[Federal Register: July 11, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 131)]
[Notices]
[Page 39715-39716]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11jy05-25]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Office of the Chief Information Officer; Notice of Proposed
Information Collection; Comment Request
AGENCY: Office of the Chief Information Officer, USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to allow 60 days for public
comment in the Federal Register preceding submission to OMB. In
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice
announces the intention of the Office of the Chief Information Officer
(OCIO) to request approval for information collection necessary to
allow USDA customers to securely and confidently share data and receive
services electronically. Authority for obtaining information from
customers is included in the Freedom to E-File Act, the Government
Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA), the Electronic Signatures in Global
and National Commerce Act (E-SIGN), and the E-Government Act of 2002.
Customer information is collected through the USDA eAuthentication
Service, located at http://www.eauth.egov.usda.gov. USDA's
eAuthentication Service plays a vital role in the Expanded Electronic
Government (e-Government) initiative of the President's Management
Agenda. The USDA eAuthentication Service provides the public and
government businesses with a single sign-on capability for USDA
applications, management of user credentials, and verification of
identity, authorization, and electronic signatures. USDA's
eAuthentication Service obtains customer information through an
electronic self-registration process provided through the
eAuthentication Web site. This voluntary online self-registration
process enables USDA customers, as well as employees, to obtain
accounts as authorized users that will provide single sign-on
capability to access USDA Web applications and services via the
Internet. The USDA eAuthentication system stems from the Web-based
Centralized Authentication and Authorization Facility (WebCAAF), the
former USDA authentication system.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by September 9, 2005 to
be assured consideration.
[[Page 39716]]
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Owen Unangst, Program Manager,
Office of the Chief Information Officer, United States Department of
Agriculture, NRCS Information Technology Center, 2150 Centre Avenue
Building A, Fort Collins, CO 80526-1891 or via e-mail at
owen.unangst@ftc.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: USDA eAuthentication Service Customer
Registration.
OMB Control Number: 0503-0014.
Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Abstract: The USDA OCIO has developed the eAuthentication Service
as a management and technical process that addresses user
authentication and authorization prerequisites for providing services
electronically. The process requires a one-time electronic self-
registration to obtain an eAuthentication account for each USDA
customer desiring access to online services or applications that
require user authentication. USDA customers can self-register for a
Level 1 or Level 2 Access account. A Level 1 Access account provides
users with limited access to USDA Web site portals and applications
that have minimal security requirements. A Level 2 Access account
enables users to conduct official electronic business transactions via
the Internet, enter into a contract with the USDA, and submit forms
electronically via the Internet to USDA Agencies. Due to the increased
customer access associated with a Level 2 Access account, customers
must be authenticated in person at a USDA Service Center by a local
registration authority, in addition to an electronic self-registration.
Once an account is activated, customers may use the associated user ID
and password that they created to access USDA resources that are
protected by eAuthentication. It is estimated to take 8 minutes to
complete the self-registration process for a Level 1 Access account. A
Level 2 Access account registration is estimated to be completed in 1
hour 10 minutes due to the travel time to the USDA Service Center.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for the collection of
information is estimated to average 8 minutes for a Level 1 Access
account and 1 hour 10 minutes for a Level 2 Access account per
customer.
Respondents: Individual USDA Customers.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 38,604.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 18,909.
Proposed topics for comment include: (a) Whether the collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
the agency, including whether the information will have practical
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agencies' estimate of burden,
including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c)
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; or (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of
the information on those who respond, including the use of appropriate
automated, electronic, mechanical, or techniques or other forms of
information technology.
Comments should be sent to the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office
of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget,
OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov or Fax (202) 395-5806, and to Owen
Unangst, Program Manager, Office of the Chief Information Officer,
United States Department of Agriculture, NRCS Information Technology
Center, 2150 Centre Avenue Building A, Fort Collins, CO 80526-1891, e-
mail owen.unangst@ftc.usda.gov. All comments received will be available
for public inspection during regular business hours at the same
address. Copies of the information collection may be obtained from Mr.
Unangst at the address above. All responses to this notice will be
summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments
will become a matter of public record.
Dated: July 5, 2005.
Dave Combs,
Acting Chief Information Officer, Office of the Chief Information
Officer.
[FR Doc. 05-13538 Filed 7-8-05; 8:45 am]