[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 53 (Friday, March 17, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14610-14611]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-6666]



[[Page 14610]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[WO-830-1030XP-02 241A]


Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comments 
Request

AGENCY:  Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION:  Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY:  In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces its intention to request 
approval a new collection of information. The BLM is soliciting 
comments concerning a proposed collection of information that would 
conduct surveys of the public in two user groups, state and local 
governments and stakeholders and partners.

DATES:  Written comments for the proposed collection must be received 
by May 16, 2000 to assure consideration.

ADDRESSES:  If you wish to comment, you may submit your comments by one 
of several methods. You may mail them to Andrew Goldsmith, Management 
Systems Group, Business and Fiscal Resources Directorate, Bureau of 
Land Management, 1849 C Street, NW, Room LS 1000, Washington, DC 20240. 
You may comment via e-mail to [email protected]. You may also 
fax your comments to 202-453-5171.
    Comments, including names and street addresses of respondents, will 
be available for public review.
    Finally, you may hand-deliver comments to the Bureau of Land 
Management at 1620 L Street, NW, Room 1000, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Andrew Goldsmith, Bureau of Land 
Management, at 202-452-5169.

NATURE OF COMMENTS:  In accordance with 5 CFR 1320.12(a), the BLM is 
required to provide 60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning a 
collection of information contained in proposed rules or other 
documents to solicit comments on: (1) Whether the collection of 
information is necessary for the proper functioning of the BLM; (2) the 
accuracy of our estimates of the burden of collecting the information, 
including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (4) how 
to minimize the burden of collecting the information on those who are 
to respond, including using the appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical or other forms of information technology. The BLM will 
receive and analyze any comments sent in response to this notice and 
include them with its request for approval under 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. 
to the Office of Management and Budget.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:   
I. Background
II. Current Actions
III. Methodology
IV. Requests for Comments

I. Background

    The Government performance and Results Act of 1993 (Public Law 103-
63) sets out to improve Federal program effectiveness and public 
accountability by promoting a new focus on results, service quality, 
and customer satisfaction (Section 2. B. 3). In order to fulfill this 
responsibility, the BLM must collect data from its user groups to 
better understand the needs and desires of the public and respond to 
those needs and desires accordingly.
    This course of action is fortified by Executive Order 12862, signed 
by President Clinton on September 11, 1993, aimed at ensuring the 
federal government provides the highest quality service possible to the 
American people. The Order discusses surveys as a means for determining 
the kinds and qualities of services desired by the federal government's 
customers and for determining satisfaction levels for existing 
services. These voluntary customer surveys will be used to ascertain 
customer satisfaction with the BLM in terms of services and products. 
Respondents will be individuals that are the recipients of the BLM 
services and products. Previous customer surveys have provided useful 
information to the BLM for assessing how well the Bureau delivers our 
services and products and for making improvements. The results are used 
internally and summaries are provided to the Office of Management and 
Budget on an annual basis and are used to satisfy the requirements and 
spirit of Executive Order No. 12862.

II. Current Actions

    The request to OMB will be for a 3-year clearance to conduct 
customer surveys for the BLM. During the past clearance cycle the BLM 
conducted four different customer surveys by telephone. (Examples of 
previously conducted customer surveys are available upon request.) Our 
planned activities in the next three fiscal years reflect our increased 
emphasis on and expansion of these activities.

III. Methodology

    The BLM will survey customers in the following general categories: 
(1) Stakeholders and partners and (2) state and local governments. A 
randomized sampling technique is employed for both of these categories 
if there are more than 200 people in a state's database. If there are 
less than 200 individuals, a census, counting everyone, will be 
utilized. An 80 percent response rate goal has been set; for this 
reason, whenever possible telephone surveys are chosen over mail 
surveys for their increased response rates.
    The questionnaires are developed with the help of focus groups from 
around the country. The BLM asks questions in the following general 
areas: (1) Communication with the public; (2) service quality and 
accountability; (3) information and education services; (4) resource 
management; (5) overall satisfaction; and (6) general demographics.

IV. Requests for Comments

    Prospective respondents and other interested parties should comment 
on the actions of discussed in items II & III. The following guidelines 
are provided to assist you in responding.

General Issues

    A. Is the proposed collection of information necessary, taking into 
account its accuracy, adequacy, and reliability, and the agency's 
ability to process the information it collects in a useful and timely 
fashion?
    B. What enhancements can the BLM make to the quality, utility, and 
clarity of the information to be collected?

As a Potential Respondent

    A. The average public reporting burden for a customer survey is 
estimated to be .25 hours per response (1720 respondents per year  x  
15 minutes per response = 430 hours annually). Burden includes the 
total time, effort, or financial resources expended to generate, 
maintain, retain, or disclose or provide the information including: (1) 
Reviewing instructions; (2) developing, acquiring, installing, and 
utilizing technology and systems for purposes of collecting, 
validating, verifying, processing, maintaining, disclosing, and 
providing information; (3) adjusting the existing way to comply with 
any previously applicable instructions and requirements; (4) training 
personnel to respond to a collection of information; (5) searching data 
sources; (6) completing and reviewing the collection of information; 
and (7) transmitting or otherwise disclosing the information.

[[Page 14611]]

    Please comment on the accuracy of our estimate and how the BLM 
could minimize the burden of collecting the information, including the 
use of automated collection techniques.
    B. The BLM estimates that respondents will incur no additional 
costs for reporting other than the time required to complete the 
collection. What are the estimated total dollar amount annualized for 
capital and start-up costs and recurring annual dollar amount of 
operation and maintenance and purchase of services costs associated 
with this data collection? The estimates should take into account the 
costs associated with generating, maintaining, and disclosing or 
providing information.
    C. Do you know of any other federal, state, or local agency that 
collects similar data? If you do, specify the agency, collection 
element(s), and the methods of collection.

As a Potential User

    Are there any alternative sources of data and do you use them? If 
so, what are their deficiencies and/or strengths?
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of the survey. They 
also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: March 14, 2000.
Carole Smith,
BLM Information Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-6666 Filed 3-16-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-M