E5-1329. 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 27, 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. 2900-0114.” 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. 2900-0114” in any correspondence.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Under the PRA of 1995 (Pub. L. 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: Statement of Marital Relationship, VA Form 21-4170.

OMB Control Number: 2900-0114.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Abstract: Persons claiming to be common law widows/widowers of deceased veterans and veterans and their claimed common law spouses complete VA Form 21-4170 to establish marital status. VA uses the information collected to determine whether the common law marriage was valid under the law of the place where the parties resided at the time of the marriage or under the law of the place where the parties resided when the right to benefits accrued.

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 1, 2004 at page 69992.

Affected Public: Individuals or households.

Estimated Annual Burden: 2,708 hours.

Estimated Average Burden Per Respondent: 25 minutes.

Frequency of Response: One-time.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 6,500.

Dated: March 17, 2005.

By direction of the Secretary.

Martin Hill,

Management Analyst, Records Management Service.