2023-05646. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY:

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

NARA is proposing to request that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) reinstate a discontinued information collection and renew three other information collections. The reinstated information collection is used by companies and organizations that want to digitize archival holdings with privately-owned equipment. The first renewal information collection 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 renewal 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) what kinds of information they must provide NARA so the agency can find those records. The third renewal information collection is used when veterans, dependents, and other authorized individuals request information from or copies of documents in military personnel, military medical records, and dependent medical records. We invite you to comment on this proposed information collection.

DATES:

We must receive written comments on or before May 19, 2023.

ADDRESSES:

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Contact Tamee Fechhelm by telephone at 301-837-1694 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 we need the proposed information collection to properly perform our agency functions; (b) our estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection and its 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 this collection affects 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 Digitize Records.

OMB number: 3095-0017.

Agency form number: None.

Type of review: Regular.

Affected public: Companies and organizations that wish to digitize archival holdings in the National Archives of the United States or a Presidential library for micropublication.

Estimated number of respondents: 10.

Estimated time per response: 5 hours.

Frequency of response: On occasion (when respondent wishes to request permission to digitize records).

Estimated total annual burden hours: 50.

Abstract: The information collection is prescribed by 36 CFR 1254.92. The collection is prepared by companies and organizations that wish to digitize archival holdings with privately-owned equipment. NARA uses the information to determine whether the request meets the criteria in 36 CFR 1254.94, to evaluate the records for digitization, and to schedule use of the limited space available for digitizing.

2. Title: Request to use personal paper-to-paper copiers at the National Archives at the 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.

3. 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 records may be identified.

4. 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, and Questionnaire about Military Service, and Check the Status of a Clinical & Medical Treatment Records Request.

OMB number: 3095-0039.

Agency form number: 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 respondent wishes to request information from a military personnel, military medical, and 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.

Sheena Burrell,

Executive for Information Services/CIO.