02-29297. Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

AGENCY:

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

NARA is giving public notice that the agency has submitted to OMB for approval the information collections described in this notice. The public is invited to comment on the proposed information collections pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES:

Written comments must be submitted to OMB at the address below on or before December 19, 2002 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES:

Comments should be sent to: Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Attn: Ms. Brooke Dickson, Desk Officer for NARA, Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or copies of the proposed information collections and supporting statements should be directed to Tamee Fechhelm at telephone number 301-837-1694 or fax number 301-837-3213.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13), NARA invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed information collections. NARA published a notice of proposed collection for these information collections on August 28, 2002 (67 FR 55277 through 55279). No comments were received. NARA has submitted the described information collections to OMB for approval.

In response to this notice, comments and suggestions should address one or more of the following points: (a) Whether the proposed information collections are necessary for the proper performance of the functions of NARA; (b) the accuracy of NARA's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collections; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including the use of information technology. In this notice, NARA is soliciting comments concerning the following information collections:

1. Title: Court Order Requirements.

OMB number: 3095-0038.

Agency form number: NA Form 13027.

Type of review: Regular.

Affected public: Veterans and Former Federal civilian employees, their authorized representatives, state and local governments, and businesses.

Estimated number of respondents: 5,000.

Estimated time per response: 15 minutes.

Frequency of response: On occasion.

Estimated total annual burden hours: 1,250 hours.

Abstract: The information collection is prescribed by 36 CFR 1228.164. In accordance with rules issued by the Office of Personnel Management, the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) administers Official Personnel Folders (OPF) and Employee Medical Folders (EMF) of former Federal civilian employees. In accordance with rules issued by the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Transportation (DOT), the NPRC also administers military service records of veterans after discharge, retirement, and death, and the medical records of these veterans, current members of the Armed Forces, and dependents of Armed Forces personnel. The NA Form 13027, Court Order Requirements, is used to advise requesters of (1) the correct procedures to follow when requesting certified copies of records for use in civil litigation or criminal actions in courts of law and (2) the information to be provided so that records may be identified.

2. Title: Forms Relating to Military Service Records.

OMB number: 3095-0039.

Agency form number: NA Forms 13036, 13042, 13055, and 13075.

Type of review: Regular.

Affected public: Veterans, their authorized representatives, state and local governments, and businesses.

Estimated number of respondents: 79,800.

Estimated time per response: 5 minutes.

Frequency of response: On occasion (when respondent wishes to request information from a military personnel, military medical, and dependent medical record).

Estimated total annual burden hours: 6,650 hours.

Abstract: The information collection is prescribed by 36 CFR 1228.164. In accordance with rules issued by the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Transportation (DOT, U.S. Coast Guard), the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) administers military personnel and medical records of veterans after discharge, retirement, and death. In addition, NRPC administers the medical records of dependents of service personnel. When veterans, dependents, and other authorized individuals request information from or copies of documents in military personnel, military medical, and dependent medical records, they must provide on forms or in letters certain information about the veteran and the nature of the request. A major fire at the NPRC on July 12, 1973, destroyed numerous military records. If individuals' requests involve records or information from records that may have been lost in the fire, requesters may be asked to complete NA Form 13075, Questionnaire about Military Service, or NA Form 13055, Request for Information Needed to Reconstruct Medical Data, so that NPRC staff can search alternative sources to reconstruct the requested information. Requesters who ask for medical records of dependents of service personnel and hospitalization records of military personnel are asked to complete NA Form 13042, Request for Information Needed to Locate Medical Records, so that NPRC staff can locate the desired records. Certain types of information contained in military personnel and medical records are restricted from disclosure unless the veteran provides a more specific release authorization than is normally required. Veterans are asked to complete NA Form 13036, Authorization for Release of Military Medical Patient Records, to authorize release to a third party of a restricted type of information found in the desired record.

3. Title: Military Personnel Records (MPR) Customer Satisfaction Survey.

OMB number: 3095-0042.

Agency form number: N/A.

Type of review: Regular.

Affected public: Federal, state and local government agencies, veterans, and individuals who write the Military Personnel Records (MPR) facility for information from or copies of official military personnel files.

Estimated number of respondents: 4,960.

Estimated time per response: 10 minutes.

Frequency of response: On occasion (when respondent writes to MPR requesting information from official military personnel files).

Estimated total annual burden hours: 827 hours.

Abstract: The information collection is prescribed by EO 12862 issued September 11, 1993, which requires Federal agencies to survey their customers concerning customer service. The general purpose of this data collection is to initially support the business process reengineering (BPR) of the MPR reference service process and then provide MPR management with an ongoing mechanism for monitoring customer satisfaction. In particular, the purpose of the Military Personnel Records (MPR) Customer Satisfaction Survey is to (1) provide baseline data concerning customer satisfaction with MPR's reference service process, (2) identify areas within the reference service process for improvement, and (3) provide MPR management with customer feedback on the effectiveness of BPR initiatives designed to improve customer service as they are implemented. In addition to supporting the BPR effort, the Military Personnel Records (MPR) Customer Satisfaction Survey will help NARA in responding to performance planning and reporting requirements contained in the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA).

Dated: November 13, 2002.

L. Reynolds Cahoon,

Assistant Archivist for Human Resources and Information Services.