[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 111 (Thursday, June 8, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36467-36468]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-14421]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Office of Justice Programs


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

ACTION:  Notice of information collection under review; new collection; 
Fiscal Year 1999 State Domestic Preparedness Equipment Program Needs 
Assessment.

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    The Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Office 
for State and Local Domestic Preparedness (OSLDPS), has submitted the 
following information collection request to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with emergency 
review procedures of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. OMB approval 
has been requested by June 16, 2000. The proposed information 
collection is published to obtain comments from the public and affected 
agencies. If granted, the emergency approval is only valid for 180 
days. Comments should be directed to OMB, Office of Information 
Regulation Affairs, Attention: Department of Justice Desk Officer (202) 
395-3122, Washington, DC 20530.
    During the first 60 days of this same review period, a regular 
review of this information collection is also being undertaken. All 
comments and suggestions, or questions regarding additional 
information, to include obtaining a copy of the proposed information 
collection instrument with instructions, should be directed to Frank 
Lepage, Chief, Grants Management Operations Branch, Office for State 
and Local Domestic Preparedness, 810 7th Street, NW., Washington, DC 
20531, or facsimile at (202) 616-2922.
    Request written comments and suggestions from the public and 
affected agencies concerning the proposed collection of information. 
Your comments should address one or more of the following four points:
    (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 
submission of responses.

Overview of This Information

    (1) Type of information collection: New collection.
    (2) The title of the form/collection: Fiscal Year 1999 State 
Domestic Preparedness Equipment Program Needs Assessment.
    (3) The agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of 
the Department sponsoring the collection: U.S. Department of Justice, 
Office of Justice Programs, Office for State and Local Domestic 
Preparedness Support.
    (4) Affected Public who will be asked or required to respond, as 
well as a brief abstract:
    Primary: Federal, State, and Local Government.
    Abstract: Section 1404 of the Defense Against Weapons of Mass 
Destruction Act of 1998 (Title XIV of Public Law 105-261; 50 U.S.C. 
2301) as amended by Section 1064 of the National Defense Authorization 
Act of 2000 (Title X of Public law 106-65; 50 U.S.C. 2301) authorizes 
the Department of Justice to collect information from state and local 
jurisdictions to assess the threat and risk of terrorist employment of 
weapons of mass destruction against cities and other local areas. This 
data collection is a one-time event that will allow states to: (1) 
Report current jurisdictional needs for equipment, training, exercises, 
and technical assistance; (2) forecast projected needs for this 
support; and, (3) identify the gaps that exist at the jurisdictional 
level in equipment, training, exercises, and technical assistance that 
OJP/OSLDPS funding will be used to address. Additionally, the 
information collected will guide OJP/OSLDPS in the formulation of 
domestic preparedness policies and with the development of OSLDPS 
programs to enhance state and local first responder capabilities.
    (5) An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount 
of time estimated for an average respondent to respond/reply: The data 
collection being

[[Page 36468]]

proposed is a one-time effort incorporating three main components: A 
terrorist threat and risk assessment, a public health capabilities 
assessment, and an equipment needs and capabilities assessment. 
Information will be collected by approximately 9,000 local law 
enforcement, public health, and emergency management agencies. In 
addition, a state administrative agency in each state will roll-up the 
local data and submit this information to OJP/OSLDPS. Collection and 
tabulation of the raw data at the local level may take up to one month. 
Jurisdictions using the OJP data collection tool designed for this 
exercise may experience burdens ranging from 4-8 hours to collect 
tabulate and input data. In addition, roll-up of the data at the state 
level and electronic submission to OJP may take up to 4 hours.
    (6) An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated 
with the collection: The total public burden associated with this one-
time data collection will be approximately 66,200 hours.
    If additional information is required, contact: Ms. Brenda E. Dyer, 
Deputy Clearance Officer, United States Department of Justice, 
Information Management and Security Staff, Justice Management Division, 
Suite 1220, National Place Building, 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, 
Washington, DC 20530.

    Dated: June 2, 2000.
Brenda E. Dyer,
Department Deputy Clearance Officer, United States Department of 
Justice.
[FR Doc. 00-14421 Filed 6-7-00; 8:45 am]
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