E6-12728. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comments Requested

ACTION:

30-Day Notice of Information Collection Under Review: Bureau of Justice Assistance Application Form: Medal of Valor.

The Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP) 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. This proposed information collection was previously published in the Federal Register [Volume 71, Number 101, page 30174 on May 25, 2006] allowing for a 60 day comment period. The purpose of this notice is to allow for an additional 30 days for public comment until September 6, 2006. This process is conducted in accordance with 5 CFR 1320.10.

Written comments and/or suggestions regarding the items contained in this notice, especially the estimated public burden and associated response time, should be directed to The Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention Department of Justice Desk Officer, Washington, DC., 20503. Additionally, comments may be submitted to OMB via facsimile to [phone]. 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 previously approved collection for which approval will expired on December 31, 2005.

(2) Title of the Form/Collection: Public Safety Officer Medal or Valor.

(3) Agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of the Department sponsoring the collection: None.

(4) Affected public who will be as or required to respond, as well as a brief abstract: Primary: State, local and tribal government agencies within the United States and its territories.

Abstract: The Bureau of Justice Assistance, a component of the Office of Justice Program, Department of Justice, administers the Public Safety Officer's Medal of Valor. One a year, the President of the United States of America may award, and present in the name of Congress, a Medal of Valor of appropriate design, with ribbons and appurtenances, to a public safety officer who is cited by the Attorney General, upon the recommendation of the Medal of Valor Review Board, for extraordinary valor above and beyond the call of duty. The Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor is the highest national award given to a public safety officer in recognition of their bravery and altruistic acts of valor to protect and save the lives of others. Nomination(s) for this award is voluntary. Nominations are received through the Internet, or postal mail. The Medal of Valor program is governed by F1.R.802, the “Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor Act of 2001.

(5) An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount of time estimated for an average respondent to respond/reply: It is estimated that it will take the 182 applicants under the Medal of Valor approximately 25 minutes to complete the application/nomination form.

(6) An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated with the collection: the total estimated annual hour burden to complete the certification form is 75.83 hours.

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 1, 2006.

Lynn Bryant,

Department Clearance Officer, PRA, Department of Justice.