[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 122 (Monday, June 26, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36355-36356]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-5659]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


30-Day Notice of Submission of Study Package to Office of 
Management and Budget; Opportunity for Public Comment

AGENCY: Department of the Interior; National Park Service.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: Under provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and 5 
CFR part 1320, Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements, the National 
Park Service invites comments on a proposed new collection of 
information (1024-xxxx).
    The OMB has up to 60 days to approve or disapprove the requested 
information collection, but may respond after 30 days. Therefore, to 
ensure maximum consideration, OMB should receive public comments within 
30 days of the date on which this notice is published in the Federal 
Register.
    The National Park Service published the 60-day Federal Register 
notice to solicit comments on this proposed information collection on 
Friday, September 2, 2005 on pages 52443-52444.
    The National Park Service Volunteers-In-Parks (VIP) program (Pub. 
L. 91-357) is collecting information from volunteers in the form of a 
survey for the purposes of evaluating the program and its 
effectiveness.

DATES: Public comments on the proposed Information Collection Request 
(ICR) will be accepted for July 26, 2006.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments directly to the Desk Officer for the 
Department of the Interior, (OMB 1024-xxxx) Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB, by fax at 202-395-6566, or by 
electronic mail at [email protected]. Please also send a copy of 
your comments to Joy M. Pietschmann, National Park Service, Servicewide 
Volunteer Program Coordinator, 1849 C Street, NW., 2450, Washington, DC 
20240, or e-mail: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joy M. Pietschmann, phone: 202-513-
7141, fax: 202-371-6662, or at the address above. You are entitled to a 
copy of the entire ICR package free-of-charge.
    There were no public comments received as a result of publishing in 
the Federal Register a 60-day Notice of Intention to Request Clearance 
of Information Collection for this survey. However, comments were 
solicited from the following professionals associated with volunteerism 
and volunteer administration:
    Tom Benjamin, President, EASI (Environmental Alliance for Senior 
Involvement).
    Betty Stallings, Volunteerism Consultant, BBS (Building Better 
Skills), Author of the 60-minute Module Series on volunteer management 
customized by the NPS for the VIP program.
    Katie Campbell, Certified Volunteer Administrator, Volunteerism 
Consultant, and former Executive Director of AVA (Association of 
Volunteer Administration).
    John Throop, Executive Director of AVA.
    Robb Hampton, Director, NPLD (National Public Lands Day).
    Gail Cunningham, Vice President, Managing Director, Great American 
Cleanup (Keep America Beautiful).
    Nancy Macduff, Volunteerism Consultant, Macduff/Buff Associates.
    Christopher Toppe, Senior Social Scientist, Points of Light 
Foundation.
    Solicited comments from experts in the field of volunteerism 
indicate that the 60-day notice is clear and to the point. This 
assessment is long overdue and it can yield invaluable information that 
can help ensure the sustainability of volunteer involvement within the 
National Park Service. A wide range of variables is urged as part of 
the data collection. Long-term and short-term volunteers have different 
perspective and it's important to survey a wide variety of people. To 
address these points, the National Park Service will be surveying a 
completely random selection made from over 22,900 volunteer names 
collected servicewide and will be cutting the data by region work 
category, and volunteer program size. This will also address another's 
comment on the need to match the survey sample to the demographic 
sample of the current VIP program. A concern was also expressed about 
the volunteer survey being the only source of information contributing 
to this program assessment and that it is important to hear from those 
who are the recipients of the volunteers' efforts. The National Park 
Service has also surveyed its paid staff prior to this notice to gather 
this opinions of the volunteer program and its operation. Through its 
Social Science program, the National Park Service surveys its visitors 
and other customers regularly who also benefit from volunteer services. 
Additional comments include: The burden hour estimate seems reasonable 
and accurate. Utilizing both the survey and then subsequent focus 
groups will yield both qualitative and quantitative results. Utilizing 
electronic survey tools will ensure the highest possible response rate 
and will minimize staff time for tabulating the results. The addition 
of focus groups will provide additional information that may not be 
captured with a survey tool. This dual approach makes sense and is 
realistic in terms of staff resources. In response to the latter, the 
National Park Service will not be conducting the focus groups and 
interviews immediately after this information collection is complete 
but, rather, will seek approval and

[[Page 36356]]

pursue that process at a latter time when additional funding is 
available.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Volunteers-In-Parks Program 
Assessment.
    Bureau Form Number: None.
    OMB Number: 1024-xxxx.
    Expiration Date: To be requested.
    Type of Request: Request for new clearance.
    Description of Need: This survey is needed to survey NPS volunteers 
to assess the Volunteers-In-Parks (VIP) program effectiveness. The NPS 
VIP program is authorized by the Volunteers in the Parks Act of 1969 as 
originally enacted was Public Law 91-357. Volunteering is an American 
tradition that over the years has made an immeasurable contribution to 
communities, organizations, and individuals throughout the country. 
Volunteers are vital to the success of the National Park Service. The 
Volunteers-In-Parks program can accept and use voluntary help and 
services from the public, in a way that is mutually beneficial to the 
NPS and the volunteer. In FY2005, 137,000 volunteers donated 5.2 
million hours of service to their national parks at a value of $91.2 
million. VIPs come from every state and many different countries to 
help preserve and protect America's natural and cultural heritage for 
the enjoyment of this and future generations. Over the past 35 years, 
this program has consistently grown to become one of the government's 
largest, most successful volunteer programs. Between FY2003 and 2004, 
the program experienced its biggest increase in history. The number of 
VIPs increased by 14% and the number of hours by 11%. In order to 
effectively manage the increasing trend of volunteerism in the National 
Park Serivce, it is imperative that the organization assesses its 
strengths and weaknesses and determines methods for improved 
efficiency. A servicewide volunteer program assessment has not been 
conducted to date. Both paid staff and volunteers will be surveyed 
during this process to collect information about the current status and 
needs of the program. Recommendations for improvements will be made 
based on the findings. This process will not only aid in creating a 
improved, streamlined program, but may also serve as a model for other 
Federal agencies.
    Automated data collection: There will be an opportunity to provide 
this information electronically through a designated, secure Web site.
    Description of respondents: National Park Service Volunteers-In-
Parks.
    Estimated average number of respondents: Approximately 8,966 
respondents.
    Estimated average burden hours per response: 2 minutes for everyone 
to open and consider taking the survey, 10 minutes for those taking the 
survey, 3 minutes to return/submit the completed survey, and 3 minutes 
for respondents to the follow-up telephone mini survey.
    Frequency of response: 1 time per respondent.
    Estimated annual reporting burden: 1,661 hours.

    Dated: June 1, 2006.
Leonard E. Stowe,
NPS Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 06-5659 Filed 6-23-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-M