Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 215 / Thursday, November 6, 1997 / Notices 60121

Notification

Final awards cannot be made until

funds have been appropriated by

Congress, and allocated and committed

through internal USIA procedures.

Dated: October 31, 1997.

Robert L. Earle,

Deputy Associate Director for Educational

and Cultural Affairs.

[FR Doc. 97–29373 Filed 11–5–97; 8:45 am]

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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS

AFFAIRS

[OMB Control No. 2900–0396]

Proposed Information Collection

Activity: Proposed Collection;

Comment Request; Extension

AGENCY: Veterans Benefits

Administration, Department of Veterans

Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Veterans Benefits

Administration (VBA) 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 certification

of training under the Service Members

Occupational Conversion and Training

Act.

DATES: Written comments and

recommendations on the proposed

collection of information should be

received on or before January 5, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments

on the collection of information to

Nancy J. Kessinger, Veterans Benefits

Administration (20S52), Department of

Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue,

NW, Washington, DC 20420. Please refer

to ‘‘OMB Control No. 2900–0396’’ in

any correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Nancy J. Kessinger at (202) 273–8310 or

FAX (202) 273–5981.

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, 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

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: Certification

of Training (Under the Service Members

Occupational Conversion and Training

Act), VA Form 22–8929.

OMB Control Number: 2900–0396.

Type of Review: Reinstatement,

without change, of a previously

approved collection for which approval

has expired.

Abstract: Public Law 102–484

established the Service Members

Occupational Conversion and Training

Act (SMOCTA). Section 4467 requires

monthly or quarterly certification of

training under SMOCTA. An employer

uses VA Form 22–8929 to advise VA of:

(1) the number of hours a veteran has

worked in an approved program during

each month; (2) the amount and date of

payment the employer has made to the

veteran for the purchase of any tools

and work-related equipment; and (3) the

training status of the veteran (e.g.,

currently training, satisfactorily

completed training, quit, laid off, etc.).

Continued use of VA Form 22–8829 is

necessary to authorize reimbursement to

an employer.

Affected Public: Business or other forprofit, Individuals or households, State,

Local or Tribal Government, and Notfor-profit institutions.

Estimated Annual Burden: 500 hours.

Estimated Average Burden Per

Respondent: 30 minutes per application.

Estimated Annual Recordkeeping

Burden: 85 hours.

Estimated Average Burden Per

Recordkeeper: 1 hour.

Frequency of Response: Monthly or

Quarterly.

Estimated Number of Respondents:

1,000.

Estimated Number of Recordkeepers:

85.

Dated: October 27, 1997.

By direction of the Secretary.

Donald L. Neilson,

Director, Information Management Service.

[FR Doc. 97–29310 Filed 11–5–97; 8:45 am]

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