Agency Information Collection Activities: Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection; Comment Request, 2088 [E9-601]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
• United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 14, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 2088]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-601]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement


Agency Information Collection Activities: Extension of a 
Currently Approved Information Collection; Comment Request

ACTION: 30-Day Notice of Information Collection under Review; Secure 
Communities IDENT/IAFIS Interoperability State and Local Agency 
Assessment; OMB Control No. 1653-0040.

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    The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs 
Enforcement (USICE), is submitting the following information collection 
request for review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995. The information collection was previously 
published in the Federal Register on November 7, 2008, Vol. 73 No. 217 
66249, allowing for a 60 day comment period. No comments were received 
on this information collection. The purpose of this notice is to allow 
an additional 30 days for public comments. Comments are encouraged and 
will be accepted for thirty days until February 13, 2009.
    Written comments and suggestions from the public and affected 
agencies regarding items contained in this notice and especially with 
regard to the estimated public burden and associated response time 
should be directed to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget. Comments should be addressed to OMB 
Desk Officer, for United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 
Department of Homeland Security, and sent via electronic mail to oira_
submission@omb.eop.gov or faxed to (202) 395-6974. Written comments and 
suggestions from the public and affected agencies concerning the 
proposed collection of information should address one or more of the 
following four points:
    (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 agencies 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 
submission of responses.
    Overview of this information collection:
    (1) Type of Information Collection: Extension of currently approved 
information collection.
    (2) Title of the Form/Collection: Secure Communities IDENT/IAFIS 
Interoperability State and Local Agency Assessment.
    (3) Agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of the 
Department of Homeland Security sponsoring the collection: Form 70-003 
and Form 70-004, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
    (4) Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as 
well as a brief abstract: Primary: State and Local Correctional 
Facilities. 8 U.S.C. 1231(a) gives the Department of Homeland Security 
(DHS) Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authority to remove 
criminal aliens who have been ordered as such. DHS/ICE is improving 
community safety by transforming the way the federal government 
cooperates with state and local law enforcement agencies to identify, 
detain, and remove all criminal aliens held in custody. Secure 
Communities (SC) revolutionizes immigration enforcement by using 
technology to share information between law enforcement agencies and by 
applying risk-based methodologies to focus resources on assisting all 
local communities with removing high-risk criminal aliens. In order for 
the Secure Communities Initiative to meet its goals, ICE must collect 
detailed business requirements and input from its state and local law 
enforcement partners. ICE will interview law enforcement officials at a 
combined 7,000 state and local jails across the United States as part 
of the Secure Communities Initiative. The collection instruments are 
transitioning from the currently approved paper based format to the 
implementation of technology permitting electronic submissions of 
responses. This assessment determines the fingerprint procedures and 
technological capabilities of state and local jails governance, as well 
as basic jail booking statistics. This information is used in order to 
prioritize local sites and deliver the implementation strategy of the 
Secure Communities Initiative.
    (5) An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount 
of time estimated for an average respondent to respond: 7,000 responses 
at 20 minutes (0.3333333333333333 hours) per response.
    (6) An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated 
with the collection: 2,334 annual burden hours.
    Requests for a copy of the proposed information collection 
instrument, with instructions; or inquiries for additional information 
should be directed to: Joseph M. Gerhart, Chief, Records Management 
Branch, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 500 12th Street, SW., 
Room 3138, Washington, DC 20024; (202) 732-6337.

    Dated: January 8, 2009.
Joseph M. Gerhart,
Chief, Records Management Branch, U.S. Immigration and Customs 
Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. E9-601 Filed 1-13-09; 8:45 am]
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