[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 142 (Tuesday, July 23, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 38245]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-18580]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Board of Veterans' Appeals, Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and 
respondent burden, the Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) 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 September 23, 
1996.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Sue Hamlin, Board of 
Veterans' Appeals (01C), 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 BVA request for Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) approval. In this document the BVA is 
soliciting comments concerning the following information collection:
    OMB Control Number: 2900-0042.
    Title and Form Number: Statement of Accredited Representative in 
Appealed Case, VA Form 646.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Need and Uses: The form is used by accredited representative of 
veterans' service organizations to present argument to the BVA on 
behalf of appellants whom the service organizations represent. Further, 
it aids the VA in assuring that rights to representation have been 
honored by establishing that the record has been made available to the 
representative for review and presentation of argument.
    Current Actions: The form is provided primarily as a courtesy to 
the representative, although it also assists the VA in carrying out its 
mission. It is used by accredited veterans' service organization 
representatives throughout the nation to submit their argument in 
individual appeals to the BVA. It facilitates appellants' exercise of 
their representation rights. The legal and factual arguments presented 
on the form are considered and addressed by the BVA in making decisions 
on appeals. The form is also designed to solicit enough identifying 
data to enable the VA to identify the particular case to which the 
statement pertains so that it may be properly considered and filed when 
received by the VA.
    Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 40,000 hours.
    Estimated Average Burden Per Respondent: 1 hour.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 40,000.

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), 
810 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420, Telephone (202) 273-8032 
or FAX (202) 273-5981.

    Dated: July 10, 1996.

    By direction of the Secretary.
Donald L. Neilson,
Director, Information Management Service.
[FR Doc. 96-18580 Filed 7-22-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P