[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 170 (Tuesday, September 7, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50210-50211]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-19386]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

[OMB Control No. 2900-0891]


Agency Information Collection Activity: COVID-19 Refund 
Modification

AGENCY: Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans 
Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), 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.

DATES: Written comments and recommendations on the proposed collection 
of information should be received on or before November 8, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the collection of information 
through Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) at www.Regulations.gov 
or to Nancy J. Kessinger, Veterans Benefits Administration (20M33), 
Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 
20420 or email to [email protected]. Please refer to ``OMB Control 
No. 2900-0891'' in any correspondence. During the comment period, 
comments may be viewed online through FDMS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maribel Aponte, Office of Enterprise 
and Integration, Data Governance Analytics (008), 1717 H Street NW, 
Washington, DC 20006, (202) 266-4688 or email [email protected]. 
Please refer to ``OMB Control No. 2900-0891'' in any correspondence.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA of 1995, 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, VBA 
invites comments on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information 
is necessary for the proper performance of VBA's functions, including 
whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy 
of VBA's estimate of the

[[Page 50211]]

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.
    Authority: 38 CFR 36.4338(a).
    Title: COVID-19 Refund Modification.
    OMB Control Number: 2900-0891.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: VA is temporarily expanding the list of loan modification 
options available to servicers that do not require VA's prior approval 
to include a new loan modification, the COVID-19 Refund Modification, 
to assist certain COVID-impacted veterans as they exit a COVID-19 
forbearance. Under 38 U.S.C. 3720(a)(2), Congress has provided the 
Secretary with discretion ``[n]otwithstanding the provisions of any 
other law'' to set the terms and conditions to which the Secretary will 
consent to loan modifications. Additionally, while VA has outlined in 
regulation at 38 CFR 36.4315(a) the terms of loan modifications that do 
not require prior VA approval, VA may waive a regulatory requirement if 
VA finds the interest of the Government are not adversely affected and 
such waiver would relieve undue prejudice to a debtor, holder, or other 
person without impairing the vest rights of any person affected. 38 CFR 
36.4338(a).
    Affected Public: Individuals or Households.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 25,800.
    Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 90 minutes.
    Frequency of Response: One time.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 17,200.

    By direction of the Secretary.
Dorothy Glasgow,
VA PRA Clearance Officer, Alt. Office of Enterprise and Integration/
Data Governance Analytics, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2021-19386 Filed 9-3-21; 8:45 am]
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