01-5054. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request for Reclearance of Expiring Information Collections: OPM Forms 1496 and 1496A

AGENCY:

Office of Personnel Management.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, May 22, 1995), this notice announces that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) intends to submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for reclearance of an information collection. OPM Forms 1496 and 1496A, Application for Deferred Retirement (Separations before October 1, 1956) and Application for Deferred Retirement (Separations on or after October 1, 1956) are used by eligible former Federal employees to apply for a deferred Civil Service annuity. Two forms are needed because there was a major revision in the law effective October 1, 1956; this affects the general information provided with the forms.

Comments are particularly invited on: whether this collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of functions of the Office of Personnel Management, and whether it will have practical utility; whether our estimate of the public burden of this collection of information is accurate, and based on valid assumptions and methodology; and ways in which we can minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, through the use of appropriate technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Approximately 3,000 OPM Forms 1496 and 1496A will be completed annually. We estimate it takes approximately 1 hour to complete both forms. The annual burden is 3,000 hours.

For copies of this proposal, contact Mary Beth Smith-Toomey on [phone], or email to [e-mail].

DATES:

Comments on this proposal should be received on or before May 1, 2001.

ADDRESSES:

Send or deliver comments to—Ronald W. Melton, Chief, Operations Support Division, Retirement and Insurance Service, U.S. Office of Personnel Management, 1900 E Street, NW, Room 3349, Washington, DC 20415-3540.

FOR INFORMATION REGARDING ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATION CONTACT:

Donna G. Lease, Team Leader, Forms Analysis and Design, Budget & Administrative Services Division, [phone].

Steven R. Cohen,

Acting Director, Office of Personnel Management.