Agency Information Collection: Emergency Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Agency Information Collection: Emergency Submission for OMB

Review; Comment Request

AGENCY: Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans

Affairs (VA), has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB) the following emergency proposal for the collection of

information under the Provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA,

44 U.S.C. 3507(j)(1)). This collection of information is needed prior

to the expiration of the time periods contained in 5 CFR 1320. This

emergency clearance request is essential to satisfying the requirements

of Public Law 103-446 and the VA's mission of caring for veterans and

their families. If the Veterans Health Administration uses normal

clearance procedures, the collection of information would be disrupted.

Public harm may result if formal clearance procedures are followed

since many Gulf War veterans and their families are awaiting the

results of the survey to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of

symptoms. VA had expected the research survey to be exempt from the

definition of information pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.3(h)(5); a different

standard was applied to this research survey resulting in an

unanticipated situation. OMB has been requested to act on this

emergency clearance request by August 21, 1998.

Title: National Health Survey of Gulf War Era Veterans and their

Families: Phase III Physical Examinations.

OMB Control Number: None assigned.

Type of Review: New Collection.

Abstract: In November of 1994 the Secretary of Veterans Affairs was

directed by the ``Persian Gulf War Veterans' Benefits Act,'' Title I of

the ``Veterans' Benefits Improvements Act of 1994,'' Public Law 103-

446, to conduct a health survey of Persian Gulf veterans and their

spouses and children. In response to the legislative mandate, the

Veterans Health Administration initiated a survey entitled ``National

Health Survey of Gulf War Era Veterans and their Families.'' The

present survey protocol represents Phase III of the study, clinical

examinations of a sample of 1,000 Gulf War Veterans and their spouses

and children and 1,000 Gulf War era nondeployed veterans and their

spouses and children. The Cooperative Studies Evaluation Committee

approved this study in September of 1997. Physicians within and outside

the Department of Veterans Affairs hospital system will use the

information collected during Phase III to aid in diagnosing and

treating Gulf War veterans. Researcher will also use the information to

further identify any possible illnesses associated with the myriad of

symptoms presented by Gulf War veterans.

Affected Public: Individuals or households.

Estimated Annual Burden: 54,920 hours.

Estimated Average Burden Per Respondent: 10 hours.

Frequency of Response: The forms will be completed by the clinical

staff once during at two-day battery of examinations; there will be no

follow-up visits.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 5,492 study participants. (A total

2,000 veterans, 1,520 spouses, and 1,972 children will be examined

during Phase III.)

ADDRESSES: A copy of this submission may be obtained from Ron Taylor,

Information Management Service (045A4), Department of Veterans Affairs,

8l0 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420, (202) 273-8015.

Comments and recommendations concerning this submission should be

directed to VA's OMB Desk Officer, Allison Eydt, OMB Human Resources

and Housing Branch, New Executive Office Building, Room 10235,

Washington, DC 20503 (202) 395-4650.

DATES: Written comments on the collection of information should be

directed and received by the VA's OMB Desk Office on or before August

24, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ron Taylor, VA Clearance Officer

(045A4), (202) 273-8015.

Dated: July 29, 1998.

By direction of the Secretary.

Donald L. Neilson,

Director, Information Management Service.

[FR Doc. 98-21252 Filed 8-7-98; 8:45 am]

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