1140-0108 Supporting Statement A (F 7110.15) 2024.de

Forensic Firearm Training Request for Non-ATF Employees (ATF Form 7110.15)

OMB Control Number 1140-0108

OMB Expiration Date: 05/31/2025

Department of Justice

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)

Information Collection Request (ICR)

OMB 1140-0108

Forensic Firearm Training Request for Non-ATF Employees (ATF Form 7110.15)

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

1. JUSTIFICATION

1. Explain the circumstances that make the information collection necessary.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) currently provides forensic firearms investigative techniques training to federal, state, local, and international law enforcement personnel. Prospective students submit the Forensic Firearm Training Request for Non-ATF Students (ATF Form 7110.15) to ATF’s Office of Science and Technology (OST) Laboratory Services division when applying to attend this training. ATF needs the application information to determine interested persons and attendees at its training courses. Descriptions of training courses are available on the ATF website. OST Laboratory Services personnel process all completed applications for this training.

2. Indicate how, by whom, and for what purpose the information is to be used.

ATF uses this information collection to obtain identification information from federal, state, local, and international law enforcement personnel who would like to register for training, information on which course the applicant wants to attend, and information about their credentials, skills, and experience relevant to the training they wish to attend. The information collected on the form enables ATF personnel to identify applicants and determine the applicant’s eligibility to attend the requested training. Applicants must also supply their employment information, including their responsibilities and duties, on the application to participate in the training.

3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the information collection involves the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses, and the basis for the decision for adopting this means of collection.

ATF Form 7110.15 is available on the ATF web site. The fillable form can be downloaded, completed, digitally signed, and submitted by email to the OST Laboratory Services division at [email protected]. The form is 508 compliant, so individuals with disabilities can also access, complete, and electronically submit this form. Although the fillable form may be completed electronically, applicants may instead print the form, manually complete, sign, and scan before submitting to the application inbox or may send by mail.

4. Describe efforts to identify duplication.

This information is not duplicative because it identifies for ATF the identity of persons who wish to apply for this training and there is no other source for this information. ATF uses a uniform subject classification system for forms to identify duplication and to ensure that any similar information already available cannot be used or modified to use for the purpose of this information collection.

5. If the information collection impacts small businesses or other small entities, describe any methods used to minimize burden.

This information collection does not have a significant impact on small entities.

6. Describe the consequence to federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently, as well as any technical or legal obstacles to reducing burden.

ATF must collect the requested information to become aware of interested applicants, identify them, and to process prospective student applications, plan future training sessions, and verify the eligibility of interested applicants. If the information is not collected, or less frequently, ATF would not be able to provide the training or identify individuals who might wish to attend.

7. Explain any special circumstances that would cause the information collection to be conducted in a manner inconsistent with 5 CFR 1320.6.

There are no special circumstances associated with this information collection, which is conducted in a manner consistent with 5 CFR 1320.6.

8. If applicable, provide a copy and identify the date and page number of publication in the Federal Register of the agency’s notice, required by 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting comments on the information collection prior to submission to OMB.

The 60-Day Notice was published in the Federal Register on January 7, 2025 (90 FR 1197). The comment period ended on March 10, 2025. ATF received no comments.

9. Explain any decision to provide any payments or gifts to respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees.

No payment or gift is associated with this information collection.

10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for the assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.

ATF has not assured respondents of confidentiality. However, the information being collected includes PII and is thus protected by the Privacy Act. The information is maintained by ATF in the system of records: Justice/ATF-001, Administrative Record System. The form that accompanies this ICR includes a Privacy Act Statement that covers this information and informs respondents of the system of records, routine uses, and disclosure options.

11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered private.

This information collection does not ask questions or require information of a sensitive nature.

12. Provide estimates of the information collection’s hour burden.

As ATF’s Form 7110.15 is used by prospective students when applying to attend this training, ATF treats this as an annual submission by all existing trainees, using the average number of applications submitted in each of the past three years as a baseline. ATF conducts ten of these training sessions a year, each with an average of 12 trainees per class. In addition, ATF receives an average of 30 additional applications per year. As a result, ATF estimates that the number of respondents associated with this collection is approximately 150 applicants per year. It takes each candidate approximately 15 minutes (0.25 hours) to complete ATF Form 7110.15. Therefore, we estimate the total annual time burden at 37.5 hours (150 applicants * 0.25 hours).

Table. Estimated annualized respondent hour burden

Activity	Total annual responses	Time per response	Total annual burden (hours)
Student Forensic Firearm Training Request Form 7110.15	150	0.25	37.5

13. Provide an estimate of the total annual cost burden to respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the information collection. (Do not include the cost of any hour burden shown in Items 12 and 14).

There are no additional costs associated with this information collection.

14. Provide estimates of the annualized cost to the federal government.

There are no costs to the federal government associated with this collection.

15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments.

There have been no program changes. However, the number of respondents has increased since the last time this ICR was renewed, from 75 to 150, based on the number of responses we’ve received annually during the past three years, resulting in a corresponding increase in the collective number of burden hours from 29.5 to 37.5.

16. For information collections whose results will be published, outline plans for tabulations and publication.

ATF will not publish the results of this collection.

17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection, explain the reasons that display would be inappropriate.

ATF intends to display the OMB expiration date for this information collection.

18. Explain each exception to the certification statement.

This information collection does not include any exceptions to the certification statement.

2. THIS COLLECTION OF INFORMATION EMPLOYS NO STATISTICAL METHODS.

This collection does not employ statistical methods.

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