06-7341. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comments Requested

ACTION:

60-day notice of information collection under review: Recordkeeping for digital certificates of information.

The Department of Justice (DOJ), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), has submitted 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 is published to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies. Comments are encouraged and will be accepted until October 30, 2006. This process is conducted in accordance with 5 CFR 1320.10.

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 Mark W. Caverly, Chief, Liaison and Policy Section, Office of Diversion Control, Drug Enforcement Administration, Washington, DC 20537.

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 agencies 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

—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: Extension of a currently approved collection.

(2) Title of the Form/Collection: Reporting and recordkeeping for digital certificates.

(3) Agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of the Department of Justice sponsoring the collection:

Form Numbers:

DEA Form 251: CSOS DEA Registrant Certificate Application.

DEA Form 252: CSOS Principal Coordinator/Alternate Coordinator Certificate Application.

DEA Form 253: CSOS Power of Attorney Certificate Application.

DEA Form 254: CSOS Certificate Application Registrant List Addendum. CSOS Certificate Revocation.

Component: Office of Diversion Control, Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Justice.

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

Primary: Business or other for-profit.

Other: Non-profit, State and local government.

Abstract: Persons use these forms to apply for DEA-issued digital certificates to order Schedule I and II controlled substances. Certificates must be renewed upon renewal of the DEA registration to which the certificate is linked. Certificates may be revoked and/or replaced when information on which the certificate is based changes.

(5) An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount of time estimated for an average respondent to respond: DEA estimates that the rule will affect 98,000 registrants and 145,000 certificate holders. The average time for completing the application for a digital certificate to order controlled substances is estimated to be from 0.72 hours to 1.24 hours. Certificate renewal is estimated to take 0.083 hours.

(6) An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated with the collection: As registrants adopt the electronic ordering, the annual burden hours would average 41,860 hours a year. During this period, DEA assumes that 70 percent of the certificate holders will apply for certificates.

If additional information is required contact: Lynn Bryant, Department Clearance Officer, United States Department of Justice, Justice Management Division, Policy and Planning Staff, Patrick Henry Building, Suite 1600, 601 D Street, NW., Washington, DC 20530.

Dated: August 28, 2006.

Lynn Bryant,

Department Clearance Officer, Department of Justice.