[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 251 (Monday, December 30, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68818-68819]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-33081]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Office of Management, Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and 
respondent burden, the Office of Management (OM) 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 February 28, 
1997.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Barbara Epps, Office of 
Management (045A4), 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 OM request for Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) approval. In this document the OM is 
soliciting comments concerning the following information collection:
    OMB Control Number: 2900-0025.
    Title: Request for Consent to Release of Information, VA Form 3288.
    Type of Review: Reinstatement, without change, of a previously 
approved collection for which approval has expired.
    Need and Uses: The form is completed by veterans or beneficiaries 
to provide the VA with a written consent to release records or 
information. Use of the form ensures an individual gives an informed 
written consent for the release of records or information about 
himself/herself that is consistent with the statutory requirements of 
the Privacy Act of 1974 and the VA's confidentiality statute.
    Current Actions: Veterans and their beneficiaries regularly request 
that copies of documents or information contained in their benefits or 
medical records be released to third parties, such as insurance 
companies, physicians and other individuals. The Privacy Act of 1974 (5 
U.S.C., 552a) and the VA's confidentiality statute (38 U.S.C., 5701) as 
implemented by 38 CFR 1.526(a) and 38 CFR 1.576(b) require individuals 
to provide written consent before documents or information can be 
disclosed to third parties not allowed to receive records or 
information under any other provision of law, i.e., routine use of a 
record in a system of records. VA Form 3288 contains the minimum 
information that must be provided in

[[Page 68819]]

writing before a record or information is released.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 18,875 hours.
    Estimated Average Burden Per Respondent: 7.5 minutes.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 151,000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the form should be directed to Department of Veterans 
Affairs, Attn: Barbara Epps, Office of Management (045A4), 810 Vermont 
Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420, Telephone (202) 273-8013 or FAX (202) 
273-5981.

    Dated: December 16, 1996.

    By direction of the Secretary.
Donald L. Neilson,
Information Management Service.
[FR Doc. 96-33081 Filed 12-27-96; 8:45 am]
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