ML22341A083

Final Supporting Statement for NRC Form 277 Request for Visit

ML22341A083
Person / Time
Issue date:	01/03/2023
From:	NRC/OCIO, NRC/OGC
To:
Shared Package
ML22341A082	List: ML22341A083
References
ADM-22-00012, RIN 3150-0051
Download: ML22341A083 (4)

Text

FINAL SUPPORTING STATEMENT FOR NRC FORM 277 REQUEST FOR VISIT (3150-0051)

EXTENSION

DESCRIPTION OF THE INFORMATION COLLECTION

The information collection associated with the U.S. Nuclear Reg ulatory Commissions (NRCs) Form 277, Request for Visit, affects any employee of approximately 70 licensees and approximately 60 NRC contractor companies who: (1) hold an NRC access authorization, and (2) need to make a visit to the NRC, other contractors/lice nsees or government agencies in which access to classified information will be involved or u nescorted area access is desired. The completed NRC Form 277 contains a signature certif ication of the NRC access authorization and of an offici al need-to-know. The NRC Form 277 collects the personal information needed to verify the requestors identity and other relevant information regarding the visit.

The use of NRC Form 277 affords some assurance that only proper ly cleared and authorized individuals, who require access as a part of their o fficial duties, will have such access during visits to other facilities and agencies. Therefor e, the use of the NRC Form 277 benefits the NRC security program and the public at large.

A. JUSTIFICATION

1. Need For and Practical Utility of the Collection of Information

Section 4.2 of Executive Order (E.O.) 12958 states a person may have access to classified information provided that: (1) a favorable determina tion of eligibility for access has been made by an agency head or the agency heads des ignee; (2) the person has signed an approved nondisclosure agreement; and (3) the person has a need-to-know the information. Further, Section 4.3 requires a gencies to establish controls over the distribution of classified information to ass ure that it is distributed only to organizations or individuals eligible for access who al so have a need-to-know the information.

The use of the NRC Form 277, as cited in NRC Management Directi ve 12.3, NRC Personnel Security Program, is applicable to contractors and licensees, and is the method by which the NRC can provide assurance of com pliance with the above provisions of E.O. 12958. The NRC Form 277 provides the facility/agency to be visited with verification of the visitor s NRC access authorization and certification of their official need-to-know for the classified information regarding the visit. By requiring the information c ollection contained on the NRC Form 277, the facility/agency can assure that only p roperly cleared and authorized individuals will be permitted access during a vi sit.

2. Agency Use of Information

The NRC Form 277 is forwarded by the contractor/licensee through the appropriate NRC office exercising oversight authority for certification of need-to-know to the NRCs

1 Division of Facilities and Security (DFS). After clearance veri fication, DFS forwards the completed form to the security office having cognizance over th e facility to be visited.

The security office of the facility being visited uses the info rmation collected to confirm identity of the visitor and to permit the visitor access to the requested classified information/area. Failure to use the NRC Form 277 by the contra ctor/licensee may result in denied access to classified information or areas whic h are necessary in the accomplishment of official duties.

3. Reduction of Burden Through Information Technology

The NRC has issued Guidance for Electronic Submissions to the NRC which provides direction for the electronic transmission and submittal of docu ments to the NRC.

Electronic transmission and submittal of documents can be accom plished via the following avenues: the Electronic Information Exchange (EIE) pr ocess, which is available from the NRC's Electronic Submittals Web page, by O ptical Storage Media (OSM) (e.g. CD-ROM, DVD), by facsimile or by e-mail. It is esti mated that approximately 100% of the responses are filed electronically.

4. Effort to Identify Duplication and Use Similar Information

No sources of similar information are available. There is no du plication of requirements.

5. Effort to Reduce Small Business Burden

No respondents are small business.

6. Consequences to Federal Program or Policy Activities if the Col lection Is Not Conducted or Is Conducted Less Frequently

The frequency of information collection is dependent on the num ber of visits an individual makes to Government agencies or facilities. In most cases, a less frequent collection would mean eliminating the collection, as visits by contractors, for which the NRC Form 277 would be required, are infrequent. If the informa tion is not collected, access by the visitor to classified information or areas, neces sary in the accomplishment of official duties, may be denied.

Further, a reduction in the collection of the information requi red by the NRC Form 277 would reduce the assurance that only properly cleared and a uthorized individuals will be permitted access during a visit. Thus, less frequent collection may endanger the United States common defense and national secu rity.

7. Circumstances Which Justify Variation from OMB Guidelines

There are no variations from the OMB Guidelines.

8. Consultations Outside the NRC Opportunity for public comment on the information collection re quirements for this clearance package was published In the Federal Register on October 4, 2022 (87 FR 60220). Three licensee companies (Urenco, Duke, and GE-Hitachi) were contacted)

2 and no comments were received in response to these consultation s. Only one comment was received in response to the Federal Register Notice, and it was determined to be out-of-scope.

9. Payment or Gift to Respondents

Not applicable.

10. Confidentiality of Information

Confidential and proprietary information is protected in accord ance with NRC regulations at 10 CFR 9.17(a) and 10 CFR 2.390(b).

Personal Information provided on the NRC Form 277 is handled an d protected in accordance with NRC directives and provisions of the Privacy Ac t of 1974, as described in the Privacy Act Statement on the form. Information is maintained in a system of records designated as NRC-39 and described in the Fed eral Register in NRCs Republication of Systems of Records Notices on November 17, 2016 (81 FR 81348).

11. Justification for Sensitive Questions

The NRC does request sensitive information on this form.

12. Estimated Burden and Burden Hour Cost

REPORTING The $288 hourly rate used in the burden estimates is based on t he NRCs fee for hourly rates as noted in 10 CFR 170.20, Average cost per profe ssional staff-hour.

For more information on the basis of this rate, see the Revisio n of Fee Schedules:

Fee Recovery for Fiscal Year 2019 (86 FR 32146, June 16, 2021)..

An estimated 10 minutes (based on staff experience) is required to complete each NRC Form 277. The NRC staff estimates that 60 responses will be re ceived annually during the clearance period, resulting in a total annual burden to the public of 10 hours1.157407e-4 days <br />0.00278 hours <br />1.653439e-5 weeks <br />3.805e-6 months <br /> (60 responses X 10 minutes ÷ 60).

The estimated annual cost is $2,880 (10 hours1.157407e-4 days <br />0.00278 hours <br />1.653439e-5 weeks <br />3.805e-6 months <br /> X $ 288 per hour. )

RECORDKEEPING There are no recordkeeping requirements associated with this in formation collection.

13. Estimate of Other Additional Costs None.

14. Estimated Annualized Cost to the Federal Government

The staff has developed estimates of annualized costs to the Fe deral Government related to the conduct of this collection of information. These estimates are based on

3 staff experience and subject matter expertise and include the b urden needed to review, analyze, and process the collected information and any relevant operational expenses.

It takes NRC staff an estimated 15 minutes per form to process the NRC Form 277.

The total cost to process 60 forms is estimated to be $4,320 (6 0 forms x 15 minutes

÷ 60 x $288/hr. = $4,320).

15. Reasons for Change in Burden or Cost There is no change in burden. However, the burden cost for prof essional staff hours increased from $275 to $288 per hour.

16. Publication for Statistical Use

N/A.

17. Reason for Not Displaying the Expiration Date

The expiration date is displayed on the form.

18. Exceptions to the Certification Statement

None.

B. COLLECTIONS OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS

Not applicable.

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