2020-01656. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request; FEMA Public Assistance Customer Satisfaction Surveys

AGENCY:

Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public to take this opportunity to comment on a revision of a currently approved information collection. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice seeks comments concerning the collection of Public Assistance customer satisfaction survey responses and information for assessment and improvement of the delivery of disaster assistance to States, Local and Tribal governments, and eligible non-profit organizations.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before March 30, 2020.

ADDRESSES:

To avoid duplicate submissions to the docket, please use only one of the following means to submit comments:

(1) Online. Submit comments at www.regulations.gov under Docket ID FEMA-2020-0004. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

(2) Mail. Submit written comments to Docket Manager, Office of Chief Counsel, DHS/FEMA, 500 C Street SW, 8NE, Washington, DC 20472-3100.

All submissions received must include the agency name and Docket ID. Regardless of the method used for submitting comments or material, all submissions will be posted, without change, to the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov,, and will include any personal information you provide. Therefore, submitting this information makes it public. You may wish to read the Privacy and Security Notice that is available via a link on the homepage of www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kristin Brooks, Statistician, Customer Survey Analysis Section, Reporting and Analytics Division, Recovery Directorate, at [phone] or [e-mail]. You may contact the Information Management Division for copies of the proposed collection of information at email address: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This collection is in accordance with Executive Orders 12862 and 13571 requiring all Federal agencies to survey customers to determine the kind and quality of services they want and their level of satisfaction with existing services. The Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA) requires Federal agencies to set missions and goals and to measure agency performance against them. See Public Law 103-62, 107 Stat 285 (1993). The GPRA Modernization Act of 2010 requires quarterly performance assessments of government programs for the purposes of assessing agency performance and improvement. See Public Law 111-352, 124 Stat 3875 (2011). The Federal Emergency Management Agency fulfills these requirements by collecting customer satisfaction program information through surveys of States, Local and Tribal governments, and eligible non-profit organizations.

Collection of Information

Title: FEMA Public Assistance Customer Satisfaction Surveys.

Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved information collection.

OMB Number: 1660-0107.

FEMA Forms: FEMA Form 519-0-32, Public Assistance Initial Customer Satisfaction Survey (Telephone); FEMA Form 519-0-33, Public Assistance Initial Customer Satisfaction Survey (internet); FEMA Form 519-0-34, Public Assistance Assessment Customer Satisfaction Survey (Telephone); FEMA Form 519-0-35, Public Assistance Assessment Customer Satisfaction Survey (internet).

Abstract: Federal agencies are required to survey their customers to determine the kind and quality of services customers want and their level of satisfaction with those services. FEMA managers use the survey results to measure performance against standards for performance and customer service, measure achievement of strategic planning objectives, and generally gauge and make improvements to disaster service that increase customer satisfaction.

Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions, State, Local, or Tribal government.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 4,034.

Estimated Number of Responses: 4,034.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,902.

Estimated Total Annual Respondent Cost: $110,371.31.

Estimated Respondents' Operation and Maintenance Costs: $12,420.00.

Estimated Respondents' Capital and Start-Up Costs: N/A.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to the Federal Government: $775,261.11.

Comments

Comments may be submitted as indicated in the ADDRESSES caption above. Comments are solicited to (a) evaluate whether the proposed data collection is necessary for the proper performance of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.

Maile Arthur,

Records Management Branch Chief, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, Mission Support, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security.