05-4888. Agency Information Collection Activities Under OMB Review

AGENCY:

Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-21), this notice announces that the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), 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 and includes the actual data collection instrument.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before April 13, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Denise McLamb, Records Management Service (005E3), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., or e-mail [e-mail]. Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900-0261.” 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. 2900-0261” in any correspondence.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Under the PRA of 1995 (Public Law 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: Application for Refund of Educational Contributions (VEAP, Chapter 32, Title 38, U.S.C.), VA Form 24-5281.

OMB Control Number: 2900-0261.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Abstract: VA Form 24-5281 is completed by veterans and service persons to request a refund of their contribution to the Post-Vietnam Veterans Education Program. Contribution made into the Post-Vietnam Veterans Education Program may be refunded only after the participant has disenrolled from the program. Request for refund of contribution prior to discharge or release from active duty will be refunded on the date of the participant's discharge or release from activity duty or within 60 days of receipt of notice by the Secretary of the participant's discharge or disenrollment. Refunds may be made earlier in instances of hardship or other good reason. Participants who stops enrollment from the program after discharge or release from active duty, the contributions will be refunded within 60 days of receipt of the participant's application.

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 November 12, 2004, at pages 65505-65506.

Affected Public: Individuals or households.

Estimated Annual Burden: 8,333 hours.

Estimated Average Burden Per Respondent: 10 minutes.

Frequency of Response: On occasion.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 50,000.

Dated: February 28, 2005.

By direction of the Secretary:

Loise Russell,

Director, Records Management Service.