[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 155 (Friday, August 12, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 47271]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-16034]


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OFFICE OF SPECIAL COUNSEL


Agency Information Collection Activities; Request for Comment

AGENCY: Office of Special Counsel.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35), and implementing regulations at 5 CFR part 1320, 
the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC), plans to request approval 
from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for use of a previously 
approved information collection consisting of a customer survey form.
    OSC is required by law to conduct an annual survey of those who 
seek its assistance. The information collection is used to carry out 
that mandate. The current OMB approval for this collection of 
information expired on July 31, 2005.
    Current and former Federal employees, employee representatives, 
other Federal agencies, state and local government employees, and the 
general public are invited to comment on this information collection 
for a second time. The first notification, sent out on April 28, 2005, 
received no replies. Comments are invited on: (a) whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
OSC 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 by September 5, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Roderick Anderson, Director of Management and Budget, U.S. 
Office of Special Counsel, 1730 M Street, N.W., Suite 218, Washington, 
DC 20036-4505.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roderick Anderson, Director of 
Management and Budget at the address shown above; by facsimile at (202) 
254-3715. The survey form for the collection of information is 
available for review by calling OSC, or on OSC's Web site, at http://www.osc.gov/reading.htm.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OSC is an independent agency responsible 
for, among other things, (1) investigation of allegations of prohibited 
personnel practices defined by law at 5 U.S.C. 2302(b), protection of 
whistleblowers, and certain other illegal employment practices under 
titles 5 and 38 of the U.S. Code, affecting current or former Federal 
employees or applicants for employment, and covered state and local 
government employees; and (2) the interpretation and enforcement of 
Hatch Act provisions on political activity in chapters 15 and 73 of 
title 5 of the U.S. Code.
    OSC is required to conduct an annual survey of individuals who seek 
its assistance. Section 13 of Public Law 103-424 (1994), codified at 5 
U.S.C. 1212 note, states, in part: ``[T]he survey shall--(1) determine 
if the individual seeking assistance was fully apprised of their 
rights; (2) determine whether the individual was successful either at 
the Office of Special Counsel or the Merit Systems Protection Board; 
and (3) determine if the individual, whether successful or not, was 
satisfied with the treatment received from the Office of Special 
Counsel.'' The same section also provides that survey results are to be 
published in OSC's annual report to Congress. Copies of prior years' 
annual reports are available on OSC's Web site, at http://www.osc.gov/library.htm (at the ``Annual Reports to Congress'' link), or by calling 
OSC at (202) 254-3600.
    OSC has enhanced the effectiveness of this survey by having revised 
the questions asked, having added a section dealing with the Uniform 
Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), having 
limited the questions asked to only those areas where an individual had 
rights before the MSPB under 5 U.S.C. 1212, and by having converted to 
an online survey. The form has been edited to make the survey clearer 
(e.g., by re-ordering questions and possible answers). The estimated 
response time has been reduced due to the survey's automation.
    Title of Collection: OSC Survey--Prohibited Personnel Practice or 
Other Prohibited Activity (Agency Form Number OSC-48a; OMB Control 
Number 3255-0003)
    Type of Information Collection Request: Approval of a previously 
approved collection of information that expires on July 31, 2005, with 
revisions.
    Affected public: Current and former Federal employees, applicants 
for Federal employment, state and local government employees, and their 
representatives, and the general public.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 600.
    Frequency: Annual.
    Estimated Average Amount of Time for a Person to Respond: 12 
minutes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 109 hours.
    Abstract: This form is used to survey current and former Federal 
employees and applicants for Federal employment who have submitted 
allegations of possible prohibited personnel practices or other 
prohibited activity for investigation and possible prosecution by OSC, 
and whose matter has been closed or otherwise resolved during the prior 
fiscal year, on their experience at OSC. Specifically, the survey asks 
questions relating to whether the respondent was: (1) apprised of his 
or her rights; (2) successful at the OSC or at the Merit Systems 
Protection Board; and (3) satisfied with the treatment received at the 
OSC.

    Dated: August 04, 2005.
Scott J. Bloch,
Special Counsel.
[FR Doc. 05-16034 Filed 8-11-05; 8:45 am]
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