[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 22 (Thursday, February 4, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8228-8229]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-02350]


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OFFICE OF SPECIAL COUNSEL


OSC Annual Survey

AGENCY: U.S. Office of Special Counsel.

ACTION: Notice of modification of information collection.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC), seeks approval from 
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for use of a modified survey 
that differs only slightly from the most recently approved information 
collection, OSC's 2020 Annual Survey. By statute, OSC must conduct an 
annual survey to collect feedback from those who have contacted OSC for 
assistance, either by filing complaints and/or disclosures with OSC, or 
by seeking Hatch Act Advisory Opinions. This OSC annual survey consists 
of four electronic questionnaires (one for each type of assistance an 
individual can seek from OSC), each asking between five and ten 
questions. OSC invites comments on: (a) The accuracy of OSC's estimate 
of the burden of the proposed collections of information; (b) ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and (c) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on respondents.

DATES: Written comments should be received on or before March 8, 2021.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by mail to: Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 
Attention: Desk Officer for OSC, New Executive Office Building, Room 
10235, Washington, DC 20503; or by email via: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Beckett, Senior Litigation 
Counsel, by telephone at (202) 804-7000, or by email at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OSC is a permanent independent federal 
investigative and prosecutorial agency. OSC's basic authorities come 
from four federal statutes: The Civil Service Reform Act, the 
Whistleblower Protection Act, the Hatch Act, and the Uniformed Services 
Employment & Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). OSC's primary mission is 
to safeguard the merit system by protecting federal employees and 
applicants from prohibited personnel practices, especially reprisal for 
whistleblowing, and to serve as a safe channel for allegations of 
wrongdoing. OSC is required to conduct an annual survey of individuals 
who seek its assistance. OSC conducts an annual survey pursuant to 
Section 13 of Public Law 103-424 (1994), codified at 5 U.S.C. 1212 
note, which 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 
statute

[[Page 8229]]

requires OSC to publish the survey's results in OSC's annual report to 
Congress. Copies of prior years' annual reports are available on OSC's 
website, at https://osc.gov/Pages/Resources-ReportsAndInfo.aspx or by 
calling OSC at (202) 804-7000. The 2020 OSC Annual Survey, OMB Control 
Number 3255-0003, expires on March 30, 2021.
    OSC will use the questionnaires to survey all persons who contacted 
OSC for assistance during the relevant time period.
    The survey questionnaires are available for review online at 
https://osc.gov/Resources/Pages/Reports.aspx#tabGroup07 or by calling 
OSC at (202) 804-7000.
    Type of Information Collection Request: The survey seeks to 
determine whether individuals seeking assistance were fully apprised of 
their rights; were successful either at OSC or the MSPB; and whether 
successful or not, were satisfied with the treatment they received from 
OSC.
    Affected public: Individuals (or their representatives) who sought 
OSC services through: (1) Submitting complaints alleging prohibited 
personnel practices, USERRA violations, or Hatch Act violations; (2) 
disclosures of information alleging violation of law, rule, or 
regulation, gross mismanagement or waste of funds, abuse of authority, 
substantial and specific danger to public health and/or safety, or 
censorship related to scientific research; or (3) seeking Hatch Act 
advisory opinions.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Estimated Annual Number of Survey Form Respondents: 500.
    Frequency of Survey form use: One-time.
    Estimated Average Amount of Time for a Person to Respond to survey: 
5.3 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Survey Burden: 44 hours.

    Dated: January 29, 2021.
Bruce Gipe,
Chief Operating Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-02350 Filed 2-3-21; 8:45 am]
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