[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 46 (Monday, March 10, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11442-11443]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-5586]


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OFFICE OF SPECIAL COUNSEL


Proposed Information Collection Activities; Request for Comment

AGENCY: Office of Special Counsel.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC), in accordance with 
the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35) and 
implementing regulations at 5 CFR Part 1320, plans to request approval 
from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for use of two 
previously approved information collections: (1) Form OSC-11, Complaint 
of Possible Prohibited Personnel Practice or Other Prohibited Activity; 
and (2) Form OSC-12, Disclosure of Information. Both forms to be 
submitted include minor technical edits previously approved by OMB; 
form OSC-11 (complaint form) also includes revisions to three consent 
statements in the form. These collections of information are described 
in OSC regulations at 5 CFR 1800.1 and 1800.2. The current OMB approval 
for these collections of information expires on August 31, 2003.
    Current and former Federal employees, employee representatives, 
other Federal agencies, and the general public are invited to comment 
on these information collections. Comments are invited on: (a) whether 
the proposed collections of information are necessary for the proper 
performance of OSC's functions, including whether the information will 
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of OSC's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collections of information; (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 
respondents, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.

DATES: Comments should be received on or before May 9, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Kathryn Stackhouse, Legal Counsel and Policy Division, U.S. 
Office of Special Counsel, 1730 M Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 
20036-4505.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathryn Stackhouse, Legal Counsel and 
Policy Division, at the address shown above; by telephone at (202) 653-
8971; or by facsimile at (202) 653-5151. The collections of information 
to be submitted to OMB will be available for review on OSC's Web site 
(at http://www.osc.gov) as of the date of this notice.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Comment is requested on the following two 
collections of information:
    1.Title of Collection: Complaint of Possible Prohibited Personnel 
or Other Prohibited Activity (Agency Form Number: OSC-11; OMB Control 
Number 3255-0002)
    Type of Information Collection: Approval of a previously approved 
collection of information that expires on August 31, 2003. The proposed 
information collection format includes changes as follows: (1) minor 
technical edits previously approved by OMB since the last formal 
clearance under the PRA; and (2) minor revisions to three consent 
statements in part 3 of form OSC-11 (complaint form), to make the scope 
and/or meaning of the statements clearer.
    Affected public: Current and former Federal employees, applicants 
for Federal employment, and their representatives.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 1771.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Estimated Average Burden Per Respondent: 1.25 hours.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 2214 hours.
    Abstract: The complaint form is required for use by current and 
former Federal employees and applicants for Federal employment, under 5 
CFR 1800.1, to submit allegations of possible prohibited personnel 
practices or other prohibited activity for investigation and possible 
prosecution by OSC, except for allegations involving the Hatch Act, 
which may be submitted by providing the information described at 5 CFR 
1800.1. Currently the complaint form is available by contacting OSC at 
800-872-9855, or from OSC's Web site at http://www.osc.gov. The form 
may be printed from the web site, filled out, signed, and then mailed 
or faxed to OSC's Complaints Examining Unit. By October 21, 2003, OSC 
plans to provide the capability to electronically file a complaint 
form, pursuant to the Government Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA), Pub. 
L. 105-277.
    2. Title of Collection: Disclosure of Information (Agency Form 
Number: OSC-12; OMB Control Number 3255-0002).
    Type of Information Collection: Approval of a previously approved 
collection of information that expires on August 31, 2003. The proposed 
information collection format includes minor modifications to the 
existing forms made since the last formal clearance under the PRA.
    Affected public: Current and former Federal employees, applicants 
for Federal employment, and their representatives.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 475.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Estimated Average Burden Per Respondent: 1 hour.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 475 hours.
    Abstract: This optional whistleblower disclosure form, and the 
format provided in 5 CFR 1800.2, are for use by current and former 
Federal employees and applicants for Federal employment

[[Page 11443]]

to disclose (for OSC review and possible referral to the agency 
involved) a violation of any law, rule, or regulation, gross 
mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a 
substantial and specific danger to public health or safety. Currently, 
this form is available by contacting OSC at 800-572-2249, or from OSC's 
Web site at http://www.osc.gov. The form may be printed from the web 
site, filled out, signed, and then mailed or faxed to OSC's Disclosure 
Unit. By October 21, 2003, OSC plans to provide the capability to 
electronically file a disclosure form, pursuant to the Government 
Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA), Pub. L. 105-277.

    Dated: March 4, 2003.
Timothy Hannapel,
Deputy Special Counsel.
[FR Doc. 03-5586 Filed 3-7-03; 8:45 am]
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