E9-30357. National Protection and Programs Directorate; Infrastructure Protection Data Call

AGENCY:

National Protection and Programs Directorate, DHS.

ACTION:

60-Day Notice and request for comments; New Information Collection Request: 1670-NEW.

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).

DATES:

Comments are encouraged and will be accepted until February 22, 2010. 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 NPPD/IP/IICD, Attn.: Ribkha Hailu, [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is the lead coordinator in the national effort to identify and prioritize the country's critical infrastructure and key resources (CIKR). At DHS, this responsibility is managed by the Office of Infrastructure Protection (IP) in the National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD). In FY2006, IP engaged in the annual development of a list of CIKR assets and systems to improve IP's CIKR prioritization efforts; this list is called the Critical Infrastructure List. The Critical Infrastructure List includes assets and systems that, if destroyed, damaged or otherwise compromised, could result in significant consequences on a regional or national scale.

The IP Data Call is administered out of the Infrastructure Information Collection Division (IICD) in the Office of Infrastructure Protection (IP). The IP Data Call provides opportunities for States and territories to collaborate with DHS and its Federal partners in CIKR protection. DHS, State and territorial Homeland Security Advisors (HSA), Sector Specific Agencies (SSA), and territories build their CIKR data using the IP Data Call application. To ensure that HSAs, SSAs and territories are able to achieve this mission, IP requests opinions and information in a survey from IP Data Call participants regarding the IP Data Call process and the Web-based application used to collect the CIKR data. The survey data collected is for internal IICD and IP use only.

IICD and IP will use the results of the IP Data Call Survey to determine levels of customer satisfaction with the IP Data Call process and the IP Data Call application and prioritize future improvements. The results will also allow IP to appropriate funds cost-effectively based on user need, and improve the process and application.

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, National Protection and Programs Directorate.

Title: Infrastructure Protection Data Call.

Form: Not Applicable.

OMB Number: 1670-NEW.

Affected Public: Federal, State, Local, Tribal.

Number of Respondents: 558.

Estimated Time per Respondent: 15 minutes.

Total Burden Hours: 140 annual burden hours.

Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $14,430.00.

Dated: December 8, 2009.

Thomas Chase Garwood, III,

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