Agency Information Collection Activities: Office of Biometric Identity Management (OBIM) Biometric Data Collection at the Ports of Entry, 22274-22275 [2013-08718]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 72 (Monday, April 15, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22274-22275]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-08718]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

[Docket No. DHS-2013-0016]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Office of Biometric 
Identity Management (OBIM) Biometric Data Collection at the Ports of 
Entry

AGENCY: National Protection and Programs Directorate, DHS.

ACTION: 60-Day notice and request for comments;

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Extension, without change, of a currently approved collection: 1600-
0006.

SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), National Protection 
and Programs Directorate (NPPD), Office of Biometric Identity 
Management (OBIM), formerly the United States Visitor and Immigrant 
Status Indicator Technology (US-VISIT) Program, will submit the 
following Information Collection Request to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for review and

[[Page 22275]]

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 June 14, 
2013. 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 Department of Homeland 
Security (Attn: NPPD/OBIM 245 Murray Lane SW., Mail Stop 0675, 
Arlington, VA 20598-0675. Emailed requests should go to Steven P. 
Yonkers at Steve.Yonkers@dhs.gov. Written comments should reach the 
contact person listed no later than June 14, 2013. Comments must be 
identified by ``DHS-2013-0016'' and may be submitted by one of the 
following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov.
     Email: Include the docket number in the subject line of 
the message.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the words 
``Department of Homeland Security'' and the docket number for this 
action. Comments received will be posted without alteration at https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DHS established OBIM, formerly the US-VISIT 
Program, to meet specific legislative mandates intended to strengthen 
border security, address critical needs in terms of providing decision-
makers with critical information, and demonstrate progress toward 
performance goals for national security, expediting of trade and 
travel, and supporting immigration system improvements. OBIM collects 
and disseminates biometric information (digital fingerprint images and 
facial photos) from individuals during their entry into the United 
States. This information is disseminated to specific DHS components; 
other Federal agencies; Federal, state, and local law enforcement 
agencies; and the Federal intelligence community to assist in the 
decisions they make related to, and in support of, the homeland 
security mission. Beginning on December 10, 2007, OBIM expanded the 
collection of fingerprints from two prints to ten. The new collection 
time of 35 seconds, an increase from the previous 15 seconds, is a 
result of this change, and includes officer instructions. Additionally, 
DHS published a final rule, entitled ``United States Visitor and 
Immigrant Status Indicator Technology Program (US-VISIT); Enrollment of 
Additional Aliens in US-VISIT; Authority To Collect Biometric Data From 
Additional Travelers and Expansion to the 50 Most Highly Trafficked 
Land Border Ports of Entry,'' which became effective on January 18, 
2009, and expanded the population of aliens subject to the requirement 
of having to provide biometrics in connection with their admission to 
the United States. See 73 FR 77473 (Dec. 19, 2008).
    OMB is particularly interested in comments that:
    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, Office of Biometric Identity Management.
    Title: Office of Biometric Identity Management (OBIM) Biometric 
Data Collection at the Ports of Entry.
    OMB Number: 1600-0006.
    Frequency: One-time collection.
    Affected Public: Foreign visitors and immigrants into the United 
States.
    Number of Respondents: 156,732,422.
    Estimated Time per Respondent: 35 seconds.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,520,300 annual burden hours.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Recordkeeping Burden: $63,853,000.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $63,853,000.

Michael Butcher,
Acting Chief Information Officer, National Protection and Programs 
Directorate, Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 2013-08718 Filed 4-12-13; 8:45 am]
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