[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 185 (Friday, September 24, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51732-51733]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-24949]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration


Notice of Request for New Information Collection

AGENCY: Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Grain Inspection, Packers 
and Stockyards Administration's (GIPSA) intent to request approval for 
a new information collection related to the delivery of services 
conducted under the official inspection, grading, and weighing programs 
authorized under the United States Grain Standards Act and the 
Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946. This voluntary survey would give 
customers of the official inspection, grading, and weighing programs, 
who are primarily in the grain, oilseed, rice, lentil, dry pea, edible 
bean, and related agricultural commodity markets, an opportunity to 
provide feedback on the quality of services they receive and will 
provide information on new services that they would like to receive. 
This feedback would assist GIPSA's Federal Grain Inspection Service 
(FGIS) to

[[Page 51733]]

improve services and service delivery provided by the official 
inspection, grading, and weighing system.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before November 23, 
1999.

ADDRESSES: Written comments must be submitted to Sharon Vassiliades, 
USDA, GIPSA, ART, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Stop 3649, Washington, 
DC 20250-3649, or faxed to (202) 720-4628. Comments may also be sent by 
electronic mail or Internet to: [email protected]. All comments 
received will be made available for public inspection during regular 
business hours in Room 0623, South Building, USDA, 1400 Independence 
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-3649 (7 CFR 1.27 (b)).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marianne Plaus at (202) 720-0292.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The United States Grain Standards Act, as 
amended (7 U.S.C. 71-87) (USGSA), and the Agricultural Marketing Act of 
1946, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627) (AMA), authorize the Secretary of 
the United States Department of Agriculture to establish official 
inspection, grading, and weighing programs for grains and other 
agricultural commodities. Under the USGSA and AMA, GIPSA's FGIS offers 
inspecting, weighing, grading, quality assurance, and certification 
services for a user-fee, to facilitate the efficient marketing of 
grain, oilseeds, rice, lentils, dry peas, edible beans, and related 
agricultural commodities in the global marketplace. Under FGIS 
oversight, the official inspection, grading, and weighing programs is a 
public-private partnership including Federal, State, and private 
agencies and provides official inspection, grading, and weighing 
services to the domestic and export trade.
    There are approximately 2,500 current users of the official 
inspection, grading, and weighing programs. These customers are located 
nationwide and represent a diverse mixture of small, medium, and large 
producers, merchandisers, processors, exporters, and other financially 
interested parties. These customers request official services from an 
FGIS Field Office; delegated, designated, or cooperating State office; 
or designated private agency office.
    The goal of FGIS and the official inspection, grading, and weighing 
system is to provide timely, high-quality, accurate, consistent, and 
professional service that facilitates the orderly marketing of grain 
and related commodities. To accomplish this goal and in accordance with 
E.O. 12862, FGIS is seeking feedback from customers to evaluate the 
services provided by the official inspection, grading, and weighing 
programs.
    Title: Survey of Customers of the Official Inspection, Grading, and 
Weighing Programs (Grain and Related Commodities).
    OMB Number: New collection, a number will be assigned after 
approval.
    Expiration Date of Approval: New collection.
    Type of Request: New information collection.
    Abstract: The collection of information using a voluntary customer 
service survey will provide all paying customers of FGIS and the 
official inspection, grading, and weighing programs an opportunity to 
evaluate, on a scale of one to five, the timeliness, cost-
effectiveness, accuracy, consistency, and usefulness of services and 
results, and the professionalism of employees. Customers will also have 
an opportunity to indicate what new or existing services they would use 
if such services were offered or available.
    FGIS needs to have a more formal means of determining customers' 
expectations or the quality of service that is delivered. To collect 
this information, FGIS proposes to distribute, over a 3-year period, a 
voluntary customer service survey. The initial survey instrument will 
consist of nine questions. Subsequent survey instruments will be 
tailored to earlier responses. The information collected from the 
survey will allow FGIS to ascertain customers' satisfaction with 
existing services, compare results from year to year, and determine 
what new services customers desire.
    The customer service survey consists of one document comprised of 
nine questions where customers assess the timeliness, cost-
effectiveness, accuracy, consistency, and usefulness of services and 
results, and the professionalism of employees. Some examples of survey 
questions include the following: ``I receive results in a timely 
manner,'' ``Official results are accurate,'' and ``Inspection personnel 
are knowledgeable.'' These survey questions will be assessed using a 
rating scale ranging from ``strongly disagrees'' to ``strongly agrees'' 
or ``no opinion.'' Customers are also asked for which product they 
primarily request service, and what percentage of their product is 
officially inspected. There is also space available on the survey for 
the customer to provide a response to the following statement: ``I 
would use the following new/existing service if they were offered/
available.''
    By obtaining information from customers through a voluntary 
customer service survey, FGIS could continue to improve services and 
service delivery provided by the official inspection, grading, and 
weighing programs in order to meet or exceed customer expectations.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 10 minutes (i.e., 0.167 hours) per 
response.
    Respondents: The primary respondents will be the direct paying 
customers of FGIS and the official inspection, grading, and weighing 
programs.
    FY 2000: Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,874 (i.e., 2,498 total 
customers  x  75% response rate = 1,874).
    Frequency of Responses: 1.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 313 hours (1,874 responses  x  0.167 
hours/response = 313 hours).
    FY 2001: Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,874.
    Frequency of Responses: 1.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 313 hours.
    FY 2002: Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,874.
    Frequency of Responses: 1.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 313 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Sharon 
Vassiliades, Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration, 
FGIS, at (202) 720-1738.
    Comments: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the collection of 
the information is necessary for the proper performance of the 
functions of FGIS, including whether the information will have a 
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of FGIS' estimate of the burden, 
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 those who are to respond, including through the use of 
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical or other technological 
collection techniques, or other forms of information technology. 
Comments should be addressed to Sharon Vassiliades, as referenced 
above. All responses to this notice will be summarized and include in 
the request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of 
public record.

    Dated: September 20, 1999.
James R. Baker,
Administrator, Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration.
[FR Doc. 99-24949 Filed 9-23-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-EN-P