Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 100 / Tuesday, May 23, 2000 / Notices 33421

NEW EXEMPTIONS—Continued

Application

No. Docket No. Applicant Regulation(s) affected Nature of exemption thereof

12457–N ...... RSPA–00–7371 Arch Chemicals, Inc.,

Norwalk, CN.

49 CFR 172.101(i)(3) Col.

8C.

To authorize the transportation in commerce

of dry calcium hypochlorite mixture, Division 5.1, in DOT specification flexible intermediate bulk containers. (mode 1)

12460–N ...... RSPA–00–7355 M&M Service Company, Carinville, IL.49 CFR 173.315(k) ........... To authorize the interstate transportation in

commerce of a non-DOT specification

tank built to MC 330 or MC 331 specifications for use in transporting propane, Division 2.1. (mode 1)

[FR Doc. 00–12872 Filed 5–23–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–60–M

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Federal Law Enforcement Training

Center

Notice of Meeting

AGENCY: Federal Law Enforcement

Training Center, Treasury.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

SUMMARY: The Advisory Committee to

the National Center for State and Local

Law Enforcement Training at the

Federal Law Enforcement Training

Center will meet on June 7, 2000. The

agenda for this meeting includes

remarks by the Committee Co-Chairs,

Karen Wehner, Deputy Assistant

Secretary (LE), Department of the

Treasury, and Mary Lou Leary, Acting

Assistant Attorney General, Office of

Justice Programs, Department of Justice;

progress reports on initiatives and

training programs; and presentations on

collaborative programs presented by the

National Center.

ADDRESSES: James J. Rowley Training

Center, 9200 Powder Mill Road, Laurel,

Maryland.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Hobart M. Henson, Director, National

Center for State and Local Law

Enforcement Training, Federal Law

Enforcement Training Center, Glynco,

GA 31524, 912–267–2322.

Dated: May 17, 2000.

Hobart M. Henson,

Director, National Center for State and Local

Law Enforcement Training.

[FR Doc. 00–12886 Filed 5–22–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4810–32–P

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS

AFFAIRS

Summary of Precedent Opinions of the

General Counsel

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans

Affairs (VA) is publishing a summary of

legal interpretations issued by the

Department’s General Counsel involving

veterans’ benefits under laws

administered by VA. These

interpretations are considered

precedential by VA and will be followed

by VA officials and employees in future

claim matters. The summary is

published to provide the public, and, in

particular, veterans’ benefit claimants

and their representatives, with notice of

VA’s interpretation regarding the legal

matter at issue.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jane

L. Lehman, Chief, Law Library,

Department of Veterans Affairs, 810

Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC

20420, (202) 273–6558.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VA

regulations at 38 CFR 2.6(e)(9) and

14.507 authorize the Department’s

General Counsel to issue written legal

opinions having precedential effect in

adjudications and appeals involving

veterans’ benefits under laws

administered by VA. The General

Counsel’s interpretations on legal

matters, contained in such opinions, are

conclusive as to all VA officials and

employees not only in the matter at

issue but also in future adjudications

and appeals, in the absence of a change

in controlling statute or regulation or a

superseding written legal opinion of the

General Counsel.

VA publishes summaries of such

opinions in order to provide the public

with notice of those interpretations of

the General Counsel that must be

followed in future benefit matters and to

assist veterans’ benefit claimants and

their representatives in the prosecution

of benefit claims. The full text of such

opinions, with personal identifiers

deleted, may be obtained by contacting

the VA official named above.

New Precedent Opinions

VAOPGCPREC 01–2000

Question Presented

a. Is the last sentence of 38 CFR

3.272(h) consistent with 38 U.S.C.

1503(a)(3) in providing that expenses of

a veteran’s last illness paid by a

surviving spouse subsequent to the

veteran’s death, but prior to the date of

entitlement to improved death pension,

may not be excluded from countable

income for the purpose of determining

death pension entitlement?

b. If so: (1) What is the basis for the

differing treatment accorded by section

3.272(h) to expenses paid prior to the

date of death and those paid after the

date of death but before the date of

entitlement; and, (2) does Congress’

intent in enacting Pub. L. No. 98–369 to

limit retroactive payments of pension in

the case of claimants who file claims

more than 45 days after the date of a

veteran’s death provide an adequate

basis for prohibiting consideration of

expenses in determining prospective

entitlement for the period following the

date of claim?

Held

a. The last sentence of 38 CFR

3.272(h) is inconsistent with 38 U.S.C.

1503(a)(3) in providing that expenses of

a veteran’s last illness paid by the

veteran’s surviving spouse subsequent

to the veteran’s death, but prior to the

date of the surviving spouse’s

entitlement to death pension, may not

be deducted from countable income for

the purpose of determining entitlement

to improved death pension. VA may not

rely upon the last sentence of 38 CFR

3.272(h) as a basis for denying a death

pension claim or reducing the amount

of benefits payable.

b. (1) There is no basis for the

differing treatment currently accorded

under 38 CFR 3.272(h) for expenses of

a veteran’s last illness paid prior to the