FR 2025-02277

The document at hand is a notice from the Department of Justice, specifically the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), seeking public input on a revised information collection process. This process relates to the transactions among licensees and permit holders. The goal of this notice is to gather feedback on various aspects of the information collection, such as its necessity, burden on the public, and potential improvements.

General Summary

The ATF intends to submit a revision of its existing information collection request for transactions among licensees and permit holders to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The proposed changes introduce a significant reduction in the number of respondents, while simultaneously increasing the total burden hours. Stakeholders and the general public are invited to share their views and suggestions to improve this process before the deadline of March 10, 2025.

Significant Issues and Concerns

This document raises a number of notable issues. First and foremost, there is a dramatic decrease in the number of respondents, dropping from 46,500 in 2021 to 3,391 in 2024. This considerably lowers the existing respondent base, which could be due to regulatory changes or a refined focus. However, such a vast reduction necessitates additional context to understand its underpinnings.

Further, the document reveals an increase in total burden hours, from 23,250 to 44,083 annually, despite fewer respondents. This increase suggests changes in the procedural requirements, possibly making them more time-intensive. Such adjustments could burden the respondents, warranting a close examination of the requirements for potential efficiency improvements.

Interestingly, the monetized cost of this burden, calculated at $1,983,735, presents itself as a new consideration. Past processes had not included this financial aspect, calling for transparency on how this figure is derived and its implications for stakeholders.

Additionally, the mandatory nature of the obligation to respond, enforced by specific U.S. Codes, could introduce significant challenges for smaller entities or individuals, amplifying the already existing burden.

Public Impact

For the general public, these regulatory adjustments may concern individual licensees or small enterprises affected by these mandates. The significant rise in estimated burden hours underlines the need for public participation in improving regulatory practices to minimize undue strain.

Stakeholder Impact

For specific stakeholders, including individual households, farms, and private sector entities, the document poses both potential challenges and opportunities. On one hand, stricter requirements could necessitate additional resources from these entities, affecting their operations and financial planning. On the other hand, clearer guidelines following this consultative process may equip them with the necessary understanding and tools to comply more effectively with regulatory obligations.

Conclusion

Overall, the notice serves as a critical touchpoint for affected parties to voice their concerns and suggestions. Both the public and specific stakeholders have the opportunity to contribute to shaping regulations that not only ensure compliance but also accommodate the realities of those impacted by them. By addressing core issues such as the reduction in respondents and increased burden hours, stakeholders can collaboratively help streamline the collection process, balancing regulatory needs with practical efficiencies.

In this document from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) published in the Federal Register, financial references primarily focus on the cost associated with the collection of information.

The document includes a monetized cost of the hourly burden estimated at $1,983,735. This is highlighted in the section discussing revisions to the existing Information Collection (IC). The inclusion of this figure marks a change from previous analyses, which did not account for this monetized cost. The introduction of this financial data raises questions about how the cost is calculated and the implications for the agencies and respondents involved. Specifically, how this figure was reached and whether it reflects a standard cost calculation or accounts for additional factors could benefit from further clarification.

Additionally, it's noted that the Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden is $0. While an hourly burden cost is recognized, the absence of any other associated costs suggests that complying with this information collection incurs no material costs beyond time. This might seem unusual given that compliance-related activities often involve other types of costs—such as administrative expenses or technology upgrades.

These financial details relate directly to some of the issues highlighted in the document. For instance, the significant decrease in the number of respondents from 46,500 in 2021 to 3,391 in 2024 while the total estimated annual time burden increased from 23,250 hours to 44,083 hours suggests that while fewer respondents are involved, each bears a larger individual time commitment. This disparity might be impacting the overall monetized burden cost, considering fewer people are asked to dedicate more time individually, raising the financial burden per respondent.

Questions about the mandatory nature of participation under legal mandates involve not just compliance but financial implications for entities required to report, and thus it would be useful to understand if certain efficiencies or assistance measures could help mitigate these hourly costs. Additionally, explaining why non-time-related costs are non-existent would be crucial to providing a complete financial understanding for stakeholders.

Overall, the financial references in this document raise important discussions about the burden and cost-effectiveness of information collection processes, requiring further exploration to clarify these monetary implications on affected parties.