[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 116 (Friday, June 16, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34871-34872]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-9469]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2006-0088]


Notice of Request for Approval of an Information Collection; 
Veterinary Services; Customer Service Survey

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: New information collection; comment request.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's 
intention to initiate a new information collection activity that will 
be used to evaluate service delivery at Veterinary Services area 
offices and import/export facilities.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
August 15, 2006.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and, 
in the lower ``Search Regulations and Federal Actions'' box, select 
``Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service'' from the agency drop-
down menu, then click on ``Submit.'' In the Docket ID column, select 
APHIS-2006-0088 to submit or view public comments and to view 
supporting and related materials available electronically. Information 
on using Regulations.gov, including instructions for accessing 
documents, submitting comments, and viewing the docket after the close 
of the comment period, is available through the site's ``User Tips'' 
link.
    Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send four copies of your 
comment (an original and three copies) to Docket No. APHIS-2006-0088, 
Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 
River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your 
comment refers to Docket No. APHIS-2006-0088.
    Reading Room: You may read any comments that we receive on this 
docket in our reading room. The reading room is located in room 1141 of 
the USDA South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to 
help you, please call (202) 690-2817 before coming.
    Other Information: Additional information about APHIS and its 
programs is available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on an information 
collection to evaluate service delivery at Veterinary Services (VS) 
area offices and import/export facilities, contact Dr. Robert E. 
Harris, Jr., Assistant Area Veterinarian in Charge, VS, APHIS, 7022 NW 
10th Place, Gainesville, FL 32605; (352) 333-3120. For copies of more 
detailed information on the information collection, contact Mrs. 
Celeste Sickles, APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 
734-7477.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Veterinary Services; Customer Service Survey.
    OMB Number: 0579-XXXX.
    Type of Request: Approval of a new information collection.
    Abstract: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of 
the U.S. Department of Agriculture regulates, and provides services 
related to, the importation, interstate movement, and exportation of 
animals, animal products, and other articles to prevent the spread of 
pests and diseases of livestock. Veterinary Services (VS) is the 
program unit that carries out these activities to protect animal 
health.
    In an effort to evaluate service delivery in its area offices and 
import/export facilities, VS plans to conduct a customer service 
survey. The survey would be in the form of a short questionnaire that 
VS would present to individuals who use its services. Completion of the 
questionnaire would be voluntary, and responses would not identify the 
individual respondent. Respondents would be asked to identify the type 
of customer they are (e.g., pet importer/exporter, farm animal 
importer/exporter, accredited veterinarian, etc.), and then to rate the 
services received in terms of courtesy, timeliness, helpfulness, etc., 
as well as rate the overall experience. The questionnaire would also 
allow respondents to provide comments.
    The information collected would be used to identify areas in which 
VS can improve service delivery and more efficiently meet the needs and 
expectations of customers.

[[Page 34872]]

    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
this information collection activity for 3 years.
    The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments from the public 
(as well as affected agencies) concerning our information collection. 
These comments will help us:
    (1) Evaluate whether the collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, including 
whether the information will have practical utility;
    (2) Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the burden of the 
collection of information, including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used;
    (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and
    (4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, through use, as appropriate, of automated, 
electronic, mechanical, and other collection technologies; e.g., 
permitting electronic submission of responses.
    Estimate of burden: The public reporting burden for this collection 
of information is estimated to average 0.083 hours per response.
    Respondents: Members of the public who receive services from VS 
area offices and import/export facilities.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 5,000.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 5,000.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 415 hours. (Due to 
averaging, the total annual burden hours may not equal the product of 
the annual number of responses multiplied by the reporting burden per 
response.)
    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.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 12th day of June 2006.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
 [FR Doc. E6-9469 Filed 6-15-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P