[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 246 (Thursday, December 23, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 72145]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-33250]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

[OMB Control No. 2900-NEW]


Agency Information Collection Activities Under OMB Review

AGENCY: Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 
(44 U.S.C., 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Veterans 
Health Administration (VHA), Department of Veterans Affairs, has 
submitted the collection of information abstracted below to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The PRA 
submission describes the nature of the information collection and its 
expected cost and burden; it includes the actual data collection 
instrument.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before January 24, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR A COPY OF THE SUBMISSION CONTACT: Denise 
McLamb, Information Management Service (045A4), Department of Veterans 
Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420, (202) 273-8030 
or FAX (202) 273-5981. Please refer to ``OMB Control No. 2900-NEW.''

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Ecclesiastical Endorsing Organization Verification/
Reverification Information, VA Form 10-0379.
    OMB Control Number: 2900-NEW.
    Type of Review: New collection.
    Abstract: This information is used by VHA's Chaplain Service to 
determine whether organizations seeking recognition as ecclesiastical 
endorsing organizations meet VA requirements for such recognition. To 
assure that individuals employed by VA as chaplains are qualified to 
provide for constitutional rights of veterans to free exercise of 
religion, VA requires that each applicant for Chaplaincy submit an 
official statement (``ecclesiastical endorsement'') from their religion 
or faith group, certifying that the applicant is in good standing with 
the faith group and is qualified to perform the full range of ministry 
required in the VA setting. VA must obtain information from the faith 
groups which supply these endorsements in order to determine: (1) Who 
the faith group designates as its endorsing official(s); (2) whether 
the faith group provides ministry to a lay constituency; and (3) what 
is the constituency to which persons endorsed by this group may 
minister.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid OMB control number. The Federal Register Notice with a 
60-day comment period soliciting comments on this collection of 
information was published on September 23, 1999, at page 51584.
    Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 3 hours.
    Estimated Average Burden Per Respondent: 15 minutes.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 11.
    Send comments and recommendations concerning any aspect of the 
information collection to VA's OMB Desk Officer, Allison Eydt, OMB 
Human Resources and Housing Branch, New Executive Office Building, Room 
10235, Washington, DC 20503 (202) 395-4650. Please refer to ``OMB 
Control No. 2900-NEW'' in any correspondence.

    Dated: December 3, 1999.

    By direction of the Secretary.
Sandra McIntyre,
Program Analyst, Information Management Service.
[FR Doc. 99-33250 Filed 12-22-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-U