[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 47 (Friday, March 11, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12228-12229]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-4799]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, Emergency Preparedness and 
Response Directorate, U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Emergency Management Agency, as part of its 
continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites 
the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity 
to comment on a proposed new information collection. In accordance with 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), this 
notice seeks comments concerning FEMA's Web site usability study to 
identify visitors' information needs, usage patterns, preferences, ease 
of use, and overall satisfaction.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This proposed information collection is 
supported by various regulations, legislation and presidential mandates 
requiring government agencies to build citizen-centered websites, 
including Section 4 of the President's Management Agenda, the E-
Government Act of 2002, and the Recommended Policies and Guidelines for 
Federal Public Web sites submitted to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) by the Interagency Committee on Government Information. 
All of these authorities stipulate that federal agencies develop and 
administer their electronic capabilities based on customer needs and 
formulate IT performance criteria consistent with a more responsive and 
cost-effective government. Furthermore, the E-Government Act further 
outlines specific mandates for disaster activities, including that: 
``The Federal Emergency Management Agency, shall initiate pilot 
projects'that further the goal of maximizing the utility of information 
technology in disaster management.'' This collection attempts to better 
understand FEMA's website visitors' information and transactional needs 
and their overall experience navigating the site. Findings will assist 
program managers to enhance the website's appearance, content, and ease 
of use in order to improve its ability to better serve the public.

Collection of Information

    Title: FEMA's Website Usability Study.
    Type of Information Collection: New Collection.
    OMB Number: 1660-NEW16.
    Form Numbers: None.
    Abstract: The FEMA's Web site Usability Study will collect 
information on visitors' information and transactional needs, usage 
patterns and preferences, and overall satisfaction with the 
navigational experience. Study findings, combined with other website-
related internal agency data, will be used to assist managers to 
redesign the Web site and enhance its utility to the public.
    Affected Public: Individuals, Businesses, and Not-for-Profit 
Organizations.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 15,360.

                                               Annual Burden Hours
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                                                                   Burden hours
    Project/activity (survey,        Number of     Frequency of         per           Annual       Total annual
   form(s), focus group, etc.)      respondents    respones (B)     respondent       responses      burdenhours
                                        (A)                             (C)            (AxB)          (AxBxC)
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Online Survey...................         192,000               1            0.08         192,000          15,360
                                 -----------------
    Total.......................         192,000               1            0.08         192,000          15,360
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    Estimated Cost: $16,742.00 (All Respondents) or $1.09 per 
respondent.
    Comments: Written comments are solicited to (a) Evaluate whether 
the proposed data collection is necessary for the proper performance of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) 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; (c) enhance the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and 
(d) minimize the burden

[[Page 12229]]

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. 
Comments should be received within 60 days of the date of this notice.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons should submit written comments to Muriel 
B. Anderson, Chief, Records Management Section, Information Resources 
Management Branch, Information Technology Services Division, Federal 
Emergency Management Agency, Emergency Preparedness and Response 
Directorate, Department of Homeland Security, 500 C Street, SW., Room 
316, Washington, DC 20472.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Cindy Taylor, Assistant 
Director of Public Affairs at (202) 646-4600 for additional 
information. You may contact Ms. Anderson for copies of the proposed 
collection of information at facsimile number (202) 646-3347 or e-mail 
address: [email protected].

    Dated: March 3, 2005.
George S. Trotter,
Acting Branch Chief, Information Resources Management Branch, 
Information Technology Services Division.
[FR Doc. 05-4799 Filed 3-10-05; 8:45 am]
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