2023-26432. Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection eComments Requested; Authorization for Release of Information

AGENCY:

Office of the Pardon Attorney, Department of Justice.

ACTION:

30-Day notice.

SUMMARY:

The Office of the Pardon Attorney, Department of Justice (DOJ), will be submitting the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The proposed information collection was previously published in the Federal Register on September 28, 2023, allowing a 60-day comment period.

DATES:

Comments are encouraged and will be accepted for 30 days until January 2, 2024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

If you have comments especially on the estimated public burden or associated response time, suggestions, or need a copy of the proposed information collection instrument with instructions or additional information, please contact: Kira Gillespie, Deputy Pardon Attorney, Office of the Pardon Attorney, 950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Main Justice—RFK Building, Washington, DC 20530; [e-mail]; (202) 616–6073.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Written comments and suggestions from the public and affected agencies concerning the proposed collection of information are encouraged. Your comments should address one or more of the following four points:

—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;

—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;

—Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and/or

—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.

Written comments and recommendations for this information collection should be submitted within 30 days of the publication of this notice on the following website www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function and entering either the title of the information collection. This information collection request may be viewed at www.reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to view Department of Justice, information collections currently under review by OMB.

DOJ seeks PRA authorization for this information collection for three (3) years. OMB authorization for an ICR cannot be for more than three (3) years without renewal. The DOJ notes that information collection requirements submitted to the OMB for existing ICRs receive a month-to-month extension while they undergo review.

Overview of This Information Collection

1. Type of Information Collection: New collection.

2. Title of the Form/Collection: Authorization for Release of Information.

3. Agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of the Department of Justice sponsoring the collection: There is no agency form number for this collection. The applicable component within the Department of Justice is the Office of the Pardon Attorney.

4. Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as well as a brief abstract: Affected Public: Individuals or households.

Abstract: The information collected from the Authorizations for the Release of Information will primarily be used to make recommendations regarding executive clemency and ensure proper notification to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Attorneys' Offices, U.S. Probation Offices, and federal courts in the event of grants of executive clemency. The Authorization for the Release of Information will only be collected once per application for clemency.

5. Obligation to Respond: Voluntary.

6. Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,000 applicants.

7. Estimated Time per Respondent: Five minutes.

8. Frequency: Once.

9. Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 84 hours.

10. Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: Approximately 700 applicants are expected to mail in the Authorization for the Release of Information, incurring a $.63 postage fee for each submission. This results in a total estimated cost burden of $441. Applicants will not incur any capital, start-up, or system maintenance costs associated with this information collection.

If additional information is required, contact: Darwin Arceo, Department Clearance Officer, Policy and Planning Staff, Justice Management Division, United States Department of Justice, Two Constitution Square, 145 N Street NE, 4W–218, Washington, DC 20530.

Dated: November 28, 2023.

Darwin Arceo,

Department Clearance Officer for PRA, U.S. Department of Justice.