2010-14789. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

June 15, 2010.

The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments regarding (a) whether the 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 burden 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 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 should be addressed to: Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), [e-mail] or fax [phone] and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-7602. Comments regarding these information collections are best assured of having their full effect if received within 30 days of this notification. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling [phone].

An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information that such persons are not required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

National Appeals Division

Title: National Appeals Division Customer Service Survey.

OMB Control Number: 0503-0007.

Summary of Collection: The Secretary of Agriculture established the National Appeals Division (NAD) on October 20, 1994, by Secretary's Memorandum 1010-1, pursuant to the Federal Crop Insurance Reform and Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994. The Act consolidated the appellate functions and staff of several USDA agencies and provided for independent hearings and reviews of adverse decisions of Agencies within USDA. Hearing Officers conduct evidentiary hearings on adverse decisions or, when the appellant requests they review the Agency's record of the adverse decision without a hearing. Although NAD maintains a database to track appeal requests, the database contains only information necessary to process the appeal request, such as the name, address, filing results etc. NAD will collect information using a survey.

Need and Use of the Information: NAD plans to use the information collected in the survey to determine who is and who is not aware of its services. NAD also wants to know of the groups who are aware of its services, just exactly how complete this awareness is. NAD also wants to gather current data to measure the appellant's perception of the quality of how easy the determination was to read; how intently the Hearing Officer listened to the appellant; and if the appellant would be willing to have the same Hearing Officer hear a future appeal. This data will be used to either alter current or establish new training for Hearing and Appeals Officers.

Description of Respondents: Individuals or households.

Number of Respondents: 2,000.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.

Total Burden Hours: 429.

Ruth Brown,

Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.