Proposed Information Collection Available for Public Comment

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

Proposed Information Collection Available for Public Comment

AGENCY: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and

Readiness).

ACTION: Notice.

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In compliance with Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction

Act of 1995, the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel

and Readiness) announces the following proposed reinstatement of a

public information collection and seeks public comment on the

provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: (a) whether the proposed

collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of

the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall

have

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practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden

of the proposed information collection; (c) ways to enhance the

quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(d) ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on

respondents, including through the use of automated collection

techniques or other forms of information technology.

DATES: Consideration will be given to all comments received by March 3,

2000.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations on the proposed

information collection should be sent to the Office of the Under

Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness) (Force Management

Policy/Military Personnel Policy/Accession Policy), ATTN: LTC Helen

Prewitt, Room 2B271, 4000 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-4000.

Consideration will be given to all comments received within 60 days of

the date of publication of this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request more information on this

proposed information collection or to obtain a copy of the proposal and

associated collection instruments, please write to the above address or

call (703) 697-9269.

Title, Applicable, and OMB Control Number: DoD Loan Repayment

Program (LRP); DD Form 2475; OMB Control Number 0704-0152.

Needs and Uses: Military Services are authorized to repay student

loans for individuals who meet certain criteria and who enlist for

active military service or enter Reserve service for a specified

obligation period. Applicants who qualify for the program forward the

DD Form 2475, ``DoD Educational Loan Repayment Program (LRP) Annual

Application,'' to their Military Service Personnel Office for

processing. The Military Service Personnel Office verifies the

information and fills in the loan repayment date, address and phone

number. For the Reserve Components, the Military Service Personnel

Office forwards the DD Form 2475 to the lending institution. For the

active-duty Service, the Service member mails the form to the lending

institution. The lending institution confirms the loan status and

certification and mails the form back to the Military Service Personnel

Office.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.

Annual Burden Hours (Including Recordkeeping): 6,750 hours.

Number of Respondents: 27,000.

Responses Per Respondent: 1.

Average Burden Per Response: 15 minutes.

Frequency: On occasion.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Summary of Information Collection

Public Laws 99-145 and 100-180 authorize the Military Services to

repay student loans for individuals who agree to enter the military in

specific occupational areas for a specified service obligation period.

The law provides for repayment for service performed on active duty or

as a member of the Reserve Components in a military specialty

determined by the Secretary of Defense. The legislation requires the

Services to verify the status of the individual's loan prior to

repayment. The DD Form 2475, ``DoD Educational Loan Repayment Program

(LRP) Annual Application,'' is used to collect the necessary

verification data from the lending institution.

To request more information on this proposed information collection

or to obtain a copy of the proposal and associated collection

instruments, please write to the above address or call the Office of

the Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness) Reports

Clearance Officer at (703) 614-8989.

Dated: December 27, 1999.

L.M. Bynum,

Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.

[FR Doc. 99-34000 Filed 12-30-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 5001-10-M