Request for Comment on Proposed Collection of Information Under the Paperwork Reduction Act; Customer Satisfaction Surveys and Focus Groups

[[Page 67371]]

PENSION BENEFIT GUARANTY CORPORATION

Request for Comment on Proposed Collection of Information Under

the Paperwork Reduction Act; Customer Satisfaction Surveys and Focus

Groups

AGENCY: Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

ACTION: Notice of intention to request OMB approval.

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SUMMARY: The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation intends to request

that the Office of Management and Budget approve a series of new

collections of information under the Paperwork Reduction Act. The

purpose of the information collections, which will be conducted through

focus groups and surveys over a three-year period, is to help the PBGC

assess the efficiency and effectiveness with which it serves its

customers and to design actions to address identified problems. The

effect of this notice is to advise the public of, and to solicit public

comment on, these proposed collections of information.

ADDRESSES: All written comments should be addressed to: Office of

General Counsel, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, Suite 340, 1200

K St. NW., Washington, D. C. 20005. The comments will be available for

public inspection at the PBGC Communications and Public Affairs

Department, Suite 240, 1200 K Street, NW., Washington, DC 20005,

between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marc L. Jordan, Attorney, Office of

the General Counsel, Suite 340, 1200 K Street, NW., Washington, DC

20005, 202-326-4026 (202-326-4179 for TTY and TDD). (These are not

toll-free numbers.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44

U.S.C. Chapter 35) establishes policies and procedures for controlling

the paperwork burdens imposed by Federal agencies on the public. The

Act vests the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) with regulatory

responsibility over these burdens, and OMB has promulgated rules on the

clearance of collections of information by Federal agencies.

Executive Order 12862, Setting Customer Service Standards, states

that, in order to carry out the principles of the National Performance

Review, the Federal Government must be customer-driven. It directs all

executive departments and agencies that provide significant services

directly to the public to provide those services in a manner that seeks

to meet the customer service standards established in the Executive

Order.

The PBGC proposes to establish a mechanism through which it will be

able to explore issues of mutual concern (e.g., kind and quality of

desired services) with its major outside client groups, i.e.,

participants and beneficiaries, plan sponsors and their affiliates,

plan administrators, pension practitioners and others involved in the

establishment, operation and termination of plans covered by the PBGC's

insurance program.

The areas of concern to the PBGC and its client groups will change

over time, and it is important that the PBGC have the ability to

evaluate customer concerns quickly. Accordingly, the PBGC plans to

request that OMB grant ``generic'' approval, for a three-year period,

of focus groups and surveys of the PBGC's outside client groups.

Participation in the focus groups and surveys will be voluntary. The

PBGC will consult with OMB regarding each specific information

collection during the approval period.

This voluntary collection of information will put a slight burden

on a very small percentage of the public. The PBGC expects to conduct

focus groups involving a total of approximately 225 persons each year,

with a total annual burden of approximately 675 hours, including travel

time. (Some portion of this time may be spent completing surveys at

focus group meetings.) In addition, the PBGC expects to distribute

written surveys to approximately 1,600 persons each year (in most cases

as an adjunct to a focus group), with a total annual burden of

approximately 200 hours.

The PBGC is specifically seeking public comments to:

(1) Evaluate whether the proposed 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 the 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 or

other forms of information technology.

Issued at Washington, DC, this 26th day of December, 1995.

Martin Slate,

Executive Director, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

[FR Doc. 95-31527 Filed 12-28-95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7708-01-P