80 FR 60751 - Policy and Implementation Plan for Public Access to Scientific Publications and Digital Data from Research Funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 194 (October 7, 2015)

Page Range		60751-60752
FR Document		2015-25448

This Federal Register Notice announces an opportunity for public review and comment on the Policy and Implementation Plan for Public Access to Scientific Publications and Digital Data from Research Funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 194 (Wednesday, October 7, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 194 (Wednesday, October 7, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60751-60752]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-25448]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Policy and Implementation Plan for Public Access to Scientific 
Publications and Digital Data from Research Funded by the Department of 
Veterans Affairs

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This Federal Register Notice announces an opportunity for 
public review and comment on the Policy and Implementation Plan for 
Public Access to Scientific Publications and Digital Data from Research 
Funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

DATES: Comments must be received by VA on or before November 6, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted through http://www.Regulations.gov; by mail or hand delivery to the Director, 
Regulations Management (02REG), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 
Vermont Avenue NW., Room 1068, Washington, DC 20420; or by fax to (202) 
273-9026. Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response 
to ``Policy and Implementation Plan for Public Access to Scientific 
Publications and Digital Data from Research Funded by the Department of 
Veterans Affairs.'' Copies of comments received will be available for 
public inspection in the Office of Regulation Policy and Management, 
Room 1063B, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday 
through Friday (except holidays). Please call (202) 461-4902 (this is 
not a toll-free number) for an appointment. In addition, during the 
comment period, comments may be viewed online through the Federal 
Docket Management System at http://www.Regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Puglisi, Ph.D., Executive 
Director, Office of Research Oversight (10R), 810 Vermont Avenue NW., 
Washington DC 20420, Telephone: 202-632-7676 (this is not a toll-free 
number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VA's policy and implementation plan for 
increased public access to the results of its research was developed in 
response to White House initiatives on federally funded scientific 
research. In its February 22, 2013, memorandum, the White House Office 
of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) directed each federal agency 
with over $100 million in annual expenditures for the conduct of 
research and development to develop a plan to support increased public 
access to the results of research funded by the federal government, 
including digital data sets and results published in peer-reviewed 
scholarly publications arising directly from federally-funded research 
(OSTP, Increasing Access to the Results of Federally Funded Scientific 
Research, February 22, 2013).
    In implementing policies on public access to research publications 
and digital research data, VA must first remain cognizant of its 
ethical and legal obligations to safeguard the privacy of Veterans (and 
VA's other research subjects) and the confidentiality of their private 
information, while promoting the highest quality science. VA also 
recognizes that Veterans and the public at large have a substantive 
interest in accessing the results of the research that VA conducts. 
VA's responsibility precludes unlimited public access to private 
information about individual research subjects. With this in mind, VA 
has carefully weighed the public benefits versus the risks of harm to 
Veterans and other research subjects in establishing the requirements.
    VA is committed to ensuring that the final study results, including 
peer-reviewed publications and digital data from VA-funded scientific 
research, are made available to the scientific community, industry, and 
the general public with the fewest constraints possible, while 
protecting the privacy of the Veterans (and others individuals) about 
whom research data are obtained and safeguarding the confidentiality of 
their data.
    Requirements for public access to scientific publications will 
apply to all peer-reviewed publications reporting results of research 
that are either funded by the VA Office of Research and Development 
(ORD) or conducted, supported, or sponsored by any Veterans Health 
Administration (VHA) Program Office.
    Requirements for public access to digital data will apply to the 
final research data underlying all peer-reviewed publications reporting 
results of research that is either funded by the VA ORD or conducted, 
supported, or sponsored by any VHA Program Office. VA proposes to begin 
sharing digital research data through controlled public access 
mechanisms and move toward open public access to the extent that the 
protection of Veterans' identifiable private information can be 
ensured.

[[Page 60752]]

    Availability: Persons with access to the Internet may obtain the 
document at: http://www.va.gov/ORO/Docs/Guidance/Plan_for_Access_to_Results_of_VA_Funded_Rsch_02_14_2014.pdf.
    Alternatively, the document may be obtained by mail or by calling 
ORO at (202) 632-7676 (this is not a toll-free number).

Signing Authority

    The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or designee, approved this 
document and authorized the undersigned to sign and submit the document 
to the Office of the Federal Register for publication electronically as 
an official document of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Robert L. 
Nabors II, Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs, approved 
this document on September 30, 2015, for publication.

    Dated: October 1, 2015.
Michael Shores,
Chief Impact Analyst, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, Office 
of the General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2015-25448 Filed 10-6-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8320-01-P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 194 / Wednesday, October 7, 2015 / Notices 60751

the use of other forms of information By direction of the Secretary. February 22, 2013, memorandum, the
technology. Kathleen M. Manwell, White House Office of Science and
Program Analyst, VA Privacy Service, Office Technology Policy (OSTP) directed each
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: of Privacy and Records Management, federal agency with over $100 million in
Titles: VHA Homeless Programs, Department of Veterans Affairs. annual expenditures for the conduct of
Project CHALENG (Community [FR Doc. 2015–25432 Filed 10–6–15; 8:45 am] research and development to develop a
Homelessness Assessment, Local BILLING CODE 8320–01–P plan to support increased public access
Education and Networking Groups) for to the results of research funded by the
Veterans. federal government, including digital
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS data sets and results published in peer-
OMB Control Number: 2900–NEW, AFFAIRS reviewed scholarly publications arising
(VHA Homeless Programs, Project
directly from federally-funded research
CHALENG (Community Homelessness Policy and Implementation Plan for (OSTP, Increasing Access to the Results
Assessment, Local Education and Public Access to Scientific of Federally Funded Scientific Research,
Networking Groups)). Publications and Digital Data from February 22, 2013).
Type of Review: New collection. Research Funded by the Department of In implementing policies on public
Veterans Affairs access to research publications and
Abstract: In 1993 the Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) launched Project Department of Veterans Affairs.
AGENCY: digital research data, VA must first
CHALENG (Community Homelessness remain cognizant of its ethical and legal
Notice and request for
ACTION:
Assessment, Local Education and obligations to safeguard the privacy of
comments.
Networking Groups) for Veterans in Veterans (and VA’s other research
response to Public Law 102–405 which SUMMARY: This Federal Register Notice subjects) and the confidentiality of their
required VA to make an assessment of announces an opportunity for public private information, while promoting
review and comment on the Policy and the highest quality science. VA also
the needs of homeless Veterans in
Implementation Plan for Public Access recognizes that Veterans and the public
coordination with other Federal
to Scientific Publications and Digital at large have a substantive interest in
departments, state and local government
Data from Research Funded by the accessing the results of the research that
agencies, and nongovernmental agencies
Department of Veterans Affairs. VA conducts. VA’s responsibility
with experience working with homeless
DATES: Comments must be received by precludes unlimited public access to
persons. Since 1993, VA has private information about individual
administered a needs assessment in VA on or before November 6, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Written comments may be research subjects. With this in mind, VA
accordance with guidance in Public Law has carefully weighed the public
103–446 and Public Law 105–114. submitted through http://
www.Regulations.gov; by mail or hand benefits versus the risks of harm to
This collection of information is delivery to the Director, Regulations Veterans and other research subjects in
necessary to ensure that VA and Management (02REG), Department of establishing the requirements.
community partners are developing VA is committed to ensuring that the
Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue
services that are responsive to the needs final study results, including peer-
NW., Room 1068, Washington, DC
of local homeless Veterans, in order to reviewed publications and digital data
20420; or by fax to (202) 273–9026.
end homelessness and prevent new from VA-funded scientific research, are
Comments should indicate that they are
Veterans from experiencing made available to the scientific
submitted in response to ‘‘Policy and
homelessness. Over the years data from community, industry, and the general
Implementation Plan for Public Access
CHALENG has assisted VA in public with the fewest constraints
to Scientific Publications and Digital
developing new services for Veterans possible, while protecting the privacy of
Data from Research Funded by the
such as the Homeless Veteran Dental the Veterans (and others individuals)
Department of Veterans Affairs.’’ Copies
Program (HVDP), the expansion of the about whom research data are obtained
of comments received will be available and safeguarding the confidentiality of
Department of Housing and Urban for public inspection in the Office of
Development–VA Supportive Housing their data.
Regulation Policy and Management, Requirements for public access to
(HUD–VASH) Program, the Veterans Room 1063B, between the hours of 8:00
Justice Programs and Supportive scientific publications will apply to all
a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through peer-reviewed publications reporting
Services for Veteran Families (SSVF). In Friday (except holidays). Please call
addition community organizations use results of research that are either funded
(202) 461–4902 (this is not a toll-free by the VA Office of Research and
CHALENG data in grant applications to number) for an appointment. In
support services for homeless Veterans; Development (ORD) or conducted,
addition, during the comment period, supported, or sponsored by any
grant applications are for VA, other comments may be viewed online
Federal, local government, and Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
through the Federal Docket Management Program Office.
community foundation dollars, which System at http://www.Regulations.gov.
maximizes community participation in Requirements for public access to
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom digital data will apply to the final
serving homeless Veterans.
Puglisi, Ph.D., Executive Director, Office research data underlying all peer-
Affected Public: Individuals or of Research Oversight (10R), 810 reviewed publications reporting results
households. Vermont Avenue NW., Washington DC of research that is either funded by the
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

Estimated Annual Burden: 1,650 20420, Telephone: 202–632–7676 (this VA ORD or conducted, supported, or
burden hours. is not a toll-free number). sponsored by any VHA Program Office.
Estimated Average Burden per SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VA’s VA proposes to begin sharing digital
Respondent: 5 minutes. policy and implementation plan for research data through controlled public
increased public access to the results of access mechanisms and move toward
Frequency of Response: Annually. its research was developed in response open public access to the extent that the
Estimated Number of Respondents: to White House initiatives on federally protection of Veterans’ identifiable
15,000. funded scientific research. In its private information can be ensured.

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60752 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 194 / Wednesday, October 7, 2015 / Notices

Availability: Persons with access to The PRA submission describes the quality, utility, and clarity of the
the Internet may obtain the document nature of the information collection and information to be collected; and (4)
at: http://www.va.gov/ORO/Docs/ its expected cost and burden and ways to minimize the burden of the
Guidance/Plan_for_Access_to_Results_ includes the actual data collection collection of information on
of_VA_Funded_Rsch_02_14_2014.pdf. instrument. respondents, including through the use
Alternatively, the document may be DATES: Written comments and of automated collection techniques or
obtained by mail or by calling ORO at recommendations on the proposed the use of other forms of information
(202) 632–7676 (this is not a toll-free collection of information should be technology.
number). received on or before November 6, 2015. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Signing Authority ADDRESSES: Submit written comments Titles: Evaluation of the Department
on the collection of information through of Veterans Affairs Mental Health
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or Services.
designee, approved this document and www.Regulations.gov, or to Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB Control Number: 2900–NEW.
authorized the undersigned to sign and Type of Review: New Collection
submit the document to the Office of the Office of Management and Budget, Attn:
VA Desk Officer; 725 17th St. NW., Request.
Federal Register for publication Abstract: This is a congressionally-
electronically as an official document of Washington, DC 20503 or sent through
electronic mail to oira_submission@ mandated research study to evaluate
the Department of Veterans Affairs. mental health services provided by the
Robert L. Nabors II, Chief of Staff, omb.eop.gov. Please refer to ‘‘OMB
Control No. 2900–NEW (Evaluation of Department of Veteran Affairs (VA).
Department of Veterans Affairs, Congress directed the VA to conduct a
approved this document on September the Department of Veterans Affairs
Mental Health Services) in any survey of veterans with assistance from
30, 2015, for publication. the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the
correspondence. During the comment
Dated: October 1, 2015. period, comments may be viewed online National Academies. Attachment 1
Michael Shores, through the FDMS. contains the authorizing legislation, the
Chief Impact Analyst, Office of Regulation FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
National Defense Authorization Act for
Policy & Management, Office of the General
Crystal Rennie, Enterprise Records Fiscal Year 2013, Section 726.
Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs. Following the large number of
Service (005R1B), Department of
[FR Doc. 2015–25448 Filed 10–6–15; 8:45 am]
Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue deployments and operations in Iraq and
BILLING CODE 8320–01–P
NW., Washington, DC 20420, (202) 632– Afghanistan, the number of military
7492 or email crystal.rennie@va.gov. members with mental health problems
Please refer to ‘‘OMB Control No. 2900– has been rising. All Veterans who need
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS mental health services do not seek them
AFFAIRS NEW (Veterans, Researchers, and IRB
Members Experiences with Recruitment it or receive them from the Department
[OMB Control No. 2900–NEW] Restrictions)’’ in any correspondence. of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care
system. This study is to assess barriers
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the
Agency Information Collection to receiving mental health care services
PRA of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–13; 44 U.S.C. among veterans.
(Evaluation of the Department of
3501–3521), Federal agencies must Affected Public: Individuals or
Veterans Affairs Mental Health
obtain approval from the Office of Households.
Services) Activities Under OMB Review
Management and Budget (OMB) for each Estimated Annual Burden: 5,192
AGENCY: Veterans Health collection of information they conduct burden hours.
Administration, Department of Veterans or sponsor. This request for comment is Estimated Average Burden per
Affairs. being made pursuant to Section Respondent: 35 minutes.
ACTION: Notice. 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA.
Frequency of Response: Annually.
With respect to the following
Estimated Number of Respondents:
SUMMARY: In compliance with the collection of information, VHA invites
8,900.
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 comments on: (1) Whether the proposed
(44 U.S.C. 3501–3521), this notice collection of information is necessary By direction of the Secretary.
announces that the Veterans Health for the proper performance of VHA’s Kathleen M. Manwell,
Administration (VHA), Department of functions, including whether the Program Analyst, VA Privacy Service, Office
Veterans Affairs, will submit the information will have practical utility; of Privacy and Records Management,
collection of information abstracted (2) the accuracy of VHA’s estimate of Department of Veterans Affairs.
below to the Office of Management and the burden of the proposed collection of [FR Doc. 2015–25431 Filed 10–6–15; 8:45 am]
Budget (OMB) for review and comment. information; (3) ways to enhance the BILLING CODE 8320–01–P
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

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Document Created: 2015-12-15 08:49:26
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 08:49:26

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice and request for comments.
Dates		Comments must be received by VA on or before November 6, 2015.
Contact		Tom Puglisi, Ph.D., Executive Director, Office of Research Oversight (10R), 810 Vermont Avenue NW., Washington DC 20420, Telephone: 202-632-7676 (this is not a toll-free number).
FR Citation		80 FR 60751