[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 208 (Wednesday, October 28, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57649-57650]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-28822]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Customer Service Comment Cards
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
Forest Service announces its intent to establish a new information
collection. The new collection is necessary to monitor customer
satisfaction with existing Forest Service customer services, business
practices, operations, and facilities, and to provide a means to
address customer complaints.
DATES: Comments must be received in writing December 28, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Director, Office of Communications,
2 CEN AUD, Forest Service, USDA, P.O. Box 96090, Washington, D.C.
20090-6090, or e-mail comments to Barbara.Hwo@fs.fed.us.
The public may inspect comments in the Office of the Director of
Communications. To facilitate entrance into the building, visitors are
encouraged to call ahead (202) 205-1273.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara B. Hunter, Office of
Communications, National Customer Service Team, telephone (202) 205-
0979, or e-mail to Barbara.Hwo@fs.fed.us.
Description of Information Collection
Title: ``Your Comments'' Customer Service Comment Card
OMB Number: New.
Expiration Date of Approval: New.
Type of Request: This is a new information collection that has not
received approval from the Office of Management and Budget.
Abstract: Executive Order 12862, issued September 11, 1993,
directed Federal agencies to change the way they do business, to reform
their management practices, to provide service to the public that
matches or exceeds the best service available in the private sector,
and to establish and implement customer service standards to carry out
the principles of the National Performance Review. In response to this
order, the Forest Service established and implemented customer service
standards and posted these standards at all Forest Service offices,
work sites, and visitor centers. ``Your Comments'' Customer Service
Comment Cards are voluntary customer surveys, which will be used to
monitor customer perceptions of how well the Forest Service meets its
posted customer service standards, as well as how Forest Service
customers view the agency's business practices, operations, and
facilities. The survey also will provide a means to learn about and
address customer complaints.
Forest Service personnel will collect information everywhere the
agency does business. Forest Service personnel will make customer
service survey cards available to customers in person, by mail, and on
the internet. The ``Your Comment'' Customer Service Cards will include
the following survey statements that will be rated on a scale of 1 to
5, with 1 being ``Strongly agree'' and 5 being ``Not applicable.''
1. I received prompt courteous service.
2. I was provided the information or service I needed.
3. For my request or business, the procedure was clear and
efficient.
4. I was satisfied with the facilities used.
Completion of this card will be voluntary. Customers will mail the
cards back to the Chief of the Forest Service in Washington, DC, or
send their responses electronically on the internet. The data from this
information collection will be evaluated and included in reports to the
National Partnership for Reinventing Government (formerly the National
Performance Review), the Department of Agriculture, to agency
officials, and to Forest Service customers. The ``Your Comment''
Customer Service Comment Cards and e-mail messages will be mailed back
to Forest Service personnel in the respective field units where the
customers were served, so that any complaints and suggestions may be
used to improve services, business practices, operations, and
facilities at the units. This will give Forest Service personnel an
opportunity to respond to customers by phone, e-mail, or mail, when
considered necessary and appropriate.
Estimate of Burden: 5 minutes.
Type of Respondents: Respondents will include anyone who visits or
contacts one of the Forest Service offices, work sites, or visitor
centers, either in person, by telephone or on the internet. This
includes individuals and groups of varying ages and abilities, U.S.
citizens and citizens from other countries, who visit or plan to visit
[[Page 57650]]
National Forest System lands, for recreation or educational purposes;
special interest groups; local residents; and individuals conducting
business with the Forest Service including, but--not limited to,
grazing permittees, minerals, oil and gas permitees, land lessees,
timber customers, other forest products customers, research scientists,
special-use customers, educators, librarians, historians, writers,
media contacts, moviemakers, law enforcement officers, fire fighters,
representatives of other Federal, State, county, or local Government
agencies, and foreign governments.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 20,500.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,708 hours per year.
Comment Is Invited
The agency invites comments on the following: (a) Whether the
proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the
information will have practical utility; (b) 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) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the
collection of information on respondents, including the use of
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection
techniques or other forms of information technology.
Use of Comment
All comments, including name and address when provided, will become
a matter of public record. Comments received in response to this notice
will be summarized and included in the request for Office of Management
and Budget approval.
Dated: October 22, 1998.
Sandra H. Key,
Acting Associate Chief.
[FR Doc. 98-28822 Filed 10-27-98; 8:45 am]
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