01-822. Agency Information Collection Activities Under OMB Review

AGENCY:

Office of General Counsel, 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 Office of General Counsel (OGC), 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 February 12, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Denise McLamb, Information Management Service (045A4), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420, [phone] or FAX [phone]. Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900-0018.”

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Titles: a. Application for Accreditation as Service Organization Representative, VA Form 21.

b. Appointment of Individual as Claimant's Representative, VA Form 22a.

OMB Control Number: 2900-0018.

Type of Review: Reinstatement, with change, of a previously approved collection for which approval has expired.

Abstract: VA Form 21 will be used to obtain basic information necessary to determine whether an individual may be accredited as a service organization representative for purposes of representation of claimants before VA. The information will be used by VA to evaluate qualifications, ensure against conflicts of interest, and allow appropriate organization officials to certify the character and qualifications of applicants.

VA Form 22a will be used by a claimant for VA benefits to confer power of attorney upon an attorney or agent in order that the attorney or agent may represent the claimant in proceedings before VA. The information is necessary for determining whether access to claimant records may be provided and for notification purposes.

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 December 2, 1999, at pages 67625 and 67626.

Affected Public: Individuals or households, Business or other for-profit and Not-for-profit institutions and State, Local or Tribal Government.

Estimated Annual Burden: 2,775 hours.

a. VA form 21—275 hours.

b. VA Form 22a—2,500 hours.

Estimated Average Burden Per Respondent: 30 minutes.

a. VA form 21—15 minutes.

b. VA Form 22a—15 minutes.

Frequency of Response: On occasion.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 11,100.

a. VA Form 21—1,100.

b. VA Form 22a—10,000.

Send comments and recommendations concerning any aspect of the information collection to VA's OMB Desk Officer, OMB Human Resources and Housing Branch, New Executive Office Building, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503 [phone]. Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900-0018” in any correspondence.

Dated: November 28, 2000.

By direction of the Secretary.

Barbara H. Epps,

Management Analyst, Information Management Service.