[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 214 (Wednesday, November 5, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62664-62665]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-27726]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

[OMB Control No. 2900-0567]


Proposed Information Collection Activity: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: National Cemetery Administration, Department of Veterans 
Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Cemetery Administration (NCA), Department of 
Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment 
on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under 
the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are 
required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each 
proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension 
of a currently approved collection and allow 60 days for public comment 
in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on the 
information needed to request additional certificates, replacements or 
corrections to a President Memorial Certificate (PMC).

DATES: Written comments and recommendations on the proposed collection 
of information should be received on or before January 5, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the collection of information to 
Mechelle Powell, National Cemetery Administration (402B), Department of 
Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420. Please 
refer to ``OMB Control No. 2900-0567'' in any correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mechelle Powell at (202) 501-1960 or 
FAX (202) 273-6695.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13; 44 
U.S.C.,

[[Page 62665]]

3501-3520), Federal agencies must obtain approval from the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of information they 
conduct or sponsor. This request for comment is being made pursuant to 
Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA.
    With respect to the following collection of information, NCA 
invites comments on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information 
is necessary for the proper performance of NCA's functions, including 
whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy 
of NCA's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of 
the collection of information on respondents, including through the use 
of automated collection techniques or the use of other forms of 
information technology.
    Title: President Memorial Certificate (PMC), VA Form 40-0247.
    OMB Control Number: 2900-0567.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: The PMC is a gold foiled-embossed certificate containing 
the Great Seal of the United States and bearing the President's 
signature. It is mailed to relatives and friends of deceased, honorably 
discharged veterans honoring their military service to our Nation. In 
most cases involving recent deaths, the PMC is automatically initiated 
for those eligible veterans buried in VA national cemeteries. The local 
VA Regional Office originates the application process without a request 
from the next of kin as part of processing death benefits claims.
    The PMC Insert is not self-initiated by the general public/eligible 
recipients. There is no form or application that is used to initiate an 
original request. Original requests are normally in the form of letters 
and/or telephone calls from eligible recipients. The purpose of the PMC 
insert is to allow an eligible recipient, which includes the next of 
kin, other relatives or friends, i.e., surviving spouses, sons, 
daughters, grandchildren, and others, to request additional 
certificates and/or replacements or corrected certificates upon receipt 
of the original PMC. Replacements are requested due to the PMCs being 
bent, water soaked, or other damaged during mail handling due to an 
incorrect name of the deceased veteran.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 1,479.
    Estimated Average Burden Per Respondent: 2 minutes.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 44,363.

    Dated: October 23, 2003.

    By direction of the Acting Secretary.
Jacqueline Parks,
IT Specialist, Records Management Service.
[FR Doc. 03-27726 Filed 11-4-03; 8:45 am]
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