protection activities conducted by DHS NPPD. More specifically, the 
information will be used to address facility assessments, response 
planning, and risk mitigation execution and related CIKR protection and 
incident management activities.

Analysis

    Agency: Department of Homeland Security, National Protection and 
Programs Directorate.
    Title: Assessment Questionnaire--Voluntary Chemical Assessment Tool 
(VCAT).
    OMB Number: 1670-NEW.
    Affected Public: Business or other for profit, Federal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 50.
    Estimated Time Per Respondent: 8 hours.
    Total Burden Hours: 400 annual burden hours.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.00.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $0.00.

    Signed: January 21, 2010.
Thomas Chase Garwood, III,
Chief Information Officer, National Protection and Programs 
Directorate, Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 2010-1780 Filed 1-28-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
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