E8-1445. National Protection and Programs Directorate, Office of Infrastructure Protection; Submission for Review Chemical Security Assessment Tool (CSAT) Information Collection 1670-0007

AGENCY:

National Protection and Programs Directorate, Office of Infrastructure Protection, DHS.

ACTION:

30-Day Notice and request for comments: Revision of an existing information collection request 1670-0007, DHS Forms 9010, 9002, 9007, 9012, and 9015.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Homeland Security, Office of the Under Secretary for National Protection and Programs Directorate, Office of Infrastructure Protection, Chemical Security Compliance Division (CSCD) 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. The information collection was previously published in the Federal Register on November 23, 2007 at 72 FR 65757 allowing for a 60-day public comment period. One comment was received on this existing information collection. The purpose of this notice is to allow an additional 30 days for public comments. The submission describes the nature of the information collection, the categories of respondents, the estimated burden (i.e., the time, effort and resources used by respondents to respond) and cost, and includes the actual data collection instruments DHS will use.

DATES:

Comments are encouraged and will be accepted until February 27, 2008. This process is conducted in accordance with 5 CFR 1320.1.

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 Budget, Attention: Nathan Lesser, Desk Officer, Department of Homeland Security/NPPD and sent via electronic mail to [e-mail] or faxed to [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

A copy of this ICR, with applicable supporting documentation, may be obtained by calling Nathan Lesser, Desk Officer, Department of Homeland Security, Washington, DC 20528; and sent via electronic mail to [e-mail] or faxed to [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Section 550 of the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2007, Pub. L. 109-295 (Section 550), directed the Department of Homeland Security to promulgate and enforce regulations to enhance the security of the nation's high risk chemical facilities. On April 9, 2007, the Department issued an Interim Final Rule, implementing this statutory mandate. (72 FR 17688). Section 550 requires a risk-based approach to security. To facilitate this approach, the Department is employing a risk assessment methodology known as the Chemical Security Assessment Tool (CSAT). The CSAT is a series of public web-based computer applications: Help Desk, User Registration, Top-Screen, Security Vulnerability Assessment, Site Security Plan, and Chemical-terrorism Vulnerability Information (CVI) Authorization. All information collected supports the Department's effort to reduce the risk of a successful terrorist attack against chemical facilities. These CSAT collections either directly or indirectly support the identification of high risk facilities, the determination of the risk tiers of the facilities, the review and approval of assessments and plans for security measures at the facilities, and/or the protection of Chemical-terrorism Vulnerability Information that would, if disclosed, substantially assist terrorists in planning and targeting the facilities.

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.

Analysis

Agency: Department of Homeland Security, Office of the Under Secretary for National Protection and Programs Directorate, Office of Infrastructure Protection, Chemical Security Compliance Division.

Title: Chemical Security Assessment Tool (CSAT).

OMB Number: 1670-0007.

Help Desk—(DHS Form 9010)

Frequency: On Occasion.

Affected Public: Chemical Sector Facility owners and operators; general public.

Number of Respondents: 20,800 phone calls & 1,300 emails annually.

Estimated Time Per Respondent: 10 minutes per phone call & 15 min. per e-mail.

Total Burden Hours: 3,467 hours for calls & 325 hours for email = 3,792 annual hours.

Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.00.

Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $304,408 phone calls & $28,538 emails = $332,946 total annual cost.

User Registration—(DHS Form 9002)

Frequency: On Occasion.

Affected Public: Chemical Sector Facility owners and operators.

Number of Respondents: 16,667.

Estimated Time Per Respondent: 1 hour.

Total Burden Hours: 16,667.

Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.00.

Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $1,463,499.

Top-Screen—(DHS Form 9007)

Frequency: On Occasion.

Affected Public: Chemical Sector Facility owners and operators.

Number of Respondents: 16,667.

Estimated Time Per Respondent: 30 Hours.

Total Burden Hours: 505,314 Hours Annually.

Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.00.

Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $44,371,535.

CVI User Training—(DHS Form 9012)

Frequency: Once.

Affected Public: Chemical Sector Facility owners and operators.

Number of Respondents: 16,667.

Estimated Time Per Respondent: 30 minutes.

Total Burden Hours: 8,333 annually.

Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.00.

Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $731,750.

Security Vulnerability Assessment—(DHS Form 9015) and Alternative Security Program in Lieu of SVA

Frequency: On Occasion.

Affected Public: Chemical Sector Facility owners and operators.

Number of Respondents: 2,500 annually.

Estimated Time Per Respondent: 153 hours.

Total Burden Hours: 382,269 annually.

Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.00.

Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $34,786,190 annually.

Site Security Plan (SSP) and Alternative Security Program in lieu of SSP

Frequency: On Occasion.

Affected Public: Chemical Sector Facility owners and operators.

Number of Respondents: 2,167.

Estimated Time Per Respondent: 84 hours.

Total Burden Hours: 183,036.

Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.00.

Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $14,594,411.

Dated: January 22, 2008.

Charlie Church,

Chief Information Officer, National Protection and Programs Directorate, Department of Homeland Security.