01-28044. 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 et seq.), 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; it includes the actual data collection instrument.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before December 10, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR A COPY OF THE SUBMISSION CONTACT:

Denise McLamb, Information Management Service (045A4), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420, [phone], FAX [phone] or e-mail: [e-mail]. Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900-0036.”

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Statement of Disappearance, VA Form 21-1775.

OMB Control Number: 2900-0036.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Abstract: Title 38, U.S.C., section 108, requires a formal presumption of death when a veteran has been missing for seven years. VA Form 21-1775 is used to gather the necessary information for proper decisions regarding the unexplained absence of an individual. Without this information, it would not be possible for VA to authorize death benefits.

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 August 24, 2001, at pages 44668-44669.

Affected Public: Individuals or households.

Estimated Annual Burden: 5,500 hours.

Estimated Average Burden Per Respondent: 2 hours, 45 minutes.

Frequency of Response: On occasion.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,000.

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. 2900-0036” in any correspondence.

Dated: October 24, 2001.

By direction of the Secretary.

Donald L. Neilson,

Director, Information Management Service.