[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 209 (Monday, October 29, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 54522]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-27118]



[[Page 54522]]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7091-1]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Drinking Water Customer Satisfaction Survey

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 
et seq.), this document announces that EPA is planning to submit the 
following proposed Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB): Drinking Water Customer Satisfaction 
Survey, EPA ICR number 2016.01. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for 
review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of 
the proposed information collection as described below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before December 28, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Beth Hall, 4606, USEPA Headquarters, Office of Ground Water 
and Drinking Water, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington DC 20460. 
Interested persons may obtain a copy of the ICR without charge by 
contacting the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791. 
Information will also be available at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/protect/features.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beth Hall, (202) 260-5553, (202) 260-
0732 (fax), [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Affected entities: Entities potentially 
affected by this action are randomly selected EPA information 
customers, adults 18 and older, served by public water systems.
    Title: Drinking Water Satisfaction Survey EPA ICR #2016.01.
    Abstract: The Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water is planning 
to conduct a satisfaction survey on the effectiveness of our efforts to 
provide drinking water information to our customers. Under the right to 
know provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act, EPA is charged with 
helping to provide people with information about their drinking water. 
This survey will allow EPA to evaluate our process for disseminating 
this information. We will use the survey results to modify our 
information efforts to improve customer satisfaction. The survey will 
be conducted via telephone interview with 1000 randomly selected EPA 
information customers (adults served by public water systems) by the 
Gallup organization under contract to EPA. Through the survey, EPA 
information customers will be asked specific questions about two key 
sources of tap water information--consumer confidence reports (annual 
water quality reports) and source water assessments. Our statistical 
analysis of the data will assist EPA in understanding the impact of 
this information and whether this information is reaching to public, or 
if additional measures are needed to make the information available and 
understandable. The survey instrument is a 10 minute, voluntary 
telephone questionnaire covering approximately 31 questions. We intend 
to repeat the survey every two years so that we may evaluate the 
success of our right to know efforts and make adjustments accordingly. 
An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to 
respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently 
valid OMB control number. The OMB control numbers for EPA's regulations 
are listed in 40 CFR part 9 and 48 CFR Chapter 15.
    The EPA would like to solicit comments to:
    (i) Evaluate 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;
    (ii) evaluate 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;
    (iii) enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
to be collected; and
    (iv) 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, e.g., permitting electronic 
submission of responses.
    Burden Statement: The public reporting burden for the collection of 
information is estimated to average eleven (11) minutes per response. 
Respondents not familiar with having received EPA drinking water 
information will not be asked detailed questions about their 
satisfaction. There is no cost, other than 10 minutes or less of time, 
for the approximately 1000 respondents. The cost to the agency is for 
collecting this information including collection and analyses of survey 
results. Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources 
expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or 
provide information to or for a Federal agency. This includes the time 
needed to review instructions; develop, acquire, install, and utilize 
technology and systems for the purposes of collecting, validating, and 
verifying information, processing and maintaining information, and 
disclosing and providing information; adjust the existing ways to 
comply with any previously applicable instructions and requirements; 
train personnel to be able to respond to a collection of information; 
search data sources; complete and review the collection of information; 
and transmit or otherwise disclose the information.

    Dated: September 7, 2001.
William R. Diamond,
Director, Drinking Water Protection Division.
[FR Doc. 01-27118 Filed 10-26-01; 8:45 am]
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