USDA eAuthentication Service Customer Registration

OMB Control No: 0503-0014	ICR Reference No: 202004-0503-001
Status: Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201612-0503-001
Agency/Subagency: USDA/AgSEC	Agency Tracking No:
Title: USDA eAuthentication Service Customer Registration
Type of Information Collection: Extension without change of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 06/10/2020
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)	Date Received in OIRA: 04/27/2020
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	06/30/2023	36 Months From Approved	06/30/2020
Responses	173,088	0	135,596
Time Burden (Hours)	13,598	0	28,941
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

---

Abstract: The USDA eAuthentication service provides public and government businesses single sign-on capability for USDA applications, managment of user credentials, verification of identity, authorization, and electronic signatures.

---

Authorizing Statute(s): PL: Pub.L. 106 - 222 1-2 Name of Law: null    PL: Pub.L. 106 - 229 1-2 Name of Law: null

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

---

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

---

Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	85 FR 9721	02/20/2020
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	85 FR 22993	04/24/2020
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

---

Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 3

IC Title Form No. Form Name Private Sector -- Level 1 & 2 Registration Form to Request Electronic Access Code State, Local, and Tribal Govts -- Level 1 & 2 Registration Form to Request Electronic Access Code Individuals or Households -- Level 1 & 2 Registration Form to Request Electronic Access Code

---

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	173,088	135,596	0	0	37,492	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	13,598	28,941	0	0	-15,343	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

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

Burden Increase Due to:

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

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: The total number of responses increased from 135,596 in 2016 to 173,088 in 2019 as a result of new USDA programs being offered through the Farm Bill and other service offerings. Even though the responses increased by 37,492‬, the total annual burden hours decreased from 28,941 in 2016 to 13,598 in 2019. The number of eAuthentication accounts, without identity verification, decreased and the eAuthentication accounts, with identity verification, increased due to the convenience of the online identity verification process. When the only option for identity verification was through a LRA, often customers would not complete the identity verification step due to the inconvenience of having to travel to a LRA. The introduction of online identity proofing in 2016, made it easy to verify their identity from the comfort of their own home.

---

Annual Cost to Federal Government: $196,314

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

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     Yes

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     Yes

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

Agency Contact: Jacob Guzman 970 295-5150

---

Common Form ICR:  No

---

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: 04/27/2020

---