[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 180 (Wednesday, September 17, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54517-54518]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-23625]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

[OMB Control No. 2900-NEW--ALS]


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. 3501-21), 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 and includes the actual data collection instrument.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before October 17, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR A COPY OF THE SUBMISSION CONTACT: Denise 
McLamb, Records Management Service (005E3), Department of Veterans 
Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420, (202) 273-8030, 
FAX (202) 273-5981 or e-mail: [email protected]. Please refer 
to 2900-New--ALS.''
    Send comments and recommendations concerning any aspect of the 
information collection to VA's OMB Desk Officer, OMB Human Resources 
and Housing Branch, New Executive Office Building, Room 10235, 
Washington, DC 20503 (202) 395-7316. Please refer to ``2900-New-ALS.''

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Titles:
    a. National Registry of Veterans with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis 
(ALS), ALS Initial Baseline Screening Form, VA Form, 10-21047.
    b. VA Research Consent Form, VA Form 10-1086.
    c. National Registry of Veterans with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis 
(ALS), ALS Registry Phone Interviews, VA Form 10-21047a.
    Type of Review: New collection.
    Abstract: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a disease of high 
priority to the Department of Veterans Affairs because of ongoing 
concerns about the health of veterans who served in the Gulf War. The 
creation of the registry will have significance both for VA and for the 
larger U.S. society in understanding the natural history of ALS. It 
will provide VA with crucial

[[Page 54518]]

epidemiological data on the current population of veterans with ALS, as 
well as the ongoing identification of new cases. The data will help VA 
to understand how veterans are affected by ALS, assist with early 
identification of new ALS clusters, provide a mechanism for informing 
veterans with ALS of new clinical drug trials and other studies, and 
examine the causes (e.g., genetic and environmental) and course of this 
disease.
    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 May 6, 2003 at page 24050.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Annual Burden:
    a. National Registry of Veterans with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis 
(ALS), ALS Initial Baseline Screening Form, VA Form, 10-21047--365 
hours.
    b. VA Research Consent Form, VA Form 10-1086--207 hours.
    c. National Registry of Veterans with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis 
(ALS), ALS Registry Phone Interviews, VA Form 10-21047a--1,237 hours.
    Estimated Average Burden Per Respondent:
    a. National Registry of Veterans with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis 
(ALS), ALS Initial Baseline Screening Form, VA Form, 10-21047--30 
minutes.
    b. VA Research Consent Form, VA Form 10-1086--20 minutes.
    c. National Registry of Veterans with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis 
(ALS), ALS Registry Phone Interviews, VA Form 21047a--30 minutes.
    Frequency of Response: Semi-annually.
    Estimated Number of Respondents:
    a. National Registry of Veterans with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis 
(ALS), ALS Initial Baseline Screening Form, VA Form, 10-21047--729.
    b. VA Research Consent Form, VA Form 10-1086--620.
    c. National Registry of Veterans with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis 
(ALS), ALS Registry Phone Interviews, VA Form 10-21047a--1,431.
    Estimated Number of Responses:
    a. National Registry of Veterans with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis 
(ALS), ALS Initial Baseline Screening Form, VA Form, 10-21047--729.
    b. VA Research Consent Form, VA Form 10-1086--620.
    c. National Registry of Veterans with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis 
(ALS), ALS Registry Phone Interviews, 10-21047a--2,474.

    Dated: September 9, 2003.

    By direction of the Secretary.
Jacqueline Parks,
IT Specialist, Records Management Service.
[FR Doc. 03-23625 Filed 9-16-03; 8:45 am]
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