[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 247 (Wednesday, December 26, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66455-66461]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-31587]


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MORRIS K. UDALL SCHOLARSHIP AND EXCELLENCE IN NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL 
POLICY FOUNDATION


Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution--Program 
Evaluation Instruments: Agency Information Collection Activities: 
Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY: Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in National 
Environmental Policy Foundation, U.S. Institute for Environmental 
Conflict Resolution.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 
et seq.), this document announces that the U.S. Institute for 
Environmental Conflict Resolution (the U.S. Institute), part of the 
Morris K. Udall Foundation, is planning to submit 18 proposed 
Information Collection Requests (ICRs) to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB). Each of these 18 ICRs is a new collection request; they 
are being consolidated under a single filing to provide a more coherent 
picture of information collection activities by the U.S. Institute. The 
proposed information collection is expected to neither have a 
significant economic impact on respondents, nor affect a substantial 
number of small entities. The average cost (in lost time) per 
respondent is estimated to be $4.91.
    Before submitting the ICRs to OMB for review and approval, the U.S. 
Institute is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the information 
collection as described at the beginning of the section labeled 
``Supplementary Information.''

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before February 25, 2002.

ADDRESSES: U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution, 110 
South Church Avenue, Suite 3350, Tucson, Arizona 85701. Worldwide web: 
www.ecr.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David P. Bernard, Associate Director, 
U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution, 110 South Church 
Avenue, Suite 3350, Tucson, Arizona 85701, Fax: 520-670-5530, Phone: 
520-670-5299, E-mail: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#95f7f0e7fbf4e7f1d5f0f6e7bbf2fae3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6f0d0a1d010e1d0b2f0a0c1d41080019">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OVERVIEW

    To comply with the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) 
(Pub. L. 103-62), the U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict 
Resolution, as part of the Morris K. Udall Foundation, is required to 
produce, each year, an Annual Performance Plan, linked directly to the 
goals and objectives outlined in the Institute's five-year Strategic 
Plan. The U.S. Institute is also required to produce an Annual 
Performance Report, evaluating progress toward achieving its 
performance commitments. The U.S. Institute is currently developing a 
program evaluation system to gather and analyze information needed to 
assist in producing its Annual Performance Report.
    The U.S. Institute is committed to establishing, achieving, and 
maintaining a national standard of excellence in all its programs, 
products, and services. To do so, the U.S. Institute requires high 
quality information concerning effectiveness of its various 
initiatives. Systematic and ongoing monitoring of program outcomes will 
allow the U.S. Institute to perform a variety of tasks, including 
giving individual project and program managers, as well as the 
Institute's management, the ability to accurately assess and report on 
program and project achievements. The new evaluation system has been 
carefully designed to support efficient and economical generation, 
analysis and use of this much-needed information, with an emphasis on 
program feedback, learning and improvement.
    As part of the program evaluation system, the U.S. Institute 
intends to collect specific information from participants in, and users 
of, several of its programs and services. Specifically, five of the 
Institute's programs and services are the subject of this Federal

[[Page 66456]]

Notice: (1) Environmental conflict assessment services; (2) 
environmental conflict resolution services; (3) the National Roster of 
Environmental Dispute Resolution and Consensus Building Professionals; 
(4) environmental conflict resolution training courses and workshops; 
and (5) meeting facilitation. Evaluations will mainly involve 
administering questionnaires to parties and professionals engaged in 
U.S. Institute projects, as well as members and users of the National 
Roster. Responses by members of the public to the Institute's request 
for information (i.e., questionnaires) will be voluntary and anonymous.
    The U.S. Institute is exploring with several other federal agencies 
how its program evaluation system can be of use to their own program 
evaluation needs. The broader use of similar data collection 
instruments and consistent data collection and analysis techniques may 
provide cost savings to other agencies and accelerate the rate at which 
each agency reviews and improves effective performance of conflict 
resolution processes.

Key Issues

    The U.S. Institute would appreciate receiving comments that can be 
used to:
    (i) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the U.S. Institute, including 
whether the information will have practical utility;
    (ii) Determine whether the nature and extent of the proposed level 
of anonymity for those from whom the U.S. Institute will be collecting 
information is adequate and appropriate;
    (iii) Evaluate the accuracy of the U.S. Institute's estimate of the 
burden associated with the proposed information collection activities;
    (iv) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
to be collected;
    (v) Minimize the burden of the information collection on those who 
are to respond, including suggestions concerning use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology (e.g., 
allowing electronic submission of responses).
    As used in this document, ``burden'' means the total time, effort, 
or financial resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, 
retain, disclose or provide information to or for a Federal Agency. 
This includes time needed to: review instructions; develop, acquire, 
install, and utilize technology and systems for the purposes of 
collecting, validating, and verifying information, processing and 
maintaining information, and disclosing and providing information; 
adjust existing ways to comply with any previously applicable 
instructions and requirements; train personnel to be able to respond to 
a collection of information; search data sources; complete and review 
the collection of information; and transmit or otherwise disclose the 
information.

Technical Details

    The upcoming information collection request by the U.S. Institute 
is one step in the process for establishing an operational program 
evaluation system. Development of the system formally began in 1999, as 
part of a broader collaborative program evaluation initiative co-
sponsored by the U.S. Institute and the Policy Consensus Initiative 
(PCI), involving the University of Arizona's Udall Center for Studies 
in Public Policy, Indiana University's School for Public and 
Environmental Affairs, the Indiana Conflict Resolution Institute, and 
Syracuse University's Maxwell School for Citizenship and Public 
Affairs. After extensive preparation, a two-day workshop on program 
evaluation was held with several federal and state program managers, 
academic researchers, and practitioners. Subsequently, the U.S. 
Institute and PCI began working together with two state agencies that 
administer public policy and environmental dispute resolution programs; 
the Massachusetts Office of Dispute Resolution and the Oregon Dispute 
Resolution Commission. With PCI's support and coordination and 
contracted program evaluation consultants, the U.S. Institute and these 
state programs have been developing their program evaluation systems. 
These programs have now completed pilot testing and are in the early 
stages of implementation. This collaborative effort has provided 
essential guidance, critical review and confirmation for the U.S. 
Institute's approach to its program evaluation system.
    Technical details of the Institute's evolving program evaluation 
system are contained in a December 2001 draft report entitled Applying 
Program Evaluation Methods at the U.S. Institute for Environmental 
Conflict Resolution. Paper copies of this report can be obtained by 
contacting the Institute; an electronic copy can be downloaded from the 
Institute's website: www.ecr.gov/techdoc.htm.
    One of the most important design criteria for any program 
evaluation system is its validity--ensuring that reported results will 
be trustworthy and accurately portray the level of success that 
individual programs and projects achieved in meeting intended outcomes. 
For each of the Institute's five program and service areas an 
operational diagram was composed that systematically registers all 
intended program outcomes and each of the factors believed by current 
program theory to affect those outcomes. These five outcome diagrams 
were then used as the framework for formulating the detailed 
questionnaires that will be used to gather information for evaluating 
whether intended outcomes were achieved, and for providing diagnostic 
insights useful in analyzing what factors most influenced the outcomes.
    Primary audiences for results from the U.S. Institute's program 
evaluation system include members of the U.S. Institute program staff 
and management, which will use the information in decision-making 
regarding program operation and directions, and oversight bodies such 
as the Udall Foundation Board of Trustees and OMB. Secondary audiences 
will likely include other federal agencies, practitioners in the field, 
researchers, and members of the public. The U.S. Institute will use the 
information and analysis generated by its program evaluation system for 
a variety of purposes, including: ongoing improvements to design and 
operation of projects and programs; periodic performance reporting; 
annual evaluations of personnel performance; and learning about what 
factors most influence successful outcomes in specific situations. 
Ultimately, it is expected that this information will aid further 
development of best practices for the field of environmental conflict 
resolution (ECR).

A. List of ICRs Planned To Be Submitted

    The U.S. Institute is planning to submit 18 ICRs to OMB, 
corresponding to 18 individual questionnaires that will be administered 
to those involved in environmental conflict resolution (ECR) activities 
connected with U.S. Institute services and programs. Questionnaires 
will be used to gather information concerning the effectiveness of the 
ECR services and programs provided by or on behalf of the U.S. 
Institute. As noted above, consideration is being given to the use of 
these questionnaires by other agencies for ECR activities, which may or 
may not involve the U.S. Institute. In the listing below, the 
questionnaires are organized into five activity areas, indicating the 
recipients of the questionnaires and, in parentheses, the frequency of 
administration. It should be noted that additional questionnaires

[[Page 66457]]

will be administered to U.S. Institute project managers, but OMB 
clearance is not required for questionnaires directed to federal 
employees.

Environmental Conflict Assessment
    (1) Assessment--Initiating Organization, at the conclusion of the 
process (once)
    (2) Assessment--Neutral, at the conclusion of the process (once)
Environmental Conflict Resolution Services
    (3) ECR Process--Parties, at the conclusion of the process (once)
    (4) ECR Process--Parties, subsequent to the conclusion of the 
process (once)
    (5) ECR Process--Parties' Attorneys, subsequent to the conclusion 
of the process (mediation only) (once)
    (6) ECR Process--Neutral (facilitators and mediators) at the 
conclusion of the process (once)
    (7) ECR Process--Neutral case summary at conclusion of the process 
(once)
National Roster of Environmental Dispute Resolution and Consensus-
Building Professionals
    (8) National Roster--Members (once, upon acceptance to the roster)
    (9) National Roster--Members (annual follow-up)
    (10) National Roster--Users (once, upon initial use of WWW site)
    (11) National Roster-Users (once, per Roster search)
    (12) National Roster--Users requesting a referral (once, per 
request)
Environmental Conflict Resolution Training Courses and Workshops
    (13) Training--Participants, prior to start (once)
    (14) Training--Participants, at the conclusion (once)
    (15) Training--Participants, follow-up (once, six months after 
training)
    (16) Training--Instructor, prior to start (once)
    (17) Training--Instructor, at the conclusion (once)
Meeting Facilitation
    (18) Meeting Facilitation--Meeting Attendees, at the conclusion of 
the process (once)

B. Contact Individual for ICRs

    David P. Bernard, Associate Director, U.S. Institute for 
Environmental Conflict Resolution, 110 South Church Avenue, Suite 3350, 
Tucson, Arizona 85701, Fax: 520-670-5530, Phone: 520-670-5299, E-mail: 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#dbb9bea9b5baa9bf9bbeb8a9f5bcb4ad"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="96f4f3e4f8f7e4f2d6f3f5e4b8f1f9e0">[email protected]</span></a>.

C. Confidentiality and Access to Information

    To encourage candor and responsiveness on the part of those 
completing the questionnaires, the U.S. Institute intends to report 
information obtained from questionnaires only in the aggregate. The 
U.S. Institute intends to withhold the names of respondents and 
individuals named in responses. Such information regarding individuals 
is exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 
pursuant to exemption (b)(6) (5 U.S.C. Section 552(b)(6), as the public 
interest in disclosure of that information would not outweigh the 
privacy interests of the individuals. Therefore, respondents will be 
afforded anonymity. Furthermore, no substantive case-specific 
information that might be confidential under statute, court order or 
rules, or agreement of the parties will be sought.
    The U.S. Institute is committed to providing agencies, researchers 
and the public with information on the effectiveness of environmental 
conflict resolution (ECR) and the performance of the U.S. Institute's 
programs and services. Access to such useful information will be 
facilitated to the extent possible. The U.S. Institute is also 
committed, however, to managing the collection and reporting of data so 
as not to interfere with any ongoing ECR processes or the subsequent 
implementation of agreements. Case specific data will not be released 
until an appropriate time period has passed following conclusion of the 
case; such time period to be determined. FOIA requests will be 
evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

D. Information on Individual ICRs

Environmental Conflict Assessment
    The U.S. Institute consistently encourages the use of conflict or 
situation assessments. Generally, such assessments are conducted by a 
neutral party and include a series of confidential structured 
interviews in person or on the telephone with individuals or groups of 
parties. Through such assessments, neutrals identify and clarify key 
issues and parties, and assess the appropriateness of an ECR process 
and its potential for helping the parties reach agreement. Assessment 
reports seek to clarify and communicate in a neutral manner the issues 
and concerns of all parties, and commonly conclude with process design 
recommendations intended to provide the parties with one or more 
options for effectively collaborating in inventing a solution to their 
conflict.
    (1) Assessment--Initiating Organization Questionnaire; New 
collection request; Abstract: Immediately following conclusion of a 
conflict assessment process, the initiating agency or organization(s) 
will be surveyed once via questionnaire to determine their views on a 
variety of issues. Topics to be investigated include: was the conflict 
assessment approach well suited to the nature of the issues in 
conflict; was the selected neutral appropriate for the assignment; were 
all key parties consulted, and, were all key issues and alternatives 
properly identified and considered? The voluntary questionnaire 
contains 15 simple questions, many of which require respondents to only 
provide a fill-in-the blank rating number. Information from the 
questionnaire will permit U.S. Institute staff to not only evaluate 
performance for specific projects, but also improve the design of 
future assessment projects. Affected Entities: Entities potentially 
affected by this action are individuals in organizations that 
participate in a conflict assessment conducted by U.S. Institute staff 
or contractors. Burden Statement: It is estimated that the annual 
national public burden and associated costs and will be approximately 
15 hours and $405 respectively. These values were calculated assuming 
that on average (a) respondents require 12 minutes per questionnaire 
(b) there are 1.5 respondents per project (c) respondents are surveyed 
only once, and (d) there will be 50 assessments conducted each year. 
Cost burden estimates assume: (a) there are no capital or start-up 
costs for respondents, and (b) respondents' time is valued at $27 hr.
    (2) Assessment--Neutral Questionnaire; New collection request; 
Abstract: Immediately following conclusion of a conflict assessment, 
the selected neutral(s) will be surveyed once via questionnaire to 
determine their views on a variety of issues. Topics to be investigated 
include: was the conflict assessment approach well suited to the nature 
of the issues in conflict; were all key parties consulted, and, were 
all key issues and alternatives properly identified and considered? In 
most cases, it will be specified in the neutral's contract that they be 
required to complete the questionnaire. The neutral's questionnaire 
contains 14 simple questions, many of which require respondents only to 
provide a fill-in-the blank rating number. Information from the 
questionnaire will permit U.S. Institute staff to not only evaluate 
performance for the neutral, but also improve the process for selecting 
appropriate neutrals for future assessment projects. Affected Entities: 
Entities potentially affected by this action are neutral ECR 
practitioners who

[[Page 66458]]

either are staff members of the U.S. Institute or have been contracted 
by the Institute. Burden Statement: It is estimated that the annual 
national public burden and associated costs and will be approximately 
10.5 hours and $378, respectively. These values were calculated 
assuming that on average: (a) neutrals require 10 minutes per 
questionnaire (b) there are 1.25 respondents per project (c) 
respondents are surveyed only once, and (d) there will be 50 
assessments conducted each year. Cost burden estimates assume: (a) 
there are no capital or start-up costs for respondents, and (b) 
respondents' time is valued at $36 hr.
Environmental Conflict Resolution Services
    A variety of non-adversarial, participatory processes are available 
as adjuncts or alternatives to conventional forums for resolving 
environmental disputes or reaching environmental agreements. Such 
environmental conflict resolution (ECR) processes range broadly 
depending on the nature of the dispute and the parties involved as well 
as their context (for example, early on in planning processes, when 
seeking administrative relief, or during litigation). Under the right 
circumstances, a well-designed ECR process facilitated or mediated by 
the right neutral can effectively assist parties in reaching agreement 
on plans, proposals, and recommendations to settle their dispute. ECR 
processes can also result in improvement in relationships among the 
parties, and increase their individual and collective capacity to 
manage or resolve future conflicts. The following survey instruments 
have been designed for use across the full range of ECR, be they 
collaborative agreement-seeking processes or environmental mediation.
    (3) ECR Process--Parties Questionnaire; New collection request; 
Abstract: Immediately following conclusion of an ECR process, the 
parties that have been involved will be surveyed once, via 
questionnaire, to determine their views on a variety of issues. Topics 
to be investigated include: are the parties now more likely to consider 
collaborative processes in the future; were the ``right'' parties 
effectively engaged throughout the process; was there an appropriate 
scope and design for the ECR process; did the parties have the capacity 
to engage in the process; was the neutral (or team) that guided the 
process appropriate; and did all parties have access to the best 
available and relevant information? The voluntary questionnaire 
contains 29 questions, many of which require respondents only to fill-
in-the blank with their level of agreement or a rating number. 
Information from the questionnaire will permit U.S. Institute staff to 
evaluate if the intended ECR outcomes were achieved, and if so or not, 
why. Affected Entities: Entities potentially affected by this action 
are parties to ECR process conducted by, on behalf of, the U.S. 
Institute. Burden Statement: It is estimated that the annual national 
public burden and associated costs and will be approximately 400 hours 
and $10,800, respectively. These values were calculated assuming that 
on average: (a) parties require 12 minutes per questionnaire (b) there 
are 20 respondents per project (c) respondents are surveyed only once, 
and (d) there will be 100 ECR projects conducted each year. Cost burden 
estimates assume: (a) there are no capital or start-up costs for 
respondents, and (b) respondents' time is valued at $27 hr.
    (4) ECR Process--Parties Follow-up Questionnaire; New collection 
request; Abstract: To gain information concerning the loner-term 
effectiveness of the ECR process, an additional questionnaire will be 
administered to the parties at a future date following conclusion of 
the process. Topics to be examined include: do all parties perceive an 
improvement in their collective relationships; do the parties consider 
the ECR process to have been fair and open; are the parties satisfied 
with services of the U.S. Institute; did the decision makers agree to 
implement the plans, proposals, recommendations or settlement 
agreement; and--if implemented--did the solution endure changes in 
conditions and unanticipated events. The voluntary questionnaire 
contains 13 questions, many of which require respondents to only fill-
in-the blank with their level of agreement or a rating number. 
Information from the questionnaire will permit U.S. Institute staff to 
evaluate if the ECR outcomes were sustainable, and if not, why. 
Affected Entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
parties to ECR process conducted by, on behalf of, the U.S. Institute. 
Burden Statement: It is estimated that the annual national public 
burden and associated costs and will be approximately 333 hours and 
$9,000, respectively. These values were calculated assuming that on 
average: (a) parties require 10 minutes per questionnaire (b) there are 
20 respondents per project (c) respondents are surveyed only once, and 
(d) there will be 100 ECR projects conducted each year. Cost burden 
estimates assume: (a) there are no capital or start-up costs for 
respondents, and (b) respondents' time is valued at $27 hr.
    (5) ECR Process--Parties' Attorneys Questionnaire (mediation only); 
New collection request; Abstract: Immediately following conclusion of 
an ECR mediation process, attorneys (if any) who represented parties to 
the dispute will be surveyed once, via questionnaire, to determine 
their views on a variety of issues. Topics to be investigated are 
similar to those in questionnaire (4), above, except this instrument 
places greater emphasis on gaining a legal perspective. This voluntary 
questionnaire contains 38 questions, and only a few of these require 
other than a simple fill-in-the blank response. Information from this 
questionnaire will permit U.S. Institute staff to evaluate if the 
intended ECR outcomes were achieved, and if so or not, why. Affected 
Entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are parties to 
ECR process conducted by, on behalf of, the U.S. Institute. Burden 
Statement: It is estimated that the annual national public burden and 
associated costs and will be approximately 9 hours and $369, 
respectively. These values were calculated assuming that on average: 
(a) attorneys require 12 minutes per questionnaire; (b) there are 0.45 
respondents per project (c) respondents are surveyed only once, and (d) 
there will be 100 ECR projects conducted each year. Cost burden 
estimates assume: (a) there are no capital or start-up costs for 
respondents, and (b) respondents' time is valued at $41 hr.
    (6) ECR Process--Neutral (facilitators and mediators) 
Questionnaire; New collection request; Abstract: Immediately following 
conclusion of an environmental conflict resolution process, the 
neutral(s) will be surveyed once, via questionnaire, to determine their 
views on a variety of issues. Topics to be investigated include: was 
the ECR approach well suited to the nature of the issues in conflict; 
were all key parties consulted, and, were all key issues and 
alternatives properly identified and considered? In most cases, it will 
be specified in the neutral's contract that they be required to 
complete the questionnaire. The neutral's questionnaire contains 44 
questions. Information from this questionnaire will permit U.S. 
Institute staff to evaluate if the intended ECR outcomes were achieved, 
and if so or not, why. Affected Entities: Entities potentially affected 
by this action are neutrals in ECR processes conducted by, on behalf 
of, the U.S. Institute. Burden Statement: It is estimated that the 
annual national

[[Page 66459]]

public burden and associated costs and will be approximately 62.5 hours 
and $2,250, respectively. These values were calculated assuming that on 
average: (a) neutrals will require minutes per questionnaire; (b) there 
are 1.25 respondents per project (c) respondents are surveyed only 
once, and (d) there will be 100 ECR projects conducted each year. Cost 
burden estimates assume: (a) there are no capital or start-up costs for 
respondents, and (b) respondents' time is valued at $36 hr.
    (7) ECR Process--Neutral case summary; New collection request; 
Abstract: Immediately following conclusion of an environmental conflict 
resolution process, the neutral(s) will be asked to provide answers to 
four questions the answers to which will help the U.S. Institute 
characterize the controversy. Among other things, the questions explore 
the benefits from the collaborative process, and insights concerning 
which controversies are most appropriate for collaborative processes, 
along with suggestions regarding the design and implementation of ECR 
processes. In those cases managed by the U.S. Institute, it will be 
specified in the neutral's contract that they be required to provide 
answers to these questions. Information from this questionnaire will 
permit U.S. Institute staff to evaluate if the intended ECR outcomes 
were achieved, and if so or not, why. Affected Entities: Entities 
potentially affected by this action are neutrals in ECR processes 
conducted by, on behalf of, the U.S. Institute. Burden Statement: It is 
estimated that the annual national public burden and associated costs 
and will be approximately 31.25 hours and $1,125, respectively. These 
values were calculated assuming that on average: (a) neutrals will 
require 15 minutes per questionnaire; (b) there are 1.25 respondents 
per project (c) respondents are surveyed only once, and (d) there will 
be 100 ECR projects conducted each year. Cost burden estimates assume: 
(a) there are no capital or start-up costs for respondents, and (b) 
respondents' time is valued at $36 hr.
National Roster of Environmental Dispute Resolution and Consensus-
Building Professionals
    The U.S. Institute has a full-time Roster Manager who supervises a 
Roster Program consisting of two main components: design and operation 
of the National Roster of Environmental Dispute Resolution and 
Consensus Building Professionals, and overseeing the associated 
referral system. Membership on the roster remains open at all times. 
Potential members apply on line and are required to provide information 
that demonstrates a level of training and experience adequate to meet 
specific, objective entry criteria. First constituted in February 2000, 
the roster currently includes over 180 members, nationwide. When making 
referrals and locating neutrals for sub-contracting, the U.S. Institute 
uses the roster as a primary source to find experienced individuals, 
particularly in the locale of the project or dispute (as required by 
the Institute's enabling legislation). Currently, dispute resolutions 
specialists at the U.S. EPA have direct access to the roster and use it 
to assist them in finding practitioners. Other federal agencies, and 
the public, will soon have direct access to the roster via the WWW. 
When requested by any party to a qualifying dispute, the Roster Manager 
also provides advice and assistance regarding selection of appropriate 
practitioners.
    (8) National Roster--Members Questionnaire; New collection request; 
Abstract: After being registered as a roster member, individuals will 
be surveyed once, via questionnaire, to determine their views on a 
variety of issues. Topics to be investigated include their level of 
satisfaction with the application process and computer system that 
provides web access; and their level awareness of the roster and how to 
best use it for their needs. This voluntary questionnaire contains 20 
questions, and most require only a simple fill-in-the blank response. 
Data and information from this questionnaire will permit U.S. Institute 
staff to evaluate the performance of the Roster Program, to determine 
it is meeting its intended outcomes, and if so or not, why. Affected 
Entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are roster 
members. Burden Statement: It is estimated that the annual national 
public burden and associated costs and will be approximately 66.7 hours 
and $2,400, respectively. These values were calculated assuming that on 
average: (a) roster members require 20 minutes per questionnaire; (b) 
there are 200 roster members per year; (c) respondents are surveyed 
only once. Cost burden estimates assume: (a) there are no capital or 
start-up costs for respondents, and (b) respondents' time is valued at 
$36 hr.
    (9) National Roster--Members Follow-up Questionnaire; New 
collection request; Abstract: After being registered as a roster member 
for a period of time, individuals will be again surveyed, once, via 
questionnaire, to determine their views on a variety of issues. Topics 
to be investigated are similar to those in questionnaire (8), described 
above, and include their level of satisfaction with their roster 
membership, the computer system that provides web access; and the 
degree to which roster membership has been beneficial to them. This 
voluntary questionnaire contains 20 questions, and most require only a 
simple fill-in-the blank response. Data and information from this 
questionnaire will permit U.S. Institute staff to evaluate the 
performance of its Roster Program, to determine if it is meeting its 
intended outcomes, and if not, why. Affected Entities: Entities 
potentially affected by this action are roster members. Burden 
Statement: It is estimated that the annual national public burden and 
associated costs will be approximately 76.7 hours and $2,760, 
respectively. These values were calculated assuming that on average: 
(a) roster members require 20 minutes per questionnaire; (b) there are 
230 roster members per year; (c) respondents are surveyed only once. 
Cost burden estimates assume: (a) there are no capital or start-up 
costs for respondents, and (b) respondents' time is valued at $36 hr.
    (10) National Roster--Users Questionnaire (Upon Registering); New 
collection request; Abstract: Users who are seeking to identify 
appropriate neutrals for a specific case via electronic access to the 
roster must first register on line with the Roster Manager to gain 
access to the roster website. After gaining access, users will be 
surveyed once prior to logging off from their first use of the website 
to gain information concerning the functioning and utility of the 
website. Should major revisions occur in the website design, these 
users will again be surveyed, once, following their next use of the 
roster website. This voluntary questionnaire contains seven questions, 
most requiring only a simple fill-in-the blank response. Information 
from this questionnaire will permit U.S. Institute staff to evaluate 
the performance of the Roster website and whether it is meeting the 
intended outcomes, and if so or not, why. Affected Entities: Entities 
potentially affected by this action are individuals who have register 
to use the roster website. Burden Statement: It is estimated that the 
annual national public burden and associated costs and will be 
approximately 5 hours and $135, respectively. These values were 
calculated assuming that on average: (a) users require 15 minutes to 
complete the questionnaire; (b) there are 20 new users per year; and 
(c) respondents are surveyed only once. Cost burden estimates assume: 
(a) there are no capital or start-up costs for respondents,

[[Page 66460]]

and (b) respondents' time is valued at $27 hr.
    (11) National Roster-Questionnaire for Users After Each Roster 
Search; New collection request; Abstract: Users who search the roster 
will be surveyed once for each new roster search. This voluntary 
questionnaire contains 23 questions, most requiring no more than a 
simple fill-in-the blank response. Information from this questionnaire 
will permit U.S. Institute staff to evaluate how well the Roster is 
performing in meeting the needs of those searching the roster, and if 
so or not, why. Affected Entities: Entities potentially affected by 
this action are individuals who use the roster to search for names of 
neutrals. Burden Statement: It is estimated that the annual national 
public burden and associated costs will be approximately 10 hours and 
$270, respectively. These values were calculated assuming that on 
average: (a) roster searchers require 10 minutes to complete the 
questionnaire; (b) there are 60 roster searches per year; and (c) 
respondents are surveyed only once. Cost burden estimates assume: (a) 
there are no capital or start-up costs for respondents, and (b) 
respondents' time is valued at $27 hr.
    (12) National Roster--Questionnaire for Users Requesting A 
Referral; New collection request; Abstract: Users who request 
assistance for their roster search directly from the Roster Manager, or 
other U.S. Institute staff, will be surveyed once for each new assisted 
roster search. This voluntary questionnaire contains 18 questions, most 
requiring only a simple fill-in-the blank response. Information from 
this questionnaire will permit U.S. Institute staff to evaluate how 
well the combination of the roster and support from Institute personnel 
performed in meeting the needs of those requesting assistance, and if 
or if not fully, then why. Affected Entities: Entities potentially 
affected by this action are individuals who request assistance in using 
the roster to search for names of neutral candidates. Burden Statement: 
It is estimated that the annual national public burden and associated 
costs will be approximately 10 hours and $360, respectively. These 
values were calculated assuming that on average: (a) users who have 
requested assistance will require 10 minutes to complete the 
questionnaire; (b) there are 60 assisted roster searches each year; and 
(c) respondents are surveyed only once for each referral. Cost burden 
estimates assume: (a) there are no capital or start-up costs for 
respondents, and (b) respondents' time is valued at $36 hr.
Environmental Conflict Resolution Training Courses and Workshops
    Education and training sessions are conducted by the U.S. Institute 
and its contractors for a variety of audiences to both increase the 
appropriate use of ECR and to improve the ability of those 
participating in ECR processes to effectively negotiate on their own 
behalf and collaborate on the best possible agreement. The subject of 
training sessions varies widely, depending on the participants and 
their specific training needs. The specific objectives of the training 
must be articulated at the outset and professional training instructors 
are expected to design and/or deliver appropriate training to meet 
those objectives and the expectations of the participants.
    Participants in training sessions will be asked to complete three 
questionnaires, one each before the course is presented, again at the 
conclusion of the training, and finally at some future date. Likewise, 
instructors will be asked to complete two questionnaires, one each 
before the course begins, and at the conclusion of the course.
    (13) Training--Participants Questionnaire, prior to start; New 
collection request; Abstract: Training participants will be asked to 
complete a questionnaire before the course begins. Participation is 
voluntary and the questionnaire contains 18 questions, most requiring 
only a simple fill-in-the blank response. Data and information from 
this questionnaire will establish a baseline for measuring changes in 
an individual's level of skill and knowledge as a function of 
participation in the training sessions. Affected Entities: Entities 
potentially affected by this action are individuals who participate in 
training sessions sponsored by the U.S. Institute. Burden Statement: It 
is estimated that the annual national public burden and associated 
costs will be approximately 500 hours and $13,500, respectively. These 
values were calculated assuming that on average: (a) training 
participants require 10 minutes to complete the questionnaire; and (b) 
there are 3,000 training participants each year. Cost burden estimates 
assume: (a) there are no capital or start-up costs for respondents, and 
(b) respondents' time is valued at $27 hr.
    (14) Training--Participants Questionnaire, at the conclusion; New 
collection request; Abstract: Training participants will be asked to 
complete a questionnaire at the end of the course. Participation is 
voluntary and the survey instrument contains nine questions, about half 
requiring descriptive answers. Data and information from this 
questionnaire will be compared with the baseline established with the 
pre-training questionnaire. Results will be used to determine the 
effectiveness of the training in improving each participant's level of 
skill and knowledge, and to aid in determining what, if any, factors 
favorably or adversely affected the participant's learning. Affected 
Entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are individuals 
who participate in training sessions sponsored by the U.S. Institute. 
Burden Statement: It is estimated that the annual national public 
burden and associated costs and will be approximately 500 hours and 
$13,500, respectively. These values were calculated assuming that on 
average: (a) training participants require 10 minutes to complete this 
questionnaire; and (b) there are 3,000 training participants each year. 
Cost burden estimates assume: (a) there are no capital or start-up 
costs for respondents, and (b) respondents' time is valued at $27 hr.
    (15) Training--Participants Questionnaire, Follow-Up; New 
collection request; Abstract: Six months (or an appropriate interval to 
be determined) after the training session, each participant will be 
asked to complete a final questionnaire. Participation is voluntary and 
the survey instrument contains nine questions, about half requiring 
descriptive answers. Data and information from this questionnaire will 
be used to determine the longevity and practical usefulness of any 
improvements in skills and knowledge that participants gained from the 
original training sessions. The questionnaire also contains some 
questions designed to identify if and why longer-term training results 
may not be expected. Affected Entities: Entities potentially affected 
by this action are individuals who participate in training sessions 
sponsored by the U.S. Institute. Burden Statement: It is estimated that 
the annual national public burden and associated costs will be 
approximately 500 hours and $13,000, respectively. These values were 
calculated assuming that on average: (a) training participants require 
10 minutes to complete this questionnaire; and (b) there are 3,000 
training participants each year. Cost burden estimates assume: (a) 
there are no capital or start-up costs for respondents, and (b) 
respondents' time is valued at $27 hr.
    (16) Training--Instructor Questionnaire, prior to start; New

[[Page 66461]]

collection request; Abstract: Instructors will be asked to complete a 
questionnaire before the course begins. In most cases, it will be 
specified in the instructor's contract that they complete the 
questionnaire. This survey instrument contains six questions, most 
requiring only a simple fill-in-the blank response. Data and 
information from this questionnaire will establish a baseline of the 
instructor's expectations and intentions to be used in measuring 
changes at the end of the course. Affected Entities: Entities 
potentially affected by this action are instructors who lead training 
sessions sponsored by the U.S. Institute. Burden Statement: It is 
estimated that the annual national public burden and associated costs 
will be approximately 33.3 hours and $1,200, respectively. These values 
were calculated assuming that on average: (a) instructors require 10 
minutes to complete the questionnaire; and (b) each year there are 200 
instructors who work on training sessions sponsored by the U.S. 
Institute. Cost burden estimates assume: (a) there are no capital or 
start-up costs for respondents, and (b) respondents' time is valued at 
$36 hr.
    (17) Training--Instructor Questionnaire, at the conclusion; New 
collection request; Abstract: When the course concludes, instructors 
will be asked to complete a questionnaire. In most cases, it will be 
specified in their contract that they complete this questionnaire. The 
survey instrument contains five questions, most requiring only a simple 
fill-in-the blank response. Data and information from this 
questionnaire will help establish a contextual baseline for evaluating 
survey data from the training participants. As well, this instrument is 
also intended to generate useful feedback on ways to improve the U.S. 
Institute's training projects. Affected Entities: Entities potentially 
affected by this action are instructors who lead training sessions 
sponsored by the U.S. Institute. Burden Statement: It is estimated that 
the annual national public burden and associated costs will be 
approximately 33.3 hours and $1,200, respectively. These values were 
calculated assuming that on average: (a) instructors require 10 minutes 
to complete the questionnaire; and (b) each year there are 200 
instructors who work on training sessions sponsored by the U.S. 
Institute. Cost burden estimates assume: (a) there are no capital or 
start-up costs for respondents, and (b) respondents' time is valued at 
$36 hr.
Meeting Facilitation
    U.S. Institute staff and contractors facilitate and provide 
leadership for many public meetings, ranging from small group meetings 
to large public convenings of several hundred attendees. In order to 
maximize the probability that such meeting objectives will be 
accomplished, the meeting participants must both understand the 
objectives for the meeting, and perceive that the meeting was managed 
in a fair and efficient manner. This requires that the right 
facilitator run the meeting, and the right people attend the meeting.
    (18) Meeting Facilitation--Meeting Attendees Questionnaire, at the 
conclusion of the process; New collection request; Abstract: Attendees 
at public meetings run by U.S. Institute staff or contractors will be 
asked to complete a voluntary questionnaire at the conclusion of the 
meeting. The questionnaire used in this case contains nine questions, 
two-thirds requiring only a simple fill-in-the blank response. 
Information from this questionnaire will help evaluate the 
effectiveness of individual facilitators and particular meeting process 
designs. Affected Entities: Entities potentially affected by this 
action are individuals who participate in these public meetings. Burden 
Statement: It is estimated that the annual national public burden and 
associated costs will be approximately 833.3 hours and $22,500, 
respectively. These values were calculated assuming that on average: 
(a) meeting attendees require 10 minutes to complete the questionnaire; 
(b) the U.S. Institute conducts 100 public meetings each year; and (c) 
50 people attend the average meeting. Cost burden estimates assume: (a) 
there are no capital or start-up costs for respondents; and (b) 
respondents' time is valued at $27 hr.

    Dated: December 18, 2001.
Christopher L. Helms,
Executive Director, Morris K. Udall Foundation.
[FR Doc. 01-31587 Filed 12-21-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-FN-P


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