[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 208 (Wednesday, October 28, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57649-57650]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-28822]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Customer Service Comment Cards

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Forest Service announces its intent to establish a new information 
collection. The new collection is necessary to monitor customer 
satisfaction with existing Forest Service customer services, business 
practices, operations, and facilities, and to provide a means to 
address customer complaints.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing December 28, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Director, Office of Communications, 
2 CEN AUD, Forest Service, USDA, P.O. Box 96090, Washington, D.C. 
20090-6090, or e-mail comments to Barbara.Hunter/[email protected].
    The public may inspect comments in the Office of the Director of 
Communications. To facilitate entrance into the building, visitors are 
encouraged to call ahead (202) 205-1273.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara B. Hunter, Office of 
Communications, National Customer Service Team, telephone (202) 205-
0979, or e-mail to Barbara.Hunter/[email protected].

Description of Information Collection

    Title: ``Your Comments'' Customer Service Comment Card
    OMB Number: New.
    Expiration Date of Approval: New.
    Type of Request: This is a new information collection that has not 
received approval from the Office of Management and Budget.
    Abstract: Executive Order 12862, issued September 11, 1993, 
directed Federal agencies to change the way they do business, to reform 
their management practices, to provide service to the public that 
matches or exceeds the best service available in the private sector, 
and to establish and implement customer service standards to carry out 
the principles of the National Performance Review. In response to this 
order, the Forest Service established and implemented customer service 
standards and posted these standards at all Forest Service offices, 
work sites, and visitor centers. ``Your Comments'' Customer Service 
Comment Cards are voluntary customer surveys, which will be used to 
monitor customer perceptions of how well the Forest Service meets its 
posted customer service standards, as well as how Forest Service 
customers view the agency's business practices, operations, and 
facilities. The survey also will provide a means to learn about and 
address customer complaints.
    Forest Service personnel will collect information everywhere the 
agency does business. Forest Service personnel will make customer 
service survey cards available to customers in person, by mail, and on 
the internet. The ``Your Comment'' Customer Service Cards will include 
the following survey statements that will be rated on a scale of 1 to 
5, with 1 being ``Strongly agree'' and 5 being ``Not applicable.''
    1. I received prompt courteous service.
    2. I was provided the information or service I needed.
    3. For my request or business, the procedure was clear and 
efficient.
    4. I was satisfied with the facilities used.
    Completion of this card will be voluntary. Customers will mail the 
cards back to the Chief of the Forest Service in Washington, DC, or 
send their responses electronically on the internet. The data from this 
information collection will be evaluated and included in reports to the 
National Partnership for Reinventing Government (formerly the National 
Performance Review), the Department of Agriculture, to agency 
officials, and to Forest Service customers. The ``Your Comment'' 
Customer Service Comment Cards and e-mail messages will be mailed back 
to Forest Service personnel in the respective field units where the 
customers were served, so that any complaints and suggestions may be 
used to improve services, business practices, operations, and 
facilities at the units. This will give Forest Service personnel an 
opportunity to respond to customers by phone, e-mail, or mail, when 
considered necessary and appropriate.
    Estimate of Burden: 5 minutes.
    Type of Respondents: Respondents will include anyone who visits or 
contacts one of the Forest Service offices, work sites, or visitor 
centers, either in person, by telephone or on the internet. This 
includes individuals and groups of varying ages and abilities, U.S. 
citizens and citizens from other countries, who visit or plan to visit

[[Page 57650]]

National Forest System lands, for recreation or educational purposes; 
special interest groups; local residents; and individuals conducting 
business with the Forest Service including, but--not limited to, 
grazing permittees, minerals, oil and gas permitees, land lessees, 
timber customers, other forest products customers, research scientists, 
special-use customers, educators, librarians, historians, writers, 
media contacts, moviemakers, law enforcement officers, fire fighters, 
representatives of other Federal, State, county, or local Government 
agencies, and foreign governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 20,500.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,708 hours per year.

Comment Is Invited

    The agency invites comments on the following: (a) Whether the 
proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper 
performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the 
information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the 
agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including the use of 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.

Use of Comment

    All comments, including name and address when provided, will become 
a matter of public record. Comments received in response to this notice 
will be summarized and included in the request for Office of Management 
and Budget approval.

    Dated: October 22, 1998.
Sandra H. Key,
Acting Associate Chief.
[FR Doc. 98-28822 Filed 10-27-98; 8:45 am]
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