Notice of Request for Approval of an Information Collection; Veterinary Services; Customer Service Survey

AGENCY:

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION:

New information collection; comment request.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to initiate a new information collection activity that will be used to evaluate service delivery at Veterinary Services area offices and import/export facilities.

DATES:

We will consider all comments that we receive on or before August 15, 2006.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments by either of the following methods:

Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and, in the lower “Search Regulations and Federal Actions” box, select “Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service” from the agency drop-down menu, then click on “Submit.” In the Docket ID column, select APHIS-2006-0088 to submit or view public comments and to view supporting and related materials available electronically. Information on using Regulations.gov, including instructions for accessing documents, submitting comments, and viewing the docket after the close of the comment period, is available through the site's “User Tips” link.

Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send four copies of your comment (an original and three copies) to Docket No. APHIS-2006-0088, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your comment refers to Docket No. APHIS-2006-0088.

Reading Room: You may read any comments that we receive on this docket in our reading room. The reading room is located in room 1141 of the USDA South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, please call (202) 690-2817 before coming.

Other Information: Additional information about APHIS and its programs is available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For information on an information collection to evaluate service delivery at Veterinary Services (VS) area offices and import/export facilities, contact Dr. Robert E. Harris, Jr., Assistant Area Veterinarian in Charge, VS, APHIS, 7022 NW 10th Place, Gainesville, FL 32605; (352) 333-3120. For copies of more detailed information on the information collection, contact Mrs. Celeste Sickles, APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 734-7477.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Veterinary Services; Customer Service Survey.

OMB Number: 0579-XXXX.

Type of Request: Approval of a new information collection.

Abstract: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture regulates, and provides services related to, the importation, interstate movement, and exportation of animals, animal products, and other articles to prevent the spread of pests and diseases of livestock. Veterinary Services (VS) is the program unit that carries out these activities to protect animal health.

In an effort to evaluate service delivery in its area offices and import/export facilities, VS plans to conduct a customer service survey. The survey would be in the form of a short questionnaire that VS would present to individuals who use its services. Completion of the questionnaire would be voluntary, and responses would not identify the individual respondent. Respondents would be asked to identify the type of customer they are (e.g., pet importer/exporter, farm animal importer/exporter, accredited veterinarian, etc.), and then to rate the services received in terms of courtesy, timeliness, helpfulness, etc., as well as rate the overall experience. The questionnaire would also allow respondents to provide comments.

The information collected would be used to identify areas in which VS can improve service delivery and more efficiently meet the needs and expectations of customers.

We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve this information collection activity for 3 years.

The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments from the public (as well as affected agencies) concerning our information collection. These comments will help us:

(1) Evaluate 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;

(2) Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the burden of the 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, through use, as appropriate, of automated, electronic, mechanical, and other collection technologies; e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.

Estimate of burden: The public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 0.083 hours per response.

Respondents: Members of the public who receive services from VS area offices and import/export facilities.

Estimated annual number of respondents: 5,000.

Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.

Estimated annual number of responses: 5,000.

Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 415 hours. (Due to averaging, the total annual burden hours may not equal the product of the annual number of responses multiplied by the reporting burden per response.)

All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of public record.