Agency Information Collection Activities; Request for Comments; Renewal of OMB Clearance for Information Collection; Customer Satisfaction Surveys

AGENCY:

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

The FHWA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval for a clearance renewal for an existing information collection that involves generic customer satisfaction surveys. We are required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 to publish this notice in the Federal Register.

DATES:

Please submit comments by October 5, 2004.

ADDRESSES:

You may mail or hand deliver comments to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Dockets Management Facility, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590; telefax comments to (202) 493-2251; or submit electronically at http://dmses.dot.gov/submit. All comments should include the docket number in this notice's heading. All comments may be examined and copied at the above address from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. If you desire a receipt you must include a self-addressed stamped envelope or postcard or, if you submit your comments electronically, you may print the acknowledgment page.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Mike Burk, 202-366-8035, Corporate Management, Federal Highway Administration, Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Customer Satisfaction Surveys.

OMB Control No: 2125-0590.

Background: Executive Order 12862, “Setting Customer Service Standards” requires that Federal agencies provide the highest quality service to our customers by identifying them and determining what they think about our services and products. The surveys covered in the existing generic clearance will provide the FHWA a means to gather this data directly from our customers. The information obtained from the surveys will be used to assist in evaluating service delivery and processes. The responses to the surveys will be voluntary and will not involve information that is required by regulations. There will be no direct costs to the respondents other than their time. The FHWA plans to provide an electronic means for responding to the majority of the surveys via the World Wide Web.

Respondents: State and local governments, highway industry organizations, general public.

Frequency: Generally, on an annual basis.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: The burden hours per response will vary with each survey; however, we estimate an average burden of 15 minutes for each survey. We estimate that FHWA will survey approximately 50,000 respondents annually during the next three years. Therefore, the estimated total annual burden is 12,500 hours.

Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspect of this information collection, including: (1) Whether the proposed collection is necessary for the FHWA's performance; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (3) ways for the FHWA to enhance the quality, usefulness, and clarity of the collected information; and (4) ways that the burden could be minimized, including the use of computer technology, without reducing the quality of the collected information. The agency will summarize and/or include your comments in the request for OMB's clearance of this information collection.

Electronic Access: Internet users may access all comments received by the U.S. DOT Dockets, Room PL-401, by using the universal resource locator (URL): http://dms.dot.gov. It is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. Please follow the instructions online for more information and help. An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded using a modem and suitable communications software from the Government Printing Office Electronic Bulletin Board Service at telephone number 202-512-1661. Internet users may reach the Federal Register's home page at http://www.nara.gov/fedreg and the Government Printing Office's database at http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara.

Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended; and 49 CFR 1.48.