Iran Democracy Program Grants Vetting

OMB Control No: 1405-0176	ICR Reference No: 200612-1405-001
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No:
Agency/Subagency: STATE/AFA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Iran Democracy Program Grants Vetting
Type of Information Collection: New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Emergency	Approval Requested By: 12/08/2006
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved with change	Conclusion Date: 12/14/2006
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)	Date Received in OIRA: 12/06/2006
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	06/30/2007	6 Months From Approved
Responses	200	0	0
Time Burden (Hours)	200	0	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: A critical component of the Administration's Iran policy is the support for indigenous Iranian voices calling for freedom. The State Department has made the awarding of grants for this purpose a key component of its Iran policy. As a condition of licensing these activities, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has requested the Department of State to follow certain procedures to effectuate these goals. The licensing conditions mandate that the Department conduct a vetting of potential Iran democracy grantees and sub-grantees for counter-terrorism purposes. To conduct this vetting the Department will collect information from grantees and sub-grantees regarding the identity and background of their key employees and Boards of Directors.

Emergency Justfication: The use of normal clearance procedures will prevent the Department from obtaining the information needed to release funding for vital and urgent democracy promotion grants regarding Iran on a timely basis. Public harm is likely to result if normal clearance procedures are followed because failure to finalize the Iran democracy promotion grants within this month will adversely impact the Administration’s overall Iran policy. Iran continues to pursue a radical course through its pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability, its notoriety as the world’s leading supporter of terrorist groups, and its deplorable treatment of its own people. These grant programs are a critical component of the Administration’s attempts to support the Iranian people and a more open and free political process in order shift Iran’s radical course. The political scene in Iran, which is holding several sets of elections on December 15, is changing fast. The awarding of these grants is part of ongoing efforts by the United States and international community to press Iran to end its pursuit of nuclear weapons capability, and stop its support of terrorists in the region. A delay in providing approval for sub-grants and for new grants will cause the United States to lose time to affect Iranian policy.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 18 USC 2339A, 2339B Name of Law: null    EO: EO 13224 Name/Subject of EO: Executive Order on Terrorist Financing

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments

Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title Form No. Form Name Iran Democracy Program Grants DS4100 Iran Democracy Program Grants

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	200	0	0	200	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	200	0	0	200	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: This is a new collection.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $0

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Is the Supporting Statement intended to be a Privacy Impact Assessment required by the E-Government Act of 2002? No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? Uncollected

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? Uncollected

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? Uncollected

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

Agency Contact: David Denehy 202 647-2519 [email protected]

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Common Form ICR:  No

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On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
		(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;
		(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;
		(c) It reduces burden on small entities;
		(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;
		(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;
		(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;
		(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:
			(i) Why the information is being collected;
			(ii) Use of information;
			(iii) Burden estimate;
			(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
			(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
			(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
		(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.
		(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and
		(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Certification Date: 12/06/2006

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