[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 219 (Tuesday, November 14, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57265-57266]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-27997]



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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Proposed Information Collection Activity; Public Comment Request: 
Study of Environmental Health and Persian Gulf War Syndrome, VA Form 
10-20989(NR)

AGENCY: Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and 
respondent burden, Veterans Health Administration (VHA) invites the 
general public and other Federal agencies to comment on this 
information collection. This request for comment is being made pursuant 
to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-13; 44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)). Comments should address the accuracy of the burden 
estimates and ways to minimize the burden including the use of 
automated collection techniques or the use of other forms of 
information technology, as well as other relevant aspects of the 
information collection.

DATES: Written comments and recommendations on the proposal for the 
collection of information should be received on or before January 16, 
1996.

 
[[Page 57266]]

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Ann Bickoff, Veterans Health 
Administration (161B4), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont 
Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420. All comments will become a matter of 
public record and will be summarized in the VHA request for Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) approval. In this document VHA is 
soliciting comments concerning the following information collection:
    OMB Control Number: None Assigned.
    Title and Form Number: Study of Environmental Health and Persian 
Gulf War Syndrome, VA Form 10-20989(NR).
    Type of Review: Existing collection in use without an OMB control 
number.
    Need and Uses: This information collection will be a case 
controlled study to describe and elucidate the causes of Gulf War 
Syndrome. Participants will be 2,000 veterans of the Persian Gulf War 
who currently reside in Oregon and Washington.
    Current Circumstances: The overall goal of this epidemiologic 
survey and case control study is to determine whether the occurrence of 
unexplained symptoms referred to as ``Gulf War Syndrome'' is associated 
with any environmental exposure(s) encountered while in the Persian 
Gulf War theater. Information collection is necessary to document the 
presence, onset, duration and severity of symptoms as well as the 
frequency and type of environmental exposures experienced. The study 
will be conducted in two phases: Phase I consists of epidemiologic 
survey activities designed to locate a sample of Persian Gulf War 
veterans and identify those who may be experiencing unexplained 
symptoms (potential cases) and those who report no symptoms (potential 
controls). Phase II will consist of a case control study involving 
clinical examination and testing activities. Only forms for Phase I 
survey activities are submitted here; protocols and forms for the Phase 
II case control will be submitted under separate cover when fully 
developed.
    Affected Public: Individuals and households.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 2,833 hours.
    Estimated Average Burden Per Respondent: 1 hour and 15 minutes.
    Frequency of Response: Once.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the form should be directed to Department of Veterans 
Affairs, Attn: Ron Taylor, VA Clearance Officer (045A4), Department of 
Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420, 
Telephone (202) 565-4412 or FAX (202) 565-8267.

    Dated: October 31, 1995.
    By direction of the Secretary.
Donald L. Neilson,
Director, Information Management Service.
[FR Doc. 95-27997 Filed 11-13-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P