[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 216 (Friday, November 7, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 63193]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-28127]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

[OMB Control No. 2900-0376]


Proposed Information Collection Activity: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) 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 maintain an up-to-date 
Agent Orange Registry.

DATES: Written comments and recommendations on the proposed collection 
of information should be received on or before January 6, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the collection of information to 
Ann Bickoff, Veterans Health Administration (191A1), Department of 
Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420 or e-
mail [email protected]. Please refer to ``OMB Control No. 2900-
0376'' in any correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ann Bickoff at (202) 273-8310.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA of 1995 (Public Law 104-13; 44 
U.S.C. 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, VHA 
invites comments on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information 
is necessary for the proper performance of VHA's functions, including 
whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy 
of VHA'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: Agent Orange Registry Code Sheet, VA Form 10-9009.
    OMB Control Number: 2900-0376.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: VA in an on-going effort to maintain an Agent Orange 
Registry (AOR) developed a reporting format to facilitate the 
collection of information obtained from veterans during the Agent 
Orange registry examination process. VA is required to organize and 
update the information contained in AOR to enable VA to notify Vietnam 
era veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam of any increased 
health risks resulting from exposure to dioxin or other toxic agents. 
VA may also provide, upon request, a health examination, consultation, 
and counseling to a veteran who is eligible for listing or inclusion in 
any health-related registry administrated by VA that is similar to the 
Persian Gulf War Veterans Health Registry. Registry examinations is 
provided to veterans who served in Korea in 1968 or 1969, and/or any 
U.S. veteran who may have been exposed to dioxin, or other toxic 
substance in a herbicide or defoliant, during the conduct of, or as a 
result of, the testing, transporting, or spraying of herbicides, and 
who requests an Agent Orange Registry examination. The information 
obtained from the veteran during the interview is entered on VA Form 
10-9009, Agent Orange Registry Code Sheet. The registry will provide a 
mechanism to catalogue prominent symptoms, reproductive health, and 
diagnoses and to communicate with Agent Orange veterans. VA informs the 
veterans on research finding or new compensation policies through 
periodic newsletters. The registry is not designed or intended to be a 
research tool and therefore the results cannot be generalized to 
represent all Agent Orange veterans.
    Affected Public: Individuals or Households.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 12,000 hours.
    Estimated Average Burden Per Respondent: 20 minutes.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 36,000.

    Dated: October 30, 2003.

    By direction of the Secretary.
Jacqueline Parks,
IT Specialist, Records Management Service.
[FR Doc. 03-28127 Filed 11-6-03; 8:45 am]
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