[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 45 (Thursday, March 6, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 12220]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-4292]


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MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection

AGENCY: Merit Systems Protection Board.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board is requesting approval 
from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to conduct Federal 
employee surveys for a period of two years from the approval date. 
Before submitting the Information Collection Request (ICR) to OMB for 
review and approval, MSPB is soliciting comments on specific aspects of 
the information collection in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). In this regard, we are 
soliciting comments on the public reporting burden. The reporting 
burden for the collection of information on this form is estimated to 
average 30 minutes per respondent, including time for reviewing 
instructions and completing the survey. In addition, the MSPB invites 
comments on (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of MSPB's functions, including 
whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy 
of MSPB's estimate of burden of the proposed collection of information, 
including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) 
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on respondents, including through the use of automated 
collection techniques, when appropriate, and other forms of information 
technology.

DATES: According to the procedures prescribed in 5 CFR 1320.10, MSPB 
plans to submit an ICR to OMB for review and approval following the 60-
day comment period. Comments must be received on or before April 30, 
2008.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments via any of the following methods: E-
mail: [email protected]. Please include ``Disciplinary Action 
Surveys'' in the subject line of the message. Fax: (202) 653-7211. 
Mail: Sharon Roth, U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board, Room 515, 1615 
M St., NW., Washington, DC 20419.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on this survey, 
contact Sharon Roth by phone on 202-653-6772, ext. 1340, by FAX on 202-
653-7211, or by e-mail [email protected]. You may contact Ms. Roth 
via V/TDD at 1-800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Proposed Project: ``Disciplinary Process 
within Agencies.''
    As part of its statutory mission, MSPB is responsible for 
conducting studies of the Federal civil service to ensure that all 
Federal government agencies follow merit systems practices and avoid 
prohibited personnel practices. To support this research agenda, MSPB 
periodically conducts surveys of samples of Federal employees. To 
obtain insight into the perspectives of management and management 
advisors regarding Federal disciplinary processes, MSPB requests 
approval to conduct a series of three surveys. All will be completed 
within two years.
    The surveys will be sent to (1) proposing officials for discipline, 
(2) deciding officials for discipline, and (3) human resources advisors 
on disciplinary actions. The surveys will ask respondents to share 
their experiences conducting suspensions of 14 days or less and removal 
actions, including their level of involvement in decisions made, their 
use of alternative discipline, the nature of the conduct that led to 
the action, the role of performance in conduct based actions, and the 
quality of related training they received. Respondents will be selected 
based upon disciplinary actions recorded in the Central Personnel Data 
File (CPDF).
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and record keeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 0.50 
hours per respondent.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Participants will be randomly drawn 
from the agencies that conducted the majority of removal actions in 
Fiscal Year 2007. For each personnel action, there will be three 
respondents (the proposing official, the deciding official, and the 
human resources advisor).
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 7,500.
    Frequency of Response: Once for most respondents. (If a party was 
involved in implementing multiple disciplinary actions, there is a 
potential to receive more than one survey.)
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 3,750.

William D. Spencer,
Clerk of the Board.
 [FR Doc. E8-4292 Filed 3-5-08; 8:45 am]
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