[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 186 (Wednesday, September 25, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60280-60281]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-23911]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

[OMB Control No. 2900-0028]


Agency Information Collection Activities Under OMB Review

AGENCY: Office of Information and Technology, 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 Office of 
Information and Technology, Department of Veterans Affairs, has 
submitted the collection of information abstracted

[[Page 60281]]

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 October 25, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR A COPY OF THE SUBMISSION CONTACT: Denise 
McLamb, Information Management Service (005E3), Department of Veterans 
Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420, (202) 273-8030 
or FAX (202) 273-5981 or e-mail: [email protected]. Please 
refer to ``OMB Control No. 2900-0028''.
    Send comments and recommendations concerning any aspect of the 
information collection to VA's Desk Officer, OMB Human Resources and 
Housing Branch, New Executive Office Building, Room 10235, Washington, 
DC 20503 (202) 395-7316. Please refer to ``OMB Control No. 2900-0028''.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Titles:
    a. Application of Service Representative for Placement on Mailing 
List, VA Form 3215.
    b. Request to Correspondent for Identifying Information, VA Form 
Letter 70-2.
    c. Request for and Consent to Release of Information from 
Claimant's Records, VA Form 3288.
    d. 38 CFR(A) 1.519 Lists of Names and Addresses.

    OMB Control Number: 2900-0028.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract:
    a. VA operates an outreach services program to ensure veterans and 
beneficiaries have information about benefits and services to which 
they may be entitled. To support the program, VA distributes copies of 
publications to veterans service organizations' representatives to use 
in rendering services and representation of veterans, their spouses and 
dependents. The information collected on VA Form 3215 is used to 
process a request from a service organization to be placed on the 
mailing list for specific VA publications.
    b. VA Form Letter 70-2 is used to obtain additional information 
from a correspondent when the incoming correspondence does not provide 
sufficient information to identify a veteran. VA personnel use the 
information to identify the veteran, determine the location of a 
specific file, and to accomplish the action requested by the 
correspondent such as; process a benefit claim or file material in the 
individual's claims folder. Completion of the form is voluntary and 
failure to furnish the requested information has no adverse effect on 
either the veteran or the correspondent.
    c. VA Form 3288 is completed by veterans or beneficiaries to 
provide VA with a written consent to release records or information to 
third parties such as insurance companies, physicians and other 
individuals.
    d. Title 38, U.S.C., 5701(f)(1) authorizes VA to disclose mailing 
lists of veterans and their dependents to nonprofit organizations, but 
only for certain specific and narrow purposes. Criminal penalties are 
provided for improper use of the list by the organization in violation 
of subsection (f) limitations. The information collection in this 
regulation ensures that any disclosure of a list under this subsection 
is authorized by law. VA must ascertain that the applicant is a 
nonprofit organization and intends to use the list for a proper 
purpose; if not, Title 38, U.S.C., 5701(a) prohibits disclosure.
    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 June 13, 2002, at pages 40770-40771.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households, not for profit 
institutions, and State, local or tribal government.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 22,700 hours.
    a. Application of Service Representative for Placement on Mailing 
List, VA Form 3215--25 hours.
    b. Request to Correspondent for Identifying Information, VA Form 
Letter 70-2--3,750 hours.
    c. Request for and Consent to Release of Information From 
Claimant's Records, VA Form 3288--18,875 hours.
    d. 38 CFR(A) 1.519 Lists of Names and Addresses--50 hours.
    Estimated Average Burden Per Respondent:
    a. Application of Service Representative for Placement on Mailing 
List, VA Form 3215--10 minutes.
    b. Request to Correspondent for Identifying Information, VA Form 
Letter 70-2--5 minutes.
    c. Request for and Consent to Release of Information From 
Claimant's Records, VA Form 3288--7.5 minutes.
    d. 38 CFR(A) 1.519 Lists of Names and Addresses--60 minutes.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 196,200.
    a. Application of Service Representative for Placement on Mailing 
List, VA Form 3215--150.
    b. Request to Correspondent for Identifying Information, VA Form 
Letter 70-2--45,000.
    c. Request for and Consent to Release of Information From 
Claimant's Records, VA Form 3288--151,000.
    d. 38 CFR(A) 1.519 Lists of Names and Addresses--50.

    Dated: September 5, 2002.

    By direction of the Secretary.
Ernesto Castro,
Director, Records Management Service.
[FR Doc. 02-23911 Filed 9-24-02; 8:45 am]
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