[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 226 (Friday, November 25, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72594-72595]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-25772]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

[OMB Control No. 2900-0913]


Agency Information Collection Activity: Veteran Toxic Exposure 
Screening Tool (PACT Act)

AGENCY: Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Veterans Health Administration (VHA), 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 January 24, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the collection of information 
through Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) at www.Regulations.gov 
or to Janel Keyes, Office of Regulations, Appeals, and Policy (10BRAP), 
Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 
20420 or email to [email protected]. Please refer to ``OMB Control No. 
2900-0913'' 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), 810 Vermont Ave. NW, 
Washington, DC 20006, (202) 266-4688 or email [email protected]. 
Please refer to ``OMB Control No. 2900-0913'' 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, 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.
    Authority: Public Law 104-13; 44 U.S.C. 3501-3521.
    Title: Veteran Toxic Exposure Screening Tool (PACT Act), VA Form 
10-327.
    OMB Control Number: 2900-0913.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: The PACT Act was signed into law on August 10, 2022, and 
mandated that VA implement toxic exposure screening to identify 
Veterans with potential toxic exposures during military, naval, air, or 
space service. The PACT Act imposed a Congressionally mandated timeline 
to implementation of 90 days, with full implementation completed by 
November 8, 2022. Pursuant to a six-month emergency PRA

[[Page 72595]]

clearance from OMB, and to ensure efficacy of the screening tool and 
ease of use by screeners, the project team performed a pilot test of 
the toxic screening tool with a sampling from seven targeted clinical 
areas and sites for 10 days, beginning September 6, 2022. The goal was 
to collect feedback and best practices to use in refining the screening 
tool and training to increase best chance for success. VHA now seeks to 
renew the PRA clearance for the screening tool for a full three years.
    Information collected during the toxic exposure screening will be 
included in the Veteran's electronic health record and will be used to 
connect Veterans with resources, services, and benefits available, as 
well as provide guidance that Veterans be engaged in ongoing care or 
establish care in VA or the community to address their exposure 
concerns. VA will use several different methods of gathering 
information from Veterans through the toxic exposure screening, 
including VHA staff or community care staff administering the screening 
during a health care appointment, VHA staff administering at other 
Veteran touch point events (e.g., screening blitz event), and Veterans 
completing the screening independently before being contacted by VHA 
staff for a follow-up consultation. Veterans have the option of 
declining the toxic exposure screening.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 138,333 hours.
    Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 5 minutes.
    Frequency of Response: One time.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,660,000.

    By direction of the Secretary.
Maribel Aponte,
VA PRA Clearance Officer, Office of Enterprise and Integration/Data 
Governance Analytics, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2022-25772 Filed 11-23-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P