97-18636. Agency Information Collection Activities Under OMB Review

[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 136 (Wednesday, July 16, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 38196]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-18636]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

[OMB Control No. 2900-0025]


Agency Information Collection Activities Under OMB Review

AGENCY: Office of Management, Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 
(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Office of 
Management, 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; it includes the actual data collection instrument.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 15, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR A COPY OF THE SUBMISSION CONTACT: Ron 
Taylor, Information Management Service (045A4), Department of Veterans 
Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420, [phone] 
or FAX [phone]. Please refer to ``OMB Control No. 2900-0025'' in 
any correspondence.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: Request for Consent to Release of Information, VA Form 3288.
    OMB Control Number: 2900-0025.
    Type of Review: Reinstatement, without change, of a previously 
approved collection for which approval has expired.
    Abstract: Veterans and their beneficiaries regularly request that 
copies of documents or information contained in their benefits or 
medical records be released to third parties, such as insurance 
companies, physicians and other individuals. The Privacy Act of 1974 (5 
U.S.C. 552a) and the VA's confidentiality statue (38 U.S.C. 5701) as 
implemented by 38 CFR 1.526(a) and 38 CFR 1.576(b) require individuals 
to provide written consent before documents or information can be 
disclosed to third parties not allowed to receive records or 
information under any other provision of law, i.e., routine use of a 
record in a system of records.
    VA Form 3288 is completed by veterans or beneficiaries to provide 
the VA with a written consent to release records or information. Use of 
the form ensures an individual gives an informed written consent for 
the release of records or information about himself/herself that is 
consistent with the statutory requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974 
and the VA's confidentiality statute.
    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 30, 1996 at page 68818.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 18,875 hours.
    Estimated Average Burden Per Respondent: 7.5 minutes.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 151,000.
    Send comments and recommendations concerning any aspect of the 
information collection to VA's OMB Desk Officer, Allison Eydt, OMB 
Human Resources and Housing Branch, New Executive Office Building, Room 
10235, Washington, DC 20503, [phone]. Please refer to ``OMB 
Control No. 2900-0025'' in any correspondence.

    Dated: June 25, 1997.

    By direction of the Secretary.
Donald L. Neilson,
Director, Information Management Service.
[FR Doc. 97-18636 Filed 7-15-97; 8:45 am]
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