Agency Information Collection Activities; Revision of a Current Approved Information Collection: Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Drug Enforcement Administration

Agency Information Collection Activities; Revision of a Current

Approved Information Collection: Comment Request

ACTION: Notice of information collection under review; Application for

Registration (DEA Form 224) and Application for Registration Renewal

(DEA Form 224a).

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Office of Management and Budget approval is being sought for the

information collection listed below. This proposed information

collection was previously published in the Federal Register on July 7,

1997 at 62 FR 36306, allowing for a 60-day public comment period.

The purpose of this notice is to allow an additional 30 days for

public comments until January 23, 1998.

Written comments and/or suggestions regarding the item(s) 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 DOJ

Desk Officer, Washington, DC 20530. Additionally, comments may be

submitted to OMB via facsimile to (202) 395-7285. Comments may also be

submitted to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Justice Management

Division, Information Management and Security Staff, Attention:

Department Clearance Officer, Suite 850, 1001 G Street, NW, Washington,

DC 20530. Additionally, comments may be submitted to DOJ via facsimile

to (202) 514-1590.

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

submissions of responses.

Overview of the Information Collection

1. Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved

collection.

2. Title of the Form/Collection: Application for Registration (DEA

Form 224) and Application for Registration Renewal (DEA Form 224a).

3. Agency form number: DEA Form 224, DEA Form 224a; Applicable

component of the Department of Justice sponsoring the collection:

Office of Diversion Control, Drug Enforcement Administration,

Department of Justice.

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4. Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as

well as a brief abstract: Primary: Business or other for-profit, Other:

individuals or households, Not-for-profit institutions and State, Local

or Tribal Government.

All firms and individuals who distribute or dispense controlled

substances must register with the DEA under the Controlled Substances

Act. Registration is needed for control measures over legal handlers of

controlled substances and is used to monitor their activities.

These revisions of the forms will not add any burden to the

affected public. The subject forms are being revised to provide the

ability to use an Optical Character Reader (OCR) for form processing

and to provide for registrants Social Security Number and/or Tax

Identification Number. The OCR will enable DEA to increase efficiency

and accelerate processing of registrant applications. Social Security

Number and/or Tax Identification Numbers are requested to correctly

identify registrants, to expedite application processing, database

integration and telephone system upgrades.

5. An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amounts

of time estimated for an average respondent to respond: 355,000

respondents at 1 response per year at 12 minutes per response.

6. An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated

with the collection: 71,000 annual burden hours.

Public comments on this proposed information collection are

strongly encouraged.

If additional information is required contact: Mr. Robert B.

Briggs, Clearance Officer, United States Department of Justice,

Information Management and Security Staff, Justice Management Division,

Suite 850, Washington Center, 1001 G Street, NW, Washington, DC 20530.

Dated: December 18, 1997.

Robert B. Briggs,

Department Clearance Officer, United States Department of Justice.

[FR Doc. 97-33572 Filed 12-23-97; 8:45 am]

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