[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 67 (Tuesday, April 8, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16890-16891]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-8857]


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

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: National Cemetery System, Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and 
respondent burden, the National Cemetery System (NCS) 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 June 9, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Frances Willis, National 
Cemetery System (402B2), 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 NCS request for Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) approval. In this document the NCS is 
soliciting comments concerning the following information collection:
    OMB Control Number: 2900-0559.
    Title: State Cemetery Data, VA Form 40-0241.
    Type of Review: Reinstatement, without change, of a previously 
approved collection for which approval has expired.
    Need and Uses: The information is collected annually and is used by 
the NCS's State Cemetery Grants Service to conduct studies. For 
example, the information is used to demonstrate to the States 
(especially those without state veterans cemeteries) not only the 
viability of the program, but to demonstrate that they have a need. In 
1996 alone, for example, State cemeteries provided for burial of 11,280 
veterans and eligible family members, nearly 16 percent of the total 
number of burials provided by VA national cemeteries. This can 
demonstrate that State cemeteries are needed and a demand exists for 
the services provided. The State Cemetery Grants Service is a user of 
the information as is the Field Operations Office of NCS and the Budget 
and Planning Service in Operations Support, NCS. States use this data 
as well as congressional offices, veterans organizations and interested 
citizens.
    Current Actions: VA Form 40-0241 is used to collect information 
regarding the number of interments conducted at state veterans 
cemeteries each year. This information is necessary for budget and 
oversight purposes. In addition, NCS's State Cemetery Grants Service 
needs the information to answer questions which arise during the course 
of the year to respond to Congressional correspondence and to project 
and predict the need for burial space and the demand for state grants. 
Burial information provides the usage rates and helps in the prediction 
of when a cemetery needs to develop additional acreage (request a grant 
to expand) or is going to close. The amount of acreage used helps the 
State Cemetery Grants Service and National Cemetery System anticipate 
closing and the requirement for additional cemeteries (either state or 
national). Lower burial rates may indicate problems such as ineffective 
outreach or poor maintenance that should be investigated. The 
information is used in conjunction with the information gained from the 
national cemeteries to consider where to place national or state 
cemeteries. 38 CFR, Section 39.3, points out that ``the Secretary and 
any authorized representative (in this case the State Cemetery Grants 
Service) will have access to and the right to examine all records, 
books, papers or documents related to the grant.'' 38 CFR, Section 
39.5, discusses follow-up procedures once a cemetery is established and 
points out the need for audits.
    Affected Public: State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 52 hours.

[[Page 16891]]

    Estimated Average Burden Per Respondent: 1 hour.
    Frequency of Response: Annually.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 52.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the form should be directed to Department of Veterans 
Affairs, Attn: Frances L. Willis, National Cemetery System (402B2), 810 
Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420, Telephone (202) 273-5189.

    Dated: March 19, 1997.

    By direction of the Secretary.
Donald L. Neilson,
Director, Information Management Service.
[FR Doc. 97-8857 Filed 4-7-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P