[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 4 (Monday, January 7, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 740-741]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-327]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT ETHICS


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request: Revised Public 
Financial Disclosure Access Customer Service Survey

AGENCY: Office of Government Ethics (OGE).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Office of Government Ethics has submitted the proposed 
revised information collection form, the updated OGE Public Financial 
Disclosure Access Customer Service Survey as in this notice, to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and three-year 
extension of approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act.

DATES: Comments by the public and agencies on this information 
collection as proposed for revision should be received by February 6, 
2002.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to Joseph F. Lackey, Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 
New Executive Office Building, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503; 
Telephone: 202-395-7316.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary T. Donovan at the U.S. Office of 
Government Ethics; Telephone: 202-208-8000, ext. 1185; TDD 202-208-
8025; FAX 202-208-8038. A copy of the survey may be obtained, without 
charge, by contacting Ms. Donovan.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Government Ethics uses the 
Public Financial Disclosure Access Customer Service Survey (OGE) form 
to assess requester satisfaction with the service provided by OGE in 
responding to requests by members of the public for access to copies of 
Standard Form (SF) 278 Executive Branch Personnel Public Financial 
Disclosure Reports on file with OGE. Most of the SF 278 reports 
available at OGE are those filed by executive branch Presidential 
appointees subject to Senate confirmation. Requests for access to SF 
278 reports are made pursuant to the special public access provision of 
section 105 of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (the Ethics Act), 
as codified at 5 U.S.C. appendix 105, and procedures in 5 CFR 2634.603 
of OGE's executive branchwide regulations thereunder, by completing an 
OGE Form 201, ``Request to Inspect or Receive Copies of SF 278 
Executive Branch Personnel Public Financial Disclosure Report or Other 
Covered Record.''
    The Office of Government Ethics distributes the survey form to 
requesters

[[Page 741]]

along with copies of requested SF 278 reports. Those who choose to 
respond can complete and return the survey to OGE via the self-
contained postage-paid postcards (the reverse side of the survey form, 
when folded, becomes a pre-addressed postcard). The purpose of this 
anonymous survey is to determine through customer responses how well 
OGE is responding to such requests and how OGE can improve its customer 
service in this important area. The current paperwork approval for the 
survey form is scheduled to expire at the end of January 2002.
    On June 18, 2001, OGE issued its first round Federal Register 
notice to announce its forthcoming request to OMB for paperwork renewal 
of the customer service survey form. See 66 FR 32823-32824 with 
comments due by September 4, 2001. (OGE did not receive any comments or 
requests for copies of the customer service survey form). In that 
notice, and this one, OGE has proposed minor changes to survey question 
4 to achieve greater clarity. That question currently asks whether 
OGE's requirement to fax or mail requests that involve more than six 
filers creates a problem for the requester. Based on an analysis of 
customer responses to question 4, OGE believes that the following 
statement should be added: ``SKIP this question if your request 
involved six or fewer filers.'' Additionally, one of the three 
requested responses to question 4, ``Not Applicable,'' is being changed 
to ``My request did not have to be faxed or mailed.''
    Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act, OGE has not included in 
its public burden estimate for the survey form the limited number of 
access requests filed by other Federal agencies or Federal employees. 
Nor has OGE included in that estimate the limited number of requests 
for copies of other records covered under the special Ethics Act public 
access provision (such as certificates of divestiture) since the survey 
is only sent to persons who request copies of SF 278 reports. As so 
defined, the total number of access survey forms for copies of SF 278s 
estimated to be filed annually at OGE over the next three years by 
members of the public (primarily by news media representatives, public 
interest group members and private citizens) is 50. This estimate is 
based on a calculation of the number of survey forms received at OGE 
between April 1999 and June 2001 (70 surveys). This number also takes 
into account the increase in the number of public requests experienced 
as a result of the transition and the new Presidential administration. 
The estimated average amount of time to read the instructions on the 
proposed revised customer service survey form, and to complete the form 
remains at three minutes. Thus, the overall estimated annual public 
burden for the OGE Public Financial Disclosure Access Customer Service 
Survey as proposed for revision will be three hours (rounded up from 
two and a half hours(= 50 forms  x  3 minutes per form)).
    In this second round notice, public comment is again invited on all 
aspects of OGE's customer service survey form as proposed for renewal 
with minor revision, including specifically views on: the accuracy of 
OGE's public burden estimate; the potential for enhancement of quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and the 
minimization of burden (including the possibility of use of information 
technology). The Office of Government Ethics, in consultation with OMB, 
will consider all comments received, which will become a matter of 
public record.

    Approved: December 31, 2001.
Amy L. Comstock,
Director, Office of Government Ethics.
[FR Doc. 02-327 Filed 1-4-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6345-01-P