Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comments Requested: Dispensing Records of Individual Practitioners

ACTION:

30-Day Notice of Information Collection under Review.

The Department of Justice (DOJ), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will be submitting the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The proposed information collection is published to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies. This proposed information collection was previously published in the Federal Register at 76 FR Number 44, pages 12372-12373, March 7, 2011, allowing for a 60 day comment period.

The purpose of this notice is to allow for an additional 30 days for public comment until June 10, 2011. This process is conducted in accordance with 5 CFR 1320.10.

If you have comments, especially on the estimated public burden or associated response time, suggestions, or need a copy of the proposed information collection instrument with instructions or additional information, please contact Cathy A. Gallagher, Acting Chief, Liaison and Policy Section, Office of Diversion Control, Drug Enforcement Administration, 8701 Morrissette Drive, Springfield, VA 22152; (202) 307-7297.

Written comments concerning this information collection should be sent to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Attn: DOJ Desk Officer. The best way to ensure your comments are received is to e-mail them to oira_submission@omb.eop.gov or fax them to (202) 395-7285. All comments should reference the eight-digit OMB number for the collection or the title of the collection. If you have questions concerning the collection, please contact Cathy A. Gallagher, Acting Chief, Liaison and Policy Section, Office of Diversion Control, Drug Enforcement Administration, 8701 Morrissette Drive, Springfield, VA 22152, (202) 307-7297, or the DOJ Desk Officer at (202) 395-3176.

Written comments and suggestions from the public and affected agencies concerning the proposed collection of information are encouraged. Your comments should address one or more of the following four points:

• 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;
• 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;
• Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and
• 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 Information Collection 1117-0021

(1) Type of Information Collection: Extension of a currently approved collection.

(2) Title of the Form/Collection: Dispensing records of individual practitioners.

(3) Agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of the Department sponsoring the collection:

Form number: N/A.

Component: Office of Diversion Control, Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Justice.

(4) Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as well as a brief abstract:

Primary: Business or other for-profit.

Other: Not-for-profit; Federal government; State, local, or Tribal government.

Abstract: 21 U.S.C. 827 requires that individual practitioners keep records of the dispensing and administration of controlled substances. This information is needed to maintain a closed system of distribution.

(5) An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount of time estimated for an average respondent to respond: DEA estimates that 81,397 registrants respond to this information collection, with 81,397 responses annually. DEA estimates that it takes 30 minutes per year for each practitioner to maintain the necessary records.

(6) An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated with the collection: DEA estimates that this collection takes 40,699 annual burden hours.

If additional information is required contact: Lynn Murray, Department Clearance Officer, Policy and Planning Staff, Justice Management Division, Department of Justice, Two Constitution Square, 145 N Street, NE., Suite 2E-808, Washington, DC 20530.