97-20746. Agency Information Collection Activities Under OMB Review

[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 152 (Thursday, August 7, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 42627]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-20746]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

[OMB Control No. 2900-0559]


Agency Information Collection Activities Under OMB Review

AGENCY: National Cemetery System, 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 National 
Cemetery System (NCS), 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 September 8, 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. 2900-0559.''

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title and Form Number: State Cemetery Data, VA Form 40-0241.
    OMB Control Number: 2900-0559.
    Type of Review: Reinstatement, without change, of a previously 
approved collection for which approval has expired.
    Abstract: VA Form 40-0241 is used to collect information regarding 
the number of interments conducted at state veteran's cemeteries each 
year. This information is necessary for budget and oversight purposes. 
In addition, NCS's State Cemetery Grants Service uses the information 
to answer questions which arise during the course of the year to 
respond to Congressional correspondence and to project and predict the 
need for burial space and the demand for state grants. Burial 
information provides the usage rates and helps in the prediction of 
when a cemetery needs to develop additional acreage (request a grant to 
expand) or is going to close. The amount of acreage used helps the 
State Cemetery Grants Service and National Cemetery System anticipate 
closing and the requirement for additional cemeteries (either state or 
national). Lower burial rates may indicate problems such as ineffective 
outreach or poor maintenance that should be investigated. The 
information is used in conjunction with the information gained from the 
national cemeteries to consider where to place national or state 
cemeteries. Title 38 CFR, Section 39.3, points out that ``the Secretary 
and any authorized representative (in this case the State Cemetery 
Grants Service) will have access to and the right to examine all 
records, books, papers or documents related to the grant.'' Title 38 
CFR, Section 39.5, discusses follow-up procedures once a cemetery is 
established and points out the need for audits.
    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 April 8, 1997 at page 16890.
    Affected Public: State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 52 hours.
    Estimated Average Burden Per Respondent: 60 minutes.
    Frequency of Response: Annually.
    Estimated Annual Responses: 52.
    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. 2900-0559'' in any correspondence.

    Dated: July 18, 1997.

    By direction of the Secretary.
Donald L. Neilson,
Director, Information Management Service.
[FR Doc. 97-20746 Filed 8-6-97; 8:45 am]
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