40828 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 165 / Monday, August 28, 2017 / Notices 

SUMMARY: The FHWA, on behalf of 

Caltrans, is issuing this notice to 

announce actions taken by Caltrans.The 

actions relate to the proposed 

improvement of Avenue R from the 

Sierra Highway to just east of 25th 

Street East within the City of Palmdale 

in the County of Los Angeles, State of 

California. Those actions grant licenses, 

permits, and approvals for the project. 

DATES: By this notice, the FHWA, on 

behalf of Caltrans, is advising the public 

of final agency actions subject to 23 

U.S.C. 139(l)(1). A claim seeking 

judicial review of the Federal agency 

actions on the highway project will be 

barred unless the claim is filed on or 

before January 25, 2018. If the Federal 

law that authorizes judicial review of a 

claim provides a time period of less 

than 150 days for filing such claim, then 

that shorter time period still applies. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

Caltrans: Quint Chemnitz, Associate 

Environmental Planner, Environmental 

Planning Division, California 

Department of Transportation—District 

7, 100 South Main Street, Los Angeles, 

California, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., (213) 897– 

2863, quint.chemnitz@dot.ca.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Effective 

July 1, 2007, the Federal Highway 

Administration (FHWA) assigned, and 

the California Department of 

Transportation (Caltrans) assumed, 

environmental responsibilities for this 

project pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327. 

Notice is hereby given that Caltrans has 

taken final agency actions subject to 23 

U.S.C. 139(l)(1) by issuing licenses, 

permits, and approvals for the following 

Avenue R Complete Street and Safe 

Routes Project in the State of California: 

The project proposes to provide a safer 

corridor along Avenue R for local 

students by providing a two-way leftturn lane; providing dedicated Class II 

bike lanes; closing sidewalk gaps; and 

providing bus turnouts along the project 

reach. Improvements will be made on 

Avenue R from just west of Sierra 

Highway to just east of 25th Street East. 

The Federal Project Identification 

Number associated with the project is 

ATPL–5378(038). The actions by the 

Federal agencies, and the laws under 

which such actions were taken, are 

described in the Environmental 

Assessment (EA) with a Finding of No 

Significant Impact (FONSI) for the 

project, approved on May 1, 2017, and 

in other documents in the project 

records. The EA/FONSI, and other 

project records are available by 

contacting Caltrans at the addresses 

provided above. The EA/FONSI can be 

viewed and downloaded from the 

project Web site at http://

www.dot.ca.gov/d7/env-docs/, or 

viewed at public libraries in the project 

area. This notice applies to all Federal 

agency decisions as of the issuance date 

of this notice and all laws under which 

such actions were taken, including but 

not limited to: 

1. Council on Environmental Quality 

Regulations; 

2. National Environmental Policy Act; 

3. Fixing America’s Surface 

Transportation Act (FAST Act); 

4. Department of Transportation Act 

of 1966; 

5. Federal Aid Highway Act of 1970; 

6. Clean Air Act Amendments of 

1990; 

7. Noise Control Act of 1970; 

8. 23 CFR part 772 FHWA Noise 

Standards, Policies and Procedures; 

9. Department of Transportation Act 

of 1966, Section 4(f); 

10. Clean Water Act of 1977 and 1987; 

11. Endangered Species Act of 1973; 

12. Migratory Bird Treaty Act; 

13. National Historic Preservation Act 

of 1966, as amended; 

14. Historic Sites Act of 1935 and 

15. Executive Order 13112, Invasive 

Species. 

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 

Program Number 20.205, Highway Planning 

and Construction. The regulations 

implementing Executive Order 12372 

regarding intergovernmental consultation on 

Federal programs and activities apply to this 

program.) 

Authority: 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1) 

Tasha J. Clemons, 

Director, Program Development, Federal 

Highway Administration, Sacramento, 

California. 

[FR Doc. 2017–18170 Filed 8–25–17; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–RY–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Motor Carrier Safety 

Administration 

[Docket No. FMCSA–2017–0226] 

Fixing America’s Surface 

Transportation Act Correlation Study 

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety 

Administration (FMCSA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice; request for comments. 

SUMMARY: On June 27, 2017, the 

National Academy of Sciences (NAS) 

published its report titled, ‘‘Improving 

Motor Carrier Safety Measurement.’’ 

This report was commissioned by 

FMCSA consistent with the 

requirements of Section 5221 of the 

Fixing America’s Surface Transportation 

(FAST) Act. The FAST Act also requires 

that the Agency develop an action plan 

to address any identified deficiencies 

and submit it to Congress and the U.S. 

Department of Transportation’s (DOT) 

Office of Inspector General (OIG). The 

purpose of this notice is to announce a 

public meeting to discuss the NAS 

recommendations and to solicit input to 

be considered by the Agency in the 

development and implementation of the 

action plan. 

DATES: The public meeting will take 

place on Friday, September 8, 2017, 

from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Eastern 

Time. A copy of the agenda for the 

meeting will be available in advance of 

the meeting at https://

www.regonline.com/FMCSA_

Correlation_Study_Action_

PlanPublicMeeting. If all interested 

participants have had an opportunity to 

comment, the meeting may conclude 

early. 

Public Comments: Comments must be 

received by September 27, 2017. 

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at 

the FMCSA National Training Center, 

1310 N. Courthouse Road, Suite 600, 

Arlington, VA 22201–2508. Those 

interested in attending this public 

meeting must register at: https://

www.regonline.com/FMCSA_

Correlation_Study_Action_

PlanPublicMeeting. Participants have 

the option of registering to attend in 

person, or via webinar. 

You may submit comments identified 

by Docket Number FMCSA–2017–0226 

using any of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// 

www.regulations.gov. Follow the online 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Mail: Docket Management Facility, 

U.S. Department of Transportation, 

Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590– 

0001. 

• Hand Delivery or Courier: West 

Building, Ground Floor, Room W12– 

140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 

Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m. E.T., Monday through Friday, 

except Federal holidays. 

• Fax: 1–202–493–2251. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

information about the public meeting or 

for information on facilities or services 

for individuals with disabilities or to 

request special assistance at the 

meeting, contact Ms. Sharon Worthy, 

Director of External Affairs at (202) 366– 

2309 or by email at Sharon.Worthy@

dot.gov, by September 1, 2017. 

For information about the Correlation 

Study, please contact Ms. Theresa 

Rowlett, Senior Policy Advisor, Office 

of Enforcement, FMCSA, 1200 New 

Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 


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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 165 / Monday, August 28, 2017 / Notices 40829 

20590, Telephone (202) 360–2924 or by 

email at Theresa.Rowlett@dot.gov. 

If you have questions regarding 

viewing or submitting material to the 

docket, contact Docket Services, 

telephone (202) 366–9826. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Submitting Comments 

If you submit a comment, please 

include the docket number for this 

notice (FMCSA–2017–0226), indicate 

the specific section of this document to 

which each comment applies, and 

provide a reason for each suggestion or 

recommendation. You may submit your 

comments and material online or by fax, 

mail, or hand delivery, but please use 

only one of these means. FMCSA 

recommends that you include your 

name and mailing address, an email 

address, or a phone number in the body 

of your document so that FMCSA can 

contact you if there are questions 

regarding your submission. 

To submit your comment online, go to 

http://www.regulations.gov, put the 

docket number, FMCSA–2017–0226, in 

the keyword box, and click ‘‘Search.’’ 

When the new screen appears, click on 

the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ button and type 

your comment into the text box on the 

following screen. Choose whether you 

are submitting your comment as an 

individual or on behalf of a third party 

and then submit. 

If you submit your comments by mail 

or hand delivery, submit them in an 

unbound format, no larger than 81⁄2 by 

11 inches, suitable for copying and 

electronic filing. If you submit 

comments by mail and would like to 

know that they reached the facility, 

please enclose a stamped, self-addressed 

postcard or envelope. 

Viewing Comments and Documents 

To view comments, as well as any 

documents mentioned in this preamble 

as being available in the docket, to 

http://www.regulations.gov. Insert the 

docket number, FMCSA–2017–0226, in 

the keyword box, and click ‘‘Search.’’ 

Next, click the ‘‘Open Docket Folder’’ 

button and choose the document to 

review. If you do not have access to the 

Internet, you may view the docket by 

visiting the Docket Management Facility 

in Room W12–140 on the ground floor 

of the West Building, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, 

between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., E.T., 

Monday through Friday, except Federal 

holidays. 

Privacy Act 

The Department of Transportation 

(DOT) solicits comments from the 

public to better inform its decisionmaking processes. DOT posts these 

comments, without edit, including any 

personal information the commenter 

provides, to www.regulations.gov, as 

described in the system of records 

notice (DOT/ALL–14 FDMS), which can 

be reviewed at www.dot.gov/privacy. 

Background 

Section 5221 of the FAST Act, titled 

‘‘Correlation Study,’’ required FMCSA 

to commission the National Research 

Council of the National Academies to 

conduct a study of FMCSA’s 

Compliance, Safety, Accountability 

(CSA) program and Safety Measurement 

System (SMS). SMS is FMCSA’s 

algorithm for identifying patterns of 

non-compliance and prioritizing motor 

carriers for interventions. FMCSA is 

prohibited from publishing SMS 

percentiles and alerts on the SMS Web 

site for motor carriers transporting 

property until the NAS Correlation 

Study is complete and all reporting and 

certification requirements under the 

FAST Act are satisfied. 

The FAST Act also required FMCSA 

to submit the results of this study to 

both Congress and the DOT OIG. In 

addition, within 120 days of the 

submission of the report to Congress 

and the OIG, FMCSA must submit an 

action plan to the Senate Committee on 

Commerce, Science, and Transportation; 

and the House of Representatives 

Transportation and Infrastructure 

Committee. The OIG is required to 

review the action plan and submit a 

report to Congress on the 

responsiveness of the FMCSA’s plan to 

the NAS report’s recommendations. 

Under Section 5221 of the FAST Act, 

the purpose of this study is to analyze: 

a. The accuracy with which the 

Behavior Analysis Safety Improvement 

Categories (BASICs) used by SMS: 

i. Identify high risk carriers. 

ii. Predict or are correlated with 

future crash risk, crash severity, or other 

safety indicators for motor carriers, 

including the highest risk carriers. 

b. The methodology used to calculate 

BASIC percentiles and identify carriers 

for enforcement, including the weights 

assigned to particular violations and the 

tie between crash risk and specific 

regulatory violations, with respect to 

accurately identifying and predicting 

future crash risk for motor carriers. 

c. The relative value of inspection 

information and roadside enforcement 

data. 

d. Any data collection gaps or data 

sufficiency problems that may exist and 

the impact of those gaps and problems 

on the efficacy of the CSA program. 

e. The accuracy of safety data, 

including the use of crash data from 

crashes in which a motor carrier was 

free from fault. 

f. Whether BASIC percentiles for 

motor carriers of passengers should be 

calculated separately from for motor 

carriers of freight. 

g. The differences in the rates at 

which safety violations are reported to 

FMCSA for inclusion in the SMS by 

various enforcement authorities, 

including States, territories, and Federal 

inspectors. 

h. How members of the public use the 

SMS and what effect making the SMS 

information public has had on reducing 

crashes and eliminating unsafe motor 

carriers from the industry. 

The FAST Act required the NAS also 

to consider: 

a. Whether the SMS provides 

comparable precision and confidence, 

through SMS alerts and percentiles, for 

the relative crash risk of individual large 

and small motor carriers. 

b. Whether alternatives to the SMS 

would identify high risk carriers more 

accurately. 

c. The recommendations and findings 

of the Comptroller General of the United 

States and the Inspector General of the 

Department of Transportation, and 

independent review team reports, 

issued before the date of the FAST Act. 

NAS Report Recommendations and 

FMCSA Action Plan Overview 

On June 27, 2017, NAS published the 

report titled, ‘‘Improving Motor Carrier 

Safety Measurement.’’ The report is 

available at https://www.nap.edu/ 

catalog/24818/improving-motor-carriersafety-measurement. A copy of the 

report has been placed in the docket 

referenced at the beginning of this 

notice. In preparing the report, NAS 

collected and analyzed all the 

quantitative data available to FMCSA in 

its databases, which contain information 

on the safety of commercial motor 

carriers and drivers subject to the 

Federal Motor Carrier Safety 

Regulations and the Hazardous 

Materials Regulations. In addition, NAS 

held three public meetings to engage 

stakeholders from the truck and bus 

industry, safety advocates, researchers, 

and other government organizations. 

The meeting agendas are included in an 

appendix to the report. 

The NAS report concluded that SMS, 

in its current form, is structured in a 

reasonable way and its method of 

identifying motor carriers for alert status 

is defensible. In addition, NAS agreed 

that FMCSA’s overall approach, based 

on crash prevention rather than 

prediction, is sound. NAS provided 

FMCSA with six recommendations to 

improve the system. 


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ihttps://www.transportation.gov/government/ 

traffic-records/model-minimum-uniform-crashcriteria-mmucc-0. 

FMCSA accepts the NAS report’s 

recommendations and outlines below 

several high-level proposals to address 

each recommendation. The proposals 

summarized below are intended to 

allow the public to provide input into 

the development of the action plan but 

do not themselves constitute the 

entirety of the action plan. FMCSA is 

still considering and evaluating actions 

to address the recommendations. 

FMCSA is also working with the NAS 

to establish a Standing Committee to 

oversee and provide advice relating to 

the Agency’s work addressing these 

recommendations. In addition to 

reviewing and providing advice on the 

Agency’s technical work, such as the 

Item Response Theory (IRT) modeling, 

NAS will advise on all 

recommendations, and establish a 

process for gathering stakeholder input 

in the implementation of the action plan 

as well. 

Recommendation 1—FMCSA should 

develop the suggested IRT model over 

the next 2 years. If it is then 

demonstrated to perform well in 

identifying motor carriers for alerts, 

FMCSA should use it to replace SMS in 

a manner akin to the way SMS replaced 

SafeStat. 

FMCSA Comment 

To address this recommendation, 

FMCSA is securing additional expertise 

and resources to develop and test the 

proposed IRT statistical model. The 

testing of an IRT model is consistent 

with FMCSA’s continuous improvement 

process of modifying and testing 

changes to SMS by focusing on data 

quality, data collection, and 

transparency. FMCSA will evaluate 

whether the new model performs well 

using existing effectiveness testing 

methods and/or methodologies 

recommended by the NAS, and based 

on that evaluation will determine the 

next steps in using that model. 

FMCSA is seeking comments on the 

implementation of an IRT model and its 

application to the SMS as well as the 

process for development and testing of 

the model. 

Recommendation 2—FMCSA should 

continue to collaborate with states and 

other agencies to improve the quality of 

the Motor Carrier Management 

Information System (MCMIS) data in 

support of SMS, focusing on carrier 

exposure and crash data. The current 

exposure data are missing with high 

frequency, and data that are collected 

are likely of unsatisfactory quality. To 

improve the exposure data collected 

involves not only collecting higherquality Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) 

data, but also collecting this information 

by state and by month. This will enable 

SMS to (partially) accommodate existing 

heterogeneity in the environments 

where carriers travel. Crash data are also 

missing too often. Also, there is 

information available from police 

reports currently not represented on 

MCMIS that could be helpful in 

understanding the contributing factors 

in a crash. Such information could help 

to validate the assumptions linking 

violations to crash frequency. To 

address these issues, FMCSA should 

support the states in collecting more 

complete crash data, and in universal 

adoption of the Model Minimum 

Uniform Crash Criteria (MMUCC), as 

well as developing and supplying the 

code needed to automatically extract the 

data needed for the MCMIS crash file. 

FMCSA Comments on VMT 

Regarding exposure data, the Agency 

agrees that more VMT data from motor 

carriers would reduce the need for 

FMCSA to use substitute values and 

would improve the quality of the data 

in SMS. FMCSA is concerned that 

access to monthly and by-State VMT is 

not currently feasible. Currently, 

FMCSA rules require carriers to provide 

updated VMT data only every two years. 

FMCSA previously considered using 

other sources of VMT data such as the 

International Registration Plan data. 

However, FMCSA does not currently 

have access to that data. And even if the 

Agency had access to IRP data, that 

would not provide a complete data set, 

as IRP carriers are not required to report 

information on vehicles with a gross 

vehicle weight rating of less than 26,000 

pounds. 

FMCSA seeks information, through 

this notice, on potential sources of 

improved VMT data. Additionally, 

FMCSA requests input from industry 

and other stakeholders about other 

available sources for this data and the 

costs and benefits of voluntary 

submission of the data. 

FMCSA expects to consider the effect 

of monthly, voluntarily-submitted, 

State-by-State VMT data from motor 

carriers, and the impact on the system 

if this information were provided by 

only a portion of the regulated 

community. 

FMCSA Comments on Crash Data 

In accordance with Section 5306 of 

the FAST Act, FMCSA established a 

Federal Advisory Committee to review 

Post-Accident Reports for tow-away 

crashes involving FMCSA-regulated 

commercial motor vehicles. That 

committee was charged with 

recommending changes to improve the 

quality and consistency of Police 

Accident Reports (PARs) data. More 

than half of the committee members 

represented States or State law 

enforcement officials, with the 

remainder representing industry, labor, 

safety advocates, and other interested 

parties. The FAST Act directed the 

working group to review existing State 

PARs to recommend best practices for 

the collection of PARs data by State and 

local law enforcement agencies. The 

Post Accident Review Advisory 

Committee recommended that all States 

use the National Highway Traffic Safety 

Administration’s MMUCCi and that 

FMCSA modify its data systems to 

receive all MMUCC data from the States. 

In January 2017, FMCSA’s and 

NHTSA’s senior leadership agreed to 

establish a workgroup to carry out the 

Committee’s recommendations. 

FMCSA recognizes that 

implementation of this recommendation 

will take additional resources for the 

States for training and information 

technology system changes. We are 

partnering with NHTSA to encourage 

States to participate in a USDOT 

national crash repository (that uses the 

MMUCC guidance as a framework). In 

addition, FMCSA will be examining the 

quality of the EDT data and comparing 

it to what we receive in MCMIS. 

As a result, FMCSA specifically asks 

for information on issues that should be 

considered FMCSA determines how to 

best integrate MMUCC data. 

Recommendation 3—FMCSA should 

investigate ways of collecting data that 

will likely benefit the recommended 

methodology for safety assessment. This 

includes data on carrier 

characteristics—including information 

on driver turnover rate, type of cargo, 

method and level of compensation, and 

better information on exposure. 

FMCSA Comments 

The Agency agrees that additional 

information about carrier operations 

might improve the Agency’s analysis 

and identification of non-compliant 

motor carriers. To confirm this, FMCSA 

will use the IRT model and simulate the 

impacts and value of driver turnover 

rates, type of cargo, method and level of 

compensation, and exposure in 

identifying unsafe motor carriers before 

proceeding with an information 

collection. In addition, FMCSA would 

conduct a cost benefit analysis to 

determine how much it would cost the 

industry to provide the Agency with 

this additional information. Through 

this notice, FMCSA is specifically 


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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 165 / Monday, August 28, 2017 / Notices 40831 

seeking input on these and other data 

fields to be considered and information 

on the costs associated with submitting 

this information. 

Recommendation 4—FMCSA should 

structure a user-friendly version of the 

MCMIS data file used as input to SMS 

without any personally identifiable 

information to facilitate its use by 

external parties, such as researchers, 

and by carriers. In addition, FMCSA 

should make user-friendly computer 

code used to compute SMS elements 

available to individuals in accordance 

with reproducibility and transparency 

guidelines. 

FMCSA Comments 

FMCSA agrees that there could be 

benefits from making MCMIS data 

available to researchers and carriers. 

Through this Federal Register notice, 

FMCSA seeks input on how the MCMIS 

data would be used by researchers and 

others to determine the best method(s) 

for providing the data file. 

The Agency is considering developing 

the programming, screen shots, and 

preview capacity so that changes from 

one month to another are explained to 

motor carriers to help carriers 

understand the implications of 

violations and crashes on their SMS 

data. Input on the information that 

would be helpful in reviewing SMS data 

is requested through this notice. 

Recommendation 5—FMCSA should 

undertake a study to better understand 

the statistical operating characteristics 

of the percentile ranks to support 

decisions regarding the usability of 

public scores. 

FMCSA Comments 

Like NAS, FMCSA has been unable to 

quantify the impacts to motor carriers of 

publicly displaying the SMS 

percentiles. The Agency has only 

anecdotal information about the 

business impacts of the public 

percentiles on the SMS Web site. 

Historically, insurance companies and 

shippers have been reluctant to share 

data on how safety data is used to 

determine rates. And, while the Agency 

has been contacted by companies 

advising that they lost business because 

of SMS, these claims have not been 

validated or assimilated into a usable 

analysis. 

Through this notice, FMCSA seeks 

data from motor carriers, insurance 

companies, and shippers regarding the 

impacts of the public display of SMS 

percentiles and alerts on businesses. 

This information will be used to 

identify next steps for this 

recommendation. 

Recommendation 6—Given that there 

are good reasons for both an absolute 

and a relative metric on safety 

performance, FMCSA should decide on 

the carriers that receive SMS alerts 

using both the SMS percentile ranks and 

the SMS measures, and the percentile 

ranks should be computed both 

conditionally within safety event groups 

and over all motor carriers. 

FMCSA Comments 

The Agency has heard from motor 

carriers with increased measures or 

percentiles due to an increase in 

vehicles or clean inspections. Analysis 

of the number of carriers that received 

higher measures and percentiles 

without a violation or crash indicates 

this happens to a very small number of 

carriers. However, FMCSA agrees that 

the methodology should be revised so 

that a safety event that is not a violation 

or a crash is not the sole reason for an 

increased measure or percentile. 

In addition, FMCSA anticipates 

investigating the use of a hybrid 

measure that combines relative and 

absolute metrics as part of its 

development of the IRT model. FMCSA 

seeks comment from stakeholders on 

this issue, how it could be 

implemented, and when such changes 

would be appropriate. 

Issued under the authority delegated in 49 

CFR 1.87 on: August 21, 2017. 

John Van Steenburg, 

Assistant Administrator/Chief Safety Officer. 

[FR Doc. 2017–18183 Filed 8–25–17; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P 

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

AFFAIRS 

[OMB Control No. 2900–0606] 

Agency Information Collection 

Activity: Regulation for Submission of 

Evidence 

AGENCY: Veterans Health 

Administration, Department of Veterans 

Affairs. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: Veterans Health 

Administration, 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. 

DATES: Written comments and 

recommendations on the proposed 

collection of information should be 

received on or before October 27, 2017. 

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments 

on the collection of information through 

Federal Docket Management System 

(FDMS) at www.Regulations.gov or to 

Brian McCarthy, Veterans Health 

Administration, Office of Regulatory 

and Administrative Affairs (10B4), 

Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 

Vermont Avenue NW., Washington, DC 

20420 or email to Brian.McCarthy4@

va.gov. Please refer to ‘‘OMB Control 

No. 2900–0606’’ in any correspondence. 

During the comment period, comments 

may be viewed online through FDMS. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Brian McCarthy at (202) 461–6345. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the 

PRA of 1995, 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, 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) 

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. 

Authority: U.S. Code: 38 U.S.C. 1729. 

Title: Regulation for Submission of 

Evidence—Title 38 CFR 17.101(a)(4). 

OMB Control Number: 2900–0606. 

Type of Review: Renewal of a 

currently approved collection. 

Abstract: Under the provisions of 38 

CFR, Section 17.101(a)(4), entitled 

‘‘Amount of Recovery or Collection— 

Third Party Liability’’, a third-party 

payer that is liable for reimbursing VA 

for health care VA provided to Veterans 

with non- service-connected conditions 

continues to have the option of paying 

either the billed charges as described in 

Section 17.101 or the amount the health 

plan demonstrates it would pay to 

providers other than entities of the 

United States for the same care or 

services in the same geographic area. If 


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