[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 78 (Monday, April 23, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 24269]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-9670]
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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
[OMB Control No. 2900-0018]
Proposed Information Collection (Application for Accreditation as
Service Organization Representative) Activity: Comment Request
AGENCY: Office of General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Office of General Counsel (OGC), Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the
proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to
publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed
collection of information, including each proposed extension of a
currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in
response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on information
needed to determine accredited service organization representatives'
qualification to represent claimants before VA.
DATES: Written comments and recommendations on the proposed collection
of information should be received on or before June 22, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the collection of information
through www.Regulations.gov or to Ken Lee, Office of General Counsel
(02), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW.,
Washington, DC 20420 or email to [email protected]. Please refer to ``OMB
Control No. 2900-0018'' in any correspondence. During the comment
period, comments may be viewed online through the Federal Docket
Management System (FDMS) at www.Regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ken Lee at (202) 461-7651 or FAX (202)
273-6404.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13; 44
U.S.C. 3501-3521), Federal agencies must obtain approval from the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of
information they conduct or sponsor. This request for comment is being
made pursuant to Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA.
With respect to the following collection of information, OGC
invites comments on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information
is necessary for the proper performance of OGC's functions, including
whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy
of OGC's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of
information; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of
the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of
the collection of information on respondents, including through the use
of automated collection techniques or the use of other forms of
information technology.
Title: Application for Accreditation as Service Organization
Representative, VA Form 21; Accreditation Cancellation Information.
OMB Control Number: 2900-0018.
Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
Abstract: Service organizations are required to file an application
with VA to establish eligibility for accreditation for representatives
of that organization to represent benefit claimants before VA. VA Form
21 is completed by service organizations to establish accreditation for
representatives, recertify the qualifications of accredited
representatives.
Organizations requesting cancellation of a representative's
accreditation based on misconduct or incompetence or resignation to
avoid cancellation of accreditation based upon misconduct or
incompetence, are required to inform VA of the specific reason for the
cancellation request. VA will use the information collected to
determine whether service organizations representatives continue to
meet regulatory eligibility requirements to ensure claimants have
qualified representatives to assist in the preparation, presentation
and prosecution of their claims for benefits.
Affected Public: Not-for profit institutions.
Estimated Annual Burden: 1,003 hours.
Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 15 minutes.
Frequency of Response: On occasion.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 4,780.
Dated: April 18, 2012.
By direction of the Secretary.
Denise McLamb,
Program Analyst, Enterprise Records Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-9670 Filed 4-20-12; 8:45 am]
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