[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 20 (Tuesday, January 30, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3086-3087]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-1641]



=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 3087]]


DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Proposed Information Collection Activity; Public Comment Request: 
Persian Gulf Registry Questionnaire; VA Form 10-20988 (NR)

AGENCY: Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans 
Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and 
respondent burden, Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) 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 (Pub. L. 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 April 1, 
1996.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Nancy J. Kessinger, Veterans 
Benefits Administration (20M30), 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 VBA request for 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval. In this document VBA is 
soliciting comments concerning the following information collection:
    OMB Control Number: None assigned.
    Title and Form Number: Persian Gulf Registry Questionnaire, VA Form 
10-20988 (NR).
    Type of Review: Existing collection in use without an OMB control 
number.
    Need and Uses: Participants in the VA Persian Gulf Registry Health 
Examination Program are given the opportunity to report information on 
potential exposures during Persian Gulf Service and their reproductive 
health since serving in Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
    Current Actions: VA created the Persian Gulf Registry Health 
Examination Program in 1992. U.S. troops returning from Operations 
Desert Shield and Desert Storm began reporting a variety of illnesses 
which they initially attributed to inhalation of fumes and smoke from 
burning Kuwaiti oil-well fires. The products of oil-well fires (carbon 
monoxide, sulfur oxides, hydrocarbons, particulate matter, and nitrogen 
oxides), may singly or in combination, cause both chronic and acute 
adverse health conditions. These adverse health conditions include 
chronic bronchitis, pulmonary emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary 
disease, lung cancer and bronchial asthma.
    The Persian Gulf Registry Examination Program was designed to 
assist VA in identifying possible adverse health conditions in military 
personnel who served in the Persian Gulf War. The health examination 
program offers a free, complete physical examination with basic 
laboratory studies to every Persian Gulf veteran who has health 
concerns.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 12,500 hours.
    Estimated Average Burden Per Respondent: 15 minutes.
    Frequency of Response: One time.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 50,000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the form should be directed to Department of Veterans 
Affairs, Attn: Jacquie McCray, Information Management Service (045A4), 
Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 
20420, Telephone (202) 565-8266 or FAX (202) 565-8267.

    Dated: January 22, 1996.

    By direction of the Secretary.
Donald L. Neilson,
Director, Information Management Service.
[FR Doc. 96-1641 Filed 1-29-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P