2020-15462. Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comments Requested; Certification and Release of Records

AGENCY:

Executive Office for Immigration Review, Department of Justice.

ACTION:

60-Day notice.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Justice (DOJ), Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), 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.

DATES:

Comments are encouraged and will be accepted for 60 days until September 15, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

If you have additional 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 Lauren Alder Reid, Assistant Director, Office of Policy, Executive Office for Immigration Review, 5107 Leesburg Pike, Suite 2500, Falls Church, VA 22041, telephone: [phone]. Written comments and/or suggestions can also be directed to the Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention Department of Justice Desk Officer, Washington, DC 20530 or sent to [e-mail].

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.

Overview of This Information Collection

1. Type of Information Collection: New Optional Collection.

2. The Title of the Form/Collection: Certification and Release of Records.

3. The agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of the Department sponsoring the collection: Form EOIR-59. The applicable component within the Department of Justice is the Office of the General Counsel, Executive Office for Immigration Review.

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

Primary: Individuals.

Other: None.

Abstract: This information collection is necessary to prevent unauthorized disclosure of records of individuals maintained by the Department of Justice, and allows parties who are, or were, in proceedings before EOIR to disclose or release their records to an attorney, accredited representative, qualified organization, or other third party.

5. An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount of time estimated for an average respondent to respond: It is estimated that there are 50,596 respondents, 50,596 annual responses, and that each response takes 10 minutes to complete.

6. An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated with the collection: The estimated public burden associated with this collection is 8,433 hours. It is estimated that respondents will take 10 minutes to complete a questionnaire. The burden hours for collecting respondent data sum to 8,433 hours (50,596 respondents × 10 minutes per response = 8,433 hours).

If additional information is required contact: Melody Braswell, Department Clearance Officer, United States Department of Justice, Justice Management Division, Policy and Planning Staff, Two Constitution Square, 145 N Street NE, 3E.405B, Washington, DC 20530.

Dated: July 14, 2020.

Melody Braswell,

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