42626 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 152 / Thursday, August 7, 1997 / Notices

obtaining written consent of patients to

release information pertaining to

treatment for drug or alcohol abuse,

sickle cell anemia, and infection with

human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

DATES: Written comments and

recommendations on the proposed

collection of information should be

received on or before October 6, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments

on the collection of information to Ann

Bickoff, Veterans Health Administration

(161A4), Department of Veterans

Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW,

Washington, DC 20420. Please refer to

‘‘OMB Control No. 2900–0544’’ in any

correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ann

Bickoff at (202) 273–8310.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the

PRA of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–13; 44 U.S.C.,

3501—3520), Federal agencies must

obtain approval from the Office of

Management and Budget 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) way

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 and Form Numbers: Written

Consent to Release Medical Records

Protected by Section 7332, Title 38,

United States Code (Section 1.475(a),

Title 38 Code of Federal Regulations).

OMB Control Number: 2900–0544.

Type of Review: Reinstatement,

without change, of a previously

approved collection for which approval

has expired.

Abstract: Section 7332, Title 38,

United States Code requires the VA to

obtain prior written consent from a

patient before information concerning

treatment for alcoholism or alcohol

abuse, drug abuse, sickle cell anemia, or

infection with the human

immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can be

disclosed from a patient medical record.

This special consent must indicate the

name of the facility permitted to make

the disclosure, the name of the

individual or organization to whom the

information is being released, specify

the particular records or information to

be released, be under the signature of

the veteran and dated, it must reflect the

purpose for which the information is to

be used, and include a statement that

the consent is subject to revocation and

the date, event or condition upon which

the consent will expire if not revoked

before. Section 1.475(a), Title 38 Code of

Federal Regulations describes the

required elements that must be included

in a written consent. The Privacy Act of

1974 and VA confidentiality statute,

Section 5701, Title 38, United States

Code also requires a written patient

consent.

The written consent is obtained from

the patient. Without the written

consent, the VA would not be permitted

to disclose this type of patient medical

record information to third parties as

requested by the patients. The

information is used by third parties for

such purposes as medical follow-up and

treatment and determinations on

employment applications and insurance

claims. If the information collection

were not conducted, the VA would not

be able to be responsive to the needs of

patients for the disclosure of

information pertaining to their medical

care.

Affected Public: Individuals or

households.

Estimated Annual Burden: 1,720

hours.

Estimated Average Burden Per

Respondent: 5 minutes.

Frequency of Response: On occasion.

Estimated Number of Respondents:

20,640.

Dated: July 18, 1997.

By direction of the Secretary.

Donald L. Neilson,

Director, Information Management Service.

[FR Doc. 97–20744 Filed 8–6–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8320–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS

AFFAIRS

[OMB Control No. 2900–0222]

Proposed Information Collection

Activity: Proposed Collection;

Comment Request; Extension

AGENCY: National Cemetery System,

Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The National Cemetery

System (NCS), Department of Veterans

Affairs 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 requirements

relating to the application for standard

Government headstones or markers for

unmarked graves of eligible veterans.

DATES: Written comments and

recommendations on the proposed

collection of information should be

received on or before October 6, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments

on the collection of information to Sonja

McCombs, National Cemetery System

(402D), Department of Veterans Affairs,

810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington,

DC 20420. Please refer to ‘‘OMB Control

No. 2900–0222’’ in any correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Sonja McCombs at (202) 273–5183.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the

PRA of 1995 (Pub. L. 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, NCS invites

comments on: (1) Whether the proposed

collection of information is necessary

for the proper performance of NCS’s

functions, including whether the

information will have practical utility;

(2) the accuracy of NCS’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 and Form Number: Application

for Standard Government Headstone or

Marker for Installation in a Private or

State Veterans’ Cemetery, VA Form 40–

1330.

OMB Control Number: 2900–0222.

Type of Review: Extension of a

currently approved collection.

Abstract: The form is used by the

public to apply for the benefit of

Government-provided headstones or

markers for unmarked graves of eligible

veterans in accordance with Tittle 38,

U.S.C., Section 906. It is the source of
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 152 / Thursday, August 7, 1997 / Notices 42627

information used to evaluate the

applicant’s claim for the benefit.

Affected Public: Individuals or

households; State, Local or Tribal

Government.

Estimated Annual Burden: 85,000

hours.

Estimated Average Burden Per

Respondent: 15 minutes.

Frequency of Response: On occasion.

Estimated Number of Respondents:

340,000.

Dated: July 23, 1997.

By direction of the Secretary.

Donald L. Neilson,

Director, Information Management Service.

[FR Doc. 97–20745 Filed 8–6–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8320–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS

AFFAIRS

[OMB Control No. 2900–0559]

Agency Information Collection

Activities Under OMB Review

AGENCY: National Cemetery System,

Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: In compliance with the

Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995

(44 U.S.C., 3501 et seq.), this notice

announces that the National Cemetery

System (NCS), Department of Veterans

Affairs, has submitted the collection of

information abstracted below to the

Office of Management and Budget

(OMB) for review and comment. The

PRA submission describes the nature of

the information collection and its

expected cost and burden; it includes

the actual data collection instrument.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on

or before September 8, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR A COPY OF

THE SUBMISSION CONTACT: Ron Taylor,

Information Management Service

(045A4), Department of Veterans

Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW,

Washington, DC 20420, (202) 273–8015

or FAX (202) 273–5981. Please refer to

‘‘OMB Control No. 2900–0559.’’

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title and Form Number: State

Cemetery Data, VA Form 40–0241.

OMB Control Number: 2900–0559.

Type of Review: Reinstatement,

without change, of a previously

approved collection for which approval

has expired.

Abstract: VA Form 40–0241 is used to

collect information regarding the

number of interments conducted at state

veteran’s cemeteries each year. This

information is necessary for budget and

oversight purposes. In addition, NCS’s

State Cemetery Grants Service uses the

information to answer questions which

arise during the course of the year to

respond to Congressional

correspondence and to project and

predict the need for burial space and the

demand for state grants. Burial

information provides the usage rates

and helps in the prediction of when a

cemetery needs to develop additional

acreage (request a grant to expand) or is

going to close. The amount of acreage

used helps the State Cemetery Grants

Service and National Cemetery System

anticipate closing and the requirement

for additional cemeteries (either state or

national). Lower burial rates may

indicate problems such as ineffective

outreach or poor maintenance that

should be investigated. The information

is used in conjunction with the

information gained from the national

cemeteries to consider where to place

national or state cemeteries. Title 38

CFR, Section 39.3, points out that ‘‘the

Secretary and any authorized

representative (in this case the State

Cemetery Grants Service) will have

access to and the right to examine all

records, books, papers or documents

related to the grant.’’ Title 38 CFR,

Section 39.5, discusses follow-up

procedures once a cemetery is

established and points out the need for

audits.

An agency may not conduct or

sponsor, and a person is not required to

respond to a collection of information

unless it displays a currently valid OMB

control number. The Federal Register

notice with a 60-day comment period

soliciting comments on this collection

of information was published on April

8, 1997 at page 16890.

Affected Public: State, Local or Tribal

Government.

Estimated Annual Burden: 52 hours.

Estimated Average Burden Per

Respondent: 60 minutes.

Frequency of Response: Annually.

Estimated Annual Responses: 52.

Send comments and

recommendations concerning any

aspect of the information collection to

VA’s OMB Desk Officer, Allison Eydt,

OMB Human Resources and Housing

Branch, New Executive Office Building,

Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503

(202) 395–4650. Please refer to ‘‘OMB

Control No. 2900–0559’’ in any

correspondence.

Dated: July 18, 1997.

By direction of the Secretary.

Donald L. Neilson,

Director, Information Management Service.

[FR Doc. 97–20746 Filed 8–6–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8320–01–P