[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 4, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10201-10202]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-5011]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration


Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved 
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 (GIPSA) intention to request an extension 
for and revision to a currently approved 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 improve services and service 
delivery provided by the official inspection, grading, and weighing 
system.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before May 5, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning this proposal. Written comments must be submitted to Tess 
Butler, GIPSA, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 1647-S, 
Washington, DC 20250-3604, or faxed to (202) 690-2755. Comments may 
also be sent by electronic mail or Internet to: 
[email protected]. All comments should make reference to the date 
and page number of this issue of the Federal Register and will be 
available for public inspection in the above office during regular 
business hours (7 CFR 1.27 (b)).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gregory J. Hawkins, Public and 
Congressional Relations Staff, e-mail address: 
[email protected], telephone (202) 720-3553.

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

[[Page 10202]]

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 
Executive Order 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: 0580-0018.
    Expiration Date of Approval: May 31, 2003.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
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 one to five rating scale with 
responses 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 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 2003: Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,875 (i.e., 2,500 total 
customers times 75% response rate = 1,875).
    Frequency of Responses: 1.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 313 hours. (1,875 responses times 0.167 
hours/response = 313 hours).
    FY 2004: Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,875.
    Frequency of Responses: 1.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 313 hours.
    FY 2005: Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,875.
    Frequency of Responses: 1.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 313 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Tess 
Butler, Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration, FGIS, 
at (202) 720-7486.
    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 Tess Butler, as referenced above. 
All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of 
public record.

    Dated: February 26, 2003.
Donna Reifschneider,
Administrator, Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration.
[FR Doc. 03-5011 Filed 3-3-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-EN-P