2020-07372. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY:

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

ACTION:

Notice of proposed extension request.

SUMMARY:

NARA proposes to request an extension from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) of approval to use three information collections. The first is prepared by organizations that want to make paper-to-paper copies of archival holdings with their personal copiers at the National Archives at the College Park facility. The second is used to advise requesters of the correct procedures to follow when requesting certified copies of records for use in civil litigation or criminal actions in courts of law, and the information to be provided so that records may be identified. The third information collection is used by veterans, dependents, and other authorized individuals to request information from or copies of documents in military personnel, military medical, and dependent medical records. We invite you to comment on this proposed information collection pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES:

We must receive written comments on or before June 8, 2020.

ADDRESSES:

Send comments by email to [e-mail], by mail to Paperwork Reduction Act Comments (MP), Room 4100; National Archives and Records Administration; 8601 Adelphi Road; College Park, MD 20740-6001, or by fax to 301.837.7409.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Tamee Fechhelm, by telephone at 301.837.1694 or by fax at 301.837.7409, with requests for additional information or copies of the proposed information collection and supporting statement.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13), we invite the public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed information collections. The comments and suggestions should address one or more of the following points: (a) Whether the proposed information collections are necessary for NARA to properly perform its functions; (b) our estimates of the burden of the proposed information collections and their accuracy; (c) ways we could enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information we collect; (d) ways we could minimize the burden on respondents of collecting the information, including through information technology; and (e) whether these collections affect small businesses. We will summarize any comments you submit and include the summary in our request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public record. In this notice, we solicit comments concerning the following information collections:

1. Title: Request to use personal paper-to-paper copiers at the National Archives at College Park facility.

OMB number: 3095-0035.

Agency form number: None.

Type of review: Regular.

Affected public: Business or other for-profit.

Estimated number of respondents: 5.

Estimated time per response: 3 hours.

Frequency of response: On occasion.

Estimated total annual burden hours: 15 hours.

Abstract: The information collection is prescribed by 36 CFR 1254.86. Respondents are organizations that want to make paper-to-paper copies of archival holdings with their personal copiers. NARA uses the information to determine whether the request meets the criteria in 36 CFR 1254.86 and to schedule the limited space available.

2. 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 we may identify the records.

3. Title: Authorization for Release of Military Medical Patient Records; Request for Information Needed to Locate Medical Records; Request for Information Needed to Reconstruct Medical Data; Questionnaire about Military Service; and Check the Status of a Clinical & Medical Treatment Records Request.

OMB number: 3095-0039.

Agency form numbers: NA Forms 13036, 13042, 13055, 13075, and 13177.

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 a respondent wishes to request information from a military personnel, military medical, or 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. For those who have already made a request, and want to check the status, they can use NA Form 13177, Check the Status of a Clinical & Medical Treatment Records Request.

Swarnali Haldar,

Executive for Information Services/CIO.