Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 105 / Thursday, May 31, 2001 / Notices 29633

g. VA Form 10–2914 is used as a

combination prescription, authorization

and invoice. It allows veterans to

purchase their eyeglasses directly. If the

form is not used, the provisions of

providing eyeglasses to eligible veterans

may be delayed.

Affected Public: Business or other for

profit and Individuals or households.

Estimated Total Annual Burden:

37,079 hours.

a. Form Letter 10–90—1,875.

b. Form Letter 10–426—242.

c. VA Form 10–0103—583.

d. VA Form 10–1394—2,711.

e. VA Form 10–2421—16,667.

f. VA Form 10–2520—3,334.

g. VA Form 10–2914—11,667.

Estimated Average Burden Per

Respondent:

a. Form Letter 10–90—5 minutes.

b. Form Letter 10–426—1 minute.

c. VA Form 10–0103—5 minutes.

d. VA Form 10–1394—15 minutes.

e. VA Form 10–2421—4 minutes.

f. VA Form 10–2520—5 minutes.

g. VA Form 10–2914—4 minutes.

Frequency of Response: On occasion.

Estimated Number of Respondents:

519,844.

a. Form Letter 10–90—22,500.

b. Form Letter 10–426—14,500.

c. VA Form 10–0103—7,000.

d. VA Form 10–1394—10,844

e. VA Form 10–2421—250,000.

f. VA Form 10–2520—40,000.

g. VA Form 10–2914—175,000.

Dated: May 22, 2001.

Donald L. Neilson,

Director, Information Management Service.

[FR Doc. 01–13624 Filed 5–30–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8320–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS

AFFAIRS

Privacy Act of 1974; System of

Records

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs

(VA)

ACTION: Report of New System of

Records—Program Evaluation Research

Data Records—VA.

SUMMARY: The Privacy Act of 1974 (5

U.S.C. 552(e)(4)) requires that all

agencies publish in the Federal Register

a notice of the existence and character

of their systems of records. Notice is

hereby given that the Department of

Veterans Affairs is establishing a system

of records entitled ‘‘Program Evaluation

Research Data Management Records—

VA’’ (107VA008B). VA is establishing

the system to support data collection,

storage and analysis to conduct agency

program evaluations undertaken under

the authority of 38 U.S.C. 527 as

described in 38 CFR Section 1.15.

DATES: Comments on the establishment

of this system of records must be

received no later than July 2, 2001. If no

public comment is received, the new

system will become effective July 2,

2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments

to the Director, Office of Regulations

Management (02D), Department of

Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue,

NW, Washington, DC 20420. Comments

will be available for public inspection at

the above address in the Office of

Regulation Management, Room 1158,

between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday

through Friday, except holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

H. Raymond Wilburn, Department of

Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue

NW., Washington, DC 20420, telephone

(202) 273–7509.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background: The purpose of the

system of records is to provide a

repository for the individually

identified and retrieved data about VA

beneficiaries, including veterans,

survivors, dependents, service persons,

and reservists, and individuals eligible

for VA benefits to perform program

evaluations as described in 38 CFR 1.15.

Within VA, most program evaluations

are conducted through contracts to

enhance third-party objectivity; thus,

much of the data collected is through

the research activities of contractors.

The records include information

provided by program beneficiaries,

persons eligible for but not using VA

programs, VA program files from the

Veterans Health Administration (VHA),

Veterans Benefit Administration (VBA),

National Cemetery Administration

(NCA), and other organizations within

VA, relevant data published by other

Federal agencies, and information

obtained in the course of routine work.

Quality assurance information that is

protected by 38 U.S.C. 5705 and 38 CFR

17.500–17.511 is not included in this

system of records.

It is VA’s policy that the data and

information collected be used to

evaluate the various programs within

the Department. Data and information

may also be used for longitudinal

research purposes and follow-up to

evaluate the long-term effects of

program usage, although VA currently

has no plans to do so.

This data and information may also be

disclosed to:

1. The appropriate Federal, State,

local, or foreign agency charged with the

responsibility of investigating violations

of civil or criminal law or regulations

arising by statute, regulation, rule, or

order;

2. A Congressional office from the

record of an individual in response to

an inquiry;

3. The National Archives and Records

Administration (NARA) in records

management inspections;

4. The Department of Justice and

United States attorneys in defense or

prosecution of litigation involving the

United States;

5. A Federal department or agency; or

6. Directly to a contractor or

subcontractor of a Federal department

or agency for the purpose of conducting

research. When disclosure of this data

or information is made directly to a

contractor, VA may impose applicable

conditions on the department, agency,

and/or contractor to insure the

appropriateness of the disclosure to the

contractor.

The notice of intent to publish and an

advance copy of the system notice have

been sent to the appropriate

Congressional committees and to the

Director, Office of Management and

Budget (OMB) as required by 5 U.S.C.

552a(r) (Privacy Act) and guidelines

issued by OMB (65 FR 77677),

December 12, 2000.

Approved: May 15, 2001.

Anthony J. Principi,

Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

107VA008B

SYSTEM NAME:

Program Evaluation Research Data

Records—VA

SYSTEM LOCATION:

Records are maintained at VA Central

Office, Office of Policy and Planning

(008B), 810 Vermont Avenue, NW.,

Washington, DC 20420, and in the

custody of contractors or subcontractors

of VA.

CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE

SYSTEM:

The records include information

concerning program beneficiaries,

individuals eligible for benefits,

applicants for benefits, and members of

their immediate families.

CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:

The records may include information

related to:

1. Medical (such as diagnoses,

prescriptions, and patient visits) and

non-medical benefits program usage

records and reports of contact about

program benefits usage with individuals

or groups.

2. Data on beneficiary, eligible, and

applicant demographics, including

29634 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 105 / Thursday, May 31, 2001 / Notices

identifying information (such as name,

date of birth, age, sex, social security

number, taxpayer identification

number); address information (for

example, home and/or mailing address,

home telephone number, emergency

contact information such as name,

address, telephone number, and

relationship); information related to

training, education, and continuing

education (for example, name and

address of schools and dates of

attendance, courses attended and

scheduled to attend, type of degree,

certificate, grades); information related

to military service and status; technical

skills acquired, employment

information, and income.

3. Any other statistical data regarding

the interaction and/or participation of

VA beneficiaries, eligibles, and

applicants in VA programs.

To the extent that records contained

in the system include information

protected by 38 U.S.C. 7332 (such as

medical treatment information related to

drug abuse, alcoholism or alcohol abuse,

sickle cell anemia or infection with the

human immunodeficiency virus), that

information cannot be disclosed under a

routine use unless there is also specific

statutory authority permitting

disclosure.

AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:

Title 38, United States Code, section

527 (b).

PURPOSE(S):

VA collects and maintains the records

in this system of records to evaluate on

a continuing basis the effectiveness of

all programs authorized under Title 38

U.S.C., in achieving program goals in

general, including achieving such goals

in relation to their cost, and their

structure and mechanisms for delivery

of services, as well as their effect on

related programs. Data may also be used

for longitudinal research purposes and

follow-up to evaluate the long-term

effects of program usage.

ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE

SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES OF USERS AND

THE PURPOSES OF SUCH USES:

Data and information may be

disclosed for routine uses as indicated

below:

1. In the event that a record

maintained by VA to carry out its

functions indicates a violation or

potential violation of civil or criminal

law or regulations arising by general

statute or particular program statute,

regulation, rule, or order, information

may be disclosed at VA’s own initiative

to the appropriate Federal, State, local,

or foreign agency charged with the

responsibility of investigating or

prosecuting such violation or charged

with enforcing or implementing the

statute or rule, regulation, or order.

However, names and addresses of

veterans and their dependents will be

released only to federal entities.

2. Disclosure may be made to a

Congressional office from the record of

an individual in response to an inquiry

from the Congressional office made at

the request of that individual.

3. Disclosure may be made to the

National Archives and Records

Administration (NARA) in records

management inspections conducted

under authority of 44 U.S.C.

4. Disclosure may be made to the

Department of Justice and United States

attorneys in defense or prosecution of

litigation involving the United States.

5. Disclosure of name(s) and

address(es) of present or former

personnel of the Armed Services and/or

their dependents may be made to: (a) A

Federal department or agency, at the

written request of the head or designee

of that agency or (b) directly to a

contractor or subcontractor of a Federal

department or agency for the purpose of

conducting Federal research necessary

to accomplish a statutory purpose of an

agency.

6. Disclosure may be made to

individuals, organizations, private or

public agencies, etc., with whom VA

has a contract or agreement to perform

such services as VA may deem

practicable for the purposes of laws

administered by VA, in order for the

contractor or subcontractor to perform

the services of the contract or

agreement.

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORING,

RETRIEVING, ACCESSING, RETAINING, AND

DISPOSING OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:

STORAGE:

Records are maintained on paper,

microfilm, magnetic tape, disk, or laser

optical media.

RETRIEVABILITY:

Records are retrieved by name, social

security number, or other assigned

identifiers of the individuals on whom

they are maintained.

SAFEGUARDS:

1. Access to VA working and storage

areas is restricted to VA employees on

a ‘‘need-to-know’’ basis; strict control

measures are enforced to ensure that

disclosure to these individuals is also

based on this same principle.

Scrambling algorithms are used to

protect unique personal identifiers such

as social security numbers. Generally,

VA file areas are locked after normal

duty hours and the facilities are

protected from outside access by the

Federal Protective Service or other

security personnel.

2. Access to electronic files stored in

personal computers is limited to only

that information in the file which is

needed in the performance of

employees’ official duties through use of

individually unique passwords. Access

by Office of Inspector General (OIG)

staff conducting an audit or

investigation is controlled in the same

manner. Access to paper documents and

information on automated storage media

is limited to employees who have a

need for the information in the

performance of their official duties.

3. Contractors and subcontractors are

required to maintain the same level of

security as VA for records in their

custody.

RETENTION AND DISPOSAL:

Paper records and information stored

on electronic storage media are

maintained and disposed of in

accordance with records disposition

authority approved by the Archivist of

the United States.

SYSTEM MANAGER(S) AND ADDRESS:

Official responsible for policies and

procedures: Director, Program

Evaluation Service, Office of Policy and

Planning (008B), Department of

Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue,

NW, Washington, DC 20420. Officials

maintaining the system: Program

Evaluation staff (008B) and supporting

contractors.

NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE:

Individuals who wish to determine

whether this system of records contains

information about them should contact

the system manager. Inquiries should

include the person’s full name, social

security number, date(s) of contact, and

return address.

RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES:

Individuals seeking information

regarding access to and contesting of

records in this system may write, call or

visit the Office of Policy and Planning

(008B), VA Central Office, 810 Vermont

Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420.

CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES:

(See Record Access Procedures

above.)

RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:

Information in this system of records

is provided by the individual or

guardian, other Federal agencies, or VA

program operation files from the

Veterans Health Administration (VHA),

Veterans Benefits Administration

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 105 / Thursday, May 31, 2001 / Notices 29635

(VBA), National Cemetery

Administration (NCA), and other

organizations within VA.

[FR Doc. 01–13625 Filed 5–30–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8320–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS

AFFAIRS

Privacy Act of 1974; System

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs

(VA).

ACTION: Notice of Amendment to System

of Records.

SUMMARY: The Privacy Act of 1974 (5

U.S.C. 552(e)(4)) requires that all

agencies publish in the Federal Register

a notice of the existence and character

of their systems of records. Notice is

hereby given that the Department of

Veterans Affairs (VA) is amending the

system of records entitled ‘‘Vietnam

Veterans Readjustment Counseling

Program—VA’’ (64VA116) as set forth in

the Federal Register 46 FR 9844 dated

1/29/81 and as amended in 56 FR 26186

dated 6/6/91. VA is amending the

system by revising the System Name

and the paragraphs for System Location,

Categories of Individuals Covered by the

System, Categories of Records in the

System, and Policies and Practices for

Storing, Retrieving, Retaining, and

Disposing of Records in the System,

including Storage, Retrievability and

Safeguards. VA is republishing the

system notice in its entirety at this time.

DATES: Comments on the amendment of

this system of records must be received

no later than July 2, 2001. If no public

comment is received, the amended

system will become effective July 2,

2001.

ADDRESSES: Written comments

concerning the proposed new system of

records may be submitted to the Office

of Regulations Management (02D),

Department of Veterans Affairs, 810

Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC

20420. Comments will be available for

public inspection at the above address

in the Office of Regulations

Management, Room 1158, between the

hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday

through Friday (except holidays).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Veterans Health Administration (VHA)

Privacy Act Officer, Department of

Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue,

NW., Washington, DC 20420, telephone

(727) 320–1839.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The name

and number of the system is changed

from ‘‘Vietnam Veterans Readjustment

Counseling Program-VA’’ (64VA116) to

‘‘Readjustment Counseling Service

(RCS) Vet Center Program-VA’’

(64VA15). The change in name will

more accurately reflect the broader

group of veterans receiving services and

the environment in which the services

are delivered.

For purposes of this notice changes

have been made to update the following

sections: The System Location;

Categories of Individuals Covered by the

System; Categories of Records in the

System; and Policies and Practices for

Storing, Retrieving, and Disposing of

Records in the System. Changes in the

system location section reflect the fact

that some Vet Centers have relocated to

new addresses, and that the total

number of Vet Centers has increased

since the last notice was published.

Changes in the law extending eligibility

for readjustment counseling at Vet

Centers to all veterans who served in

any war or armed conflict necessitated

the changes to the categories of

individuals covered by the system. No

new categories of information will be

collected by this system of records.

Changes to this section were to more

accurately clarify the types of

demographic and clinical information

collected. As previously, this system of

records will be stored in secure files at

the Vet Centers, but changes in the law

now require the records to be retained

for 50 years after the date of last activity.

Changes to the latter two sections also

reflect advances in computer

technology.

The notice of intent to publish and an

advance copy of the system notice have

been sent to the appropriate

Congressional committees and to the

Director of the Office of Management

and Budget (OMB) as required by 5

U.S.C. 552a(r) (Privacy Act) and

guidelines issued by OMB (65 FR

77677), December 12, 2000.

Approved: May 11, 2001.

Anthony J. Principi,

Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

64VA15

SYSTEM NAME:

Readjustment Counseling Service

(RCS) Vet Center Program—VA.

SYSTEM LOCATION:

(a) Counseling Folder: Maintained at

each individual Vet Center providing

readjustment counseling throughout the

country. The locations of all Vet Centers

providing readjustment counseling are

listed in VA Appendix 2 of the Biennial

Privacy Act Issuances publication.

(b) Client Information File: Certain

information extracted from the

counseling folder is stored on standalone personal computers at each Vet

Center, each of the seven RCS regional

managers’ offices, and the RCS national

data coordinator’s office.

CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE

SYSTEM:

Eligible veterans who request and/or

are provided readjustment counseling,

including veterans’ family members

and/or other persons of significant

relationship to the veteran who are

eligible. Eligibility for readjustment

counseling at Vet Centers includes any

veteran who served in the military in a

theater of combat operations during any

period of war, or in any area during a

period in which armed hostilities

occurred. Family members are also

eligible for readjustment counseling to

the extent necessary to assist the

veteran.

CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:

(a) Counseling Folder: All written

intake forms, applications, progress

notes and demographic and clinical

documentation deemed necessary to

provide quality counseling and

continuity of care by the counselors

and/or program officials. This would

include all information collected for the

computerized database. (b) Client

Information File: Unique veteran

identification number; social security

number; Vet Center team number;

marital status; gender; birth date; service

dates; branch of service; veteran

eligibility information; theater of

operation; service-connection;

discharge; referral source; visit

information and treatment; and other

statistical information about services

provided to that veteran.

AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:

Title 38, United States Code, Section

1712A.

PURPOSE(S):

The purpose of this system of records

is to collect and maintain all

demographic and clinical information

required to conduct a psychological

assessment, to include a military

history, and provide quality

readjustment counseling to assist

veterans resolve war trauma and

improve their level of post-war

functioning.

ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE

SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES OF USERS AND

THE PURPOSES OF SUCH USES:

None.