6076 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 23 / Friday, February 4, 2005 / Notices 

• Whether identified sources for 

assistance are still available and viable. 

In addition to these five elements, 

effective plans set clear goals, 

management accountability, and 

opportunities for community input and 

planning throughout the process. 

VIII. Voluntary Compliance Effort 

The goal for Title VI and Title VI 

regulatory enforcement is to achieve 

voluntary compliance. The requirement 

to provide meaningful access to LEP 

persons is implemented by Treasury 

through complaint investigations, 

compliance reviews, efforts to secure 

voluntary compliance, and technical 

assistance. Upon publication of 

Treasury’s Title VI regulations, the 

enforcement procedures in those 

regulations will be applicable to this 

program. 

Treasury will investigate whenever it 

receives a complaint, report, or other 

information that alleges or indicates 

possible noncompliance with Title VI. If 

the investigation results in a finding of 

compliance, Treasury will inform the 

recipient in writing of this 

determination, including the basis for 

the determination. Treasury will use 

voluntary mediation to resolve most 

complaints. However, if a case is fully 

investigated and results in a finding of 

noncompliance, Treasury will inform 

the recipient of the noncompliance 

through a Letter of Findings that sets out 

the areas of noncompliance and the 

steps that must be taken to correct the 

noncompliance. It will first attempt to 

secure voluntary compliance through 

informal means. If the matter cannot be 

resolved informally, Treasury will 

secure compliance through the 

termination of federal assistance after 

the recipient has been given an 

opportunity for an administrative 

hearing and/or by referring the matter to 

a DOJ litigation section to seek 

injunctive relief or pursue other 

enforcement proceedings. Treasury will 

engage in voluntary compliance efforts 

and provide technical assistance to 

recipients at all stages of an 

investigation. During these efforts, 

Treasury will propose reasonable 

timetables for achieving compliance and 

consult with and assist recipients in 

exploring cost-effective ways of coming 

into compliance. In determining a 

recipient’s compliance with the Title VI 

regulations, Treasury’s primary concern 

is to ensure that the recipient’s policies 

and procedures provide meaningful 

access for LEP persons to the recipient’s 

programs and activities. 

While all recipients must work 

toward building systems that will 

ensure access for LEP individuals, 

Treasury acknowledges that the 

implementation of a comprehensive 

system to serve LEP individuals is a 

process and that a system will evolve 

over time as it is implemented and 

periodically reevaluated. As recipients 

take reasonable steps to provide 

meaningful access to federally assisted 

programs and activities for LEP persons, 

Treasury will look favorably on 

intermediate steps recipients take that 

are consistent with this Guidance, and 

that, as part of a broader 

implementation plan or schedule, move 

their service delivery system toward 

providing full access to LEP persons. 

This does not excuse noncompliance 

but instead recognizes that full 

compliance in all areas of a recipient’s 

activities and for all potential language 

minority groups may reasonably require 

a series of implementing actions over a 

period of time. However, in developing 

any phased implementation schedule, 

recipients should ensure that the 

provision of appropriate assistance for 

significant LEP populations or with 

respect to activities having a significant 

impact on the health, safety, legal rights, 

or livelihood of beneficiaries is 

addressed first. Recipients are 

encouraged to document their efforts to 

provide LEP persons with meaningful 

access to federally assisted programs 

and activities. 

In cases where a recipient of Federal 

financial assistance from Treasury also 

receives assistance from one or more 

other Federal agencies, there is no 

obligation to conduct and document 

separate but identical analyses and 

language assistance plans. Treasury, in 

discharging its compliance and 

enforcement obligations under Title VI, 

will look to analyses performed and 

plans developed in response to similar 

detailed LEP guidance issued by other 

Federal agencies. Accordingly, as an 

adjunct to this Guidance, recipients 

may, where appropriate, also rely on 

guidance issued by other agencies in 

discharging their Title VI LEP 

obligations. 

In determining a recipient entity’s 

compliance with Title VI, Treasury’s 

primary concern is to ensure that the 

entity’s policies and procedures 

overcome barriers resulting from 

language differences that would deny 

LEP persons a meaningful opportunity 

to participate in and access programs, 

services, and benefits. A recipient 

entity’s appropriate use of the methods 

and options discussed in this policy 

guidance is viewed by Treasury as 

evidence of that entity’s willingness to 

comply voluntarily with its Title VI 

obligations. 

IX. Complaint Process 

Anyone who believes that he/she has 

been discriminated against because of 

race, color or national origin in violation 

of Title VI may file a complaint with 

Treasury within 180 days of the date on 

which the discrimination took place. 

The following information should be 

included: 

• Your name and address (a 

telephone number where you may be 

reached during business hours is 

helpful, but not required); 

• A general description of the 

person(s) or class of persons injured by 

the alleged discriminatory act(s); 

• The name and location of the 

organization or institution that 

committed the alleged discriminatory 

act(s); 

• A description of the alleged 

discriminatory act(s) in sufficient detail 

to enable the Office of Equal 

Opportunity and Diversity (OEOD) to 

understand what occurred, when it 

occurred, and the basis for the alleged 

discrimination. 

• The letter or form must be signed 

and dated by the complainant or by 

someone authorized to do so on his or 

her behalf. 

A recipient may not retaliate against 

any person who has made a complaint, 

testified, assisted or participated in any 

manner in an investigation or 

proceeding under the statutes governing 

Federal financial assistance programs. 

Civil rights complaints should be filed 

with: Department of the Treasury, Office 

of Equal Opportunity and Diversity, 

1750 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Room 

8157, Washington, DC 20220.

[FR Doc. 05–2156 Filed 2–3–05; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4811–15–P

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

AFFAIRS 

[OMB Control No. 2900–0501] 

Proposed Information Collection 

Activity: Proposed Collection; 

Comment Request

AGENCY: Veterans Benefits 

Administration, Department of Veterans 

Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Veterans Benefits 

Administration (VBA), 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

Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 23 / Friday, February 4, 2005 / Notices 6077

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 for information 

needed to maintain Veterans Mortgage 

Life Insurance accounts.

DATES: Written comments and 

recommendations on the proposed 

collection of information should be 

received on or before April 5, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments 

on the collection of information to 

Nancy J. Kessinger, Veterans Benefits 

Administration (20m35), Department of 

Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, 

NW., Washington, DC 20420 or e-mail: 

irmnkess@vba.va.gov. Please refer to 

‘‘OMB Control No. 2900–0501’’ in any 

correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Nancy J. Kessinger at (202) 273–7079 or 

FAX (202) 275–5947.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the 

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

3501 ‘‘3521), 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: Veterans Mortgage Life 

Insurance Inquiry, VA Form 29–0543. 

OMB Control Number: 2900–0501. 

Type of Review: Extension of a 

currently approved collection. 

Abstract: Veterans whose mortgage is 

insured under Veterans Mortgage Life 

Insurance (VMLI) completes VA Form 

29–0543 to report any recent changes in 

the status of their mortgage. VMLI 

coverage is automatically terminated 

when the mortgage is paid in full or 

when the title to the property secured 

by the mortgage is no longer in the 

veteran’s name. 

Affected Public: Individuals or 

households. 

Estimated Annual Burden: 45 hours. 

Estimated Average Burden Per 

Respondent: 5 minutes. 

Frequency of Response: On occasion. 

Estimated Number of Respondents:

540.

Dated: January 26, 2005.

By direction of the Secretary. 

Loise Russell, 

Director, Records Management Service.

[FR Doc. 05–2105 Filed 2–3–05; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8320–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

AFFAIRS 

[OMB Control No. 2900–0115] 

Proposed Information Collection 

Activity: Proposed Collection; 

Comment Request

AGENCY: Veterans Benefits 

Administration, Department of Veterans 

Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Veterans Benefits 

Administration (VBA), 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. This 

notice solicits comments for information 

needed to determine eligibility for 

benefits based on a common law 

marriage.

DATES: Written comments and 

recommendations on the proposed 

collection of information should be 

received on or before April 5, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments 

on the collection of information to 

Nancy J. Kessinger, Veterans Benefits 

Administration (20M35), Department of 

Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, 

NW., Washington, DC 20420 or e-mail: 

irmnkess@vba.va.gov. Please refer to 

‘‘OMB Control No. 2900–0115’’ in any 

correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Nancy J. Kessinger at (202) 273–7079 or 

FAX (202) 275–5947.

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, 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: Supporting Statement Regarding 

Marriage, VA Form 21–4171. 

OMB Control Number: 2900–0115. 

Type of Review: Extension of a 

currently approved collection. 

Abstract: The data collected on VA 

Form 21–4172 is used to determine a 

claimant’s eligibility for benefits based 

on a common law marital relationship. 

Benefits cannot be paid unless the 

marital relationship between the 

claimant and the veteran is established. 

Affected Public: Individuals or 

households. 

Estimated Annual Burden: 800 hours. 

Estimated Average Burden Per 

Respondent: 20 minutes. 

Frequency of Response: One-time. 

Estimated Number of Respondents:

2,400.

Dated: January 26, 2005.

By direction of the Secretary. 

Loise Russell, 

Director, Records Management Service.

[FR Doc. 05–2106 Filed 2–3–05; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8320–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

AFFAIRS 

[OMB Control No. 2900–0405] 

Proposed Information Collection 

Activity: Proposed Collection; 

Comment Request

AGENCY: Veterans Benefits 

Administration, Department of Veterans 

Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Veterans Benefits 

Administration (VBA), Department of 

Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an 

opportunity for public comment on the 

proposed collection of certain 

information by the agency. Under the