[Federal Register: August 25, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 165)]
[Notices]               
[Page 50139-50140]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25au08-98]                         


[[Page 50139]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Part III





Election Assistance Commission





-----------------------------------------------------------------------



Information Collection Activity; Proposed Information Collection; 
Comment Request; Procedural Manual for the Election Assistance 
Commission's Voting System Test Laboratory Program Manual; Notices


[[Page 50140]]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION

 
Information Collection Activity; Proposed Information Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC).

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Election Assistance Commission has submitted the 
following information collection request (Voting System Test Laboratory 
Accreditation Program Manual) to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995. The information collection was previously 
published in the Federal Register on February 2, 2008, at 73 FR 6494. 
The notice allowed for a 60-day public comment period. No comments were 
received on this information collection; however, modifications were 
made to improve and clarify the information collection based on 
comments submitted to a request for substantive comments (73 FR 6495) 
and internal review of the document. The purpose of this notice is to 
allow an additional 30 days for public comments. Comments are 
encouraged and will be accepted until September 24, 2008. This process 
is conducted in accordance with 5 CFR 1320.10. Comments are invited on: 
(a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the 
proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether 
the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the 
agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
information collection on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before September 24, 
2008.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations on the proposed 
information collection must be sent to:
    OMB Reviewer: Alexander T. Hunt, Office of Management and Budget, 
Room 10235, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503, (202) 
395-7316.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request more information on this 
proposed information collection or to obtain a copy of the EAC's Voting 
System Test Laboratory Accreditation Program Manual, please contact Ms. 
Laiza N. Otero at (202) 566-2209 or via e-mail at lotero@eac.gov. You 
may also view the proposed collection instrument by visiting the EAC's 
Web site at http://www.eac.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Voting System Test Laboratory Accreditation Program Manual.
    OMB Number: Pending.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Needs and Uses: Section 231(b) of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) 
of 2002 (42 U.S.C. Sec.  15371(b)) requires that the EAC provide for 
the accreditation and revocation of accreditation of independent, non-
federal laboratories qualified to test voting systems to Federal 
standards. Generally, the EAC considers for accreditation those 
laboratories evaluated and recommended by the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology (NIST) pursuant to HAVA Section 231(b)(1). 
However, consistent with HAVA Section 231(b)(2)(B), the Commission may 
also vote to accredit laboratories outside of those recommended by NIST 
upon publication of an explanation of the reason for any such 
accreditation. In order to meet its statutory requirements under HAVA 
Sec.  15371(b), the EAC has developed the EAC's Voting System Test 
Laboratory Accreditation Program. The procedural requirements of the 
program are established in the proposed information collection, the EAC 
Voting System Test Laboratory Accreditation Program Manual. Although 
participation in the program is voluntary, adherence to the program's 
procedural requirements is mandatory for participants. The procedural 
requirements of this Manual will supersede any prior laboratory 
accreditation requirements issued by the EAC. This manual shall be read 
in conjunction with the EAC's Voting System Testing and Certification 
Program Manual (OMB 3265-0004).
    Affected Public: Voting system test laboratories.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 8.
    Total Annual Responses: 8.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 200 hours.

Thomas R. Wilkey,
Executive Director, U.S. Election Assistance Commission.
[FR Doc. E8-19066 Filed 8-22-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6820-KF-P