[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 163 (Friday, August 22, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44720-44721]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-22358]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation


Reclamation Information Collection Activities: Request for 
Comments

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), as part of its 
continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites 
the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity 
to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections as 
required under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 
35). Currently Reclamation is soliciting comments about obtaining data 
for use in the preparation of a report to the President and the 
Congress on the status of agency implementation of customer service 
standards as directed by Executive Order 12862.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addresses section on or before October 21, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Direct comments on the collection of information to the 
Bureau of Reclamation, Director, Program Analysis Office, D-5200, 
Attention: Mr. Gene Munson, P.O. Box 25007, Denver, Colorado 80225-
0007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
For additional information or a copy of the proposed collection of 
information, contact Mr. Munson at the address under the addresses 
section of this notice or by telephone at: (303) 236-1061, extension 
297.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Reclamation is prepared to collect 
Reclamation-wide customer service information in support of Executive 
Order 12862, and the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 
(GPRA) requirements, and in pursuit of Reclamation's mission to manage, 
develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally 
and economically sound manner in the interest of the American people. 
Collection of Reclamation-wide customer service information furthers 
our bureau's ability to accomplish 3 essential mission objectives, 
which are driven by 16 strategies identified in our multi-year GPRA-
based strategic plan. As part of the Business Practices and 
Productivity Mission Objective, the Improve Customer Service strategy 
ensures that the highest quality services are delivered and met through 
systematically obtaining feedback from our customers.
    The fiscal year 1998 data collection is the first assessment and 
will establish a baseline of capabilities. The baseline data will be 
used by Reclamation and its region and area offices to increase service 
to customers. The initial assessment is the beginning of a cyclical 
process in which similar assessments will occur in support of required 
GPRA cycles, identifying improvements over time. The data will enable 
Reclamation to gauge its business practices in the areas of Reclamation 
administration and management of its natural resources; contractual 
arrangements, overhead cost containment, and revenues management; and 
maintain a standard of quality for service delivery systems. Once the 
baseline is established, Reclamation will benchmark its business 
practices against the best in the business and recommendations will be 
issued for further reengineering of service delivery systems.

Collection of Information

    Title: Reclamation-wide Customer Satisfaction Survey.
    Type of Review: New.
    Abstract: Reclamation is prepared to collect Reclamation-wide 
customer service information in support of Executive Order 12862 and 
the GPRA requirements, and in pursuit of Reclamation's mission. 
Collection of this information will further

[[Page 44721]]

Reclamation's ability to establish baseline data for use by Reclamation 
and its region and area offices to ensure compliance with GPRA and its 
strategic planning goals as applied to our customers. Additionally, 
Reclamation will benchmark the collected data against best business 
practices in future years to further reengineer Reclamation's service 
delivery systems.
    Affected Public: This information collection will affect 
individuals or households, businesses or others for-profit, not for 
profit institutions, farms, and State, local or tribal governments in 
the 17 Western United States who receive Reclamation services.
    Freqency: Two times.
    Average Time per Response: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 5,000.
    Estimated Burden Hours: 2,500.
    Written comments are solicited to; (1) Evaluate whether the 
proposed data collection is necessary for the proper performance of 
Reclamation, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (2) evaluate the accuracy the Reclamation's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) enhance the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and, 
(4) 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 of 
other forms of information technology.

    Dated: August 18, 1997.
Eluid L. Martinez,
Commissioner.
[FR Doc. 97-22358 Filed 8-21-97; 8:45 am]
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