Notice of Request for New Information Collection

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration

Notice of Request for New Information Collection

AGENCY: Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44

U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Grain Inspection, Packers

and Stockyards Administration's (GIPSA) intent to request approval for

a new information collection related to the delivery of services

conducted under the official inspection, grading, and weighing programs

authorized under the United States Grain Standards Act and the

Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946. This voluntary survey would give

customers of the official inspection, grading, and weighing programs,

who are primarily in the grain, oilseed, rice, lentil, dry pea, edible

bean, and related agricultural commodity markets, an opportunity to

provide feedback on the quality of services they receive and will

provide information on new services that they would like to receive.

This feedback would assist GIPSA's Federal Grain Inspection Service

(FGIS) to

[[Page 51733]]

improve services and service delivery provided by the official

inspection, grading, and weighing system.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before November 23,

1999.

ADDRESSES: Written comments must be submitted to Sharon Vassiliades,

USDA, GIPSA, ART, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Stop 3649, Washington,

DC 20250-3649, or faxed to (202) 720-4628. Comments may also be sent by

electronic mail or Internet to: [email protected]. All comments

received will be made available for public inspection during regular

business hours in Room 0623, South Building, USDA, 1400 Independence

Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-3649 (7 CFR 1.27 (b)).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marianne Plaus at (202) 720-0292.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The United States Grain Standards Act, as

amended (7 U.S.C. 71-87) (USGSA), and the Agricultural Marketing Act of

1946, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627) (AMA), authorize the Secretary of

the United States Department of Agriculture to establish official

inspection, grading, and weighing programs for grains and other

agricultural commodities. Under the USGSA and AMA, GIPSA's FGIS offers

inspecting, weighing, grading, quality assurance, and certification

services for a user-fee, to facilitate the efficient marketing of

grain, oilseeds, rice, lentils, dry peas, edible beans, and related

agricultural commodities in the global marketplace. Under FGIS

oversight, the official inspection, grading, and weighing programs is a

public-private partnership including Federal, State, and private

agencies and provides official inspection, grading, and weighing

services to the domestic and export trade.

There are approximately 2,500 current users of the official

inspection, grading, and weighing programs. These customers are located

nationwide and represent a diverse mixture of small, medium, and large

producers, merchandisers, processors, exporters, and other financially

interested parties. These customers request official services from an

FGIS Field Office; delegated, designated, or cooperating State office;

or designated private agency office.

The goal of FGIS and the official inspection, grading, and weighing

system is to provide timely, high-quality, accurate, consistent, and

professional service that facilitates the orderly marketing of grain

and related commodities. To accomplish this goal and in accordance with

E.O. 12862, FGIS is seeking feedback from customers to evaluate the

services provided by the official inspection, grading, and weighing

programs.

Title: Survey of Customers of the Official Inspection, Grading, and

Weighing Programs (Grain and Related Commodities).

OMB Number: New collection, a number will be assigned after

approval.

Expiration Date of Approval: New collection.

Type of Request: New information collection.

Abstract: The collection of information using a voluntary customer

service survey will provide all paying customers of FGIS and the

official inspection, grading, and weighing programs an opportunity to

evaluate, on a scale of one to five, the timeliness, cost-

effectiveness, accuracy, consistency, and usefulness of services and

results, and the professionalism of employees. Customers will also have

an opportunity to indicate what new or existing services they would use

if such services were offered or available.

FGIS needs to have a more formal means of determining customers'

expectations or the quality of service that is delivered. To collect

this information, FGIS proposes to distribute, over a 3-year period, a

voluntary customer service survey. The initial survey instrument will

consist of nine questions. Subsequent survey instruments will be

tailored to earlier responses. The information collected from the

survey will allow FGIS to ascertain customers' satisfaction with

existing services, compare results from year to year, and determine

what new services customers desire.

The customer service survey consists of one document comprised of

nine questions where customers assess the timeliness, cost-

effectiveness, accuracy, consistency, and usefulness of services and

results, and the professionalism of employees. Some examples of survey

questions include the following: ``I receive results in a timely

manner,'' ``Official results are accurate,'' and ``Inspection personnel

are knowledgeable.'' These survey questions will be assessed using a

rating scale ranging from ``strongly disagrees'' to ``strongly agrees''

or ``no opinion.'' Customers are also asked for which product they

primarily request service, and what percentage of their product is

officially inspected. There is also space available on the survey for

the customer to provide a response to the following statement: ``I

would use the following new/existing service if they were offered/

available.''

By obtaining information from customers through a voluntary

customer service survey, FGIS could continue to improve services and

service delivery provided by the official inspection, grading, and

weighing programs in order to meet or exceed customer expectations.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of

information is estimated to average 10 minutes (i.e., 0.167 hours) per

response.

Respondents: The primary respondents will be the direct paying

customers of FGIS and the official inspection, grading, and weighing

programs.

FY 2000: Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,874 (i.e., 2,498 total

customers x 75% response rate = 1,874).

Frequency of Responses: 1.

Estimated Annual Burden: 313 hours (1,874 responses x 0.167

hours/response = 313 hours).

FY 2001: Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,874.

Frequency of Responses: 1.

Estimated Annual Burden: 313 hours.

FY 2002: Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,874.

Frequency of Responses: 1.

Estimated Annual Burden: 313 hours.

Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Sharon

Vassiliades, Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration,

FGIS, at (202) 720-1738.

Comments: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the collection of

the information is necessary for the proper performance of the

functions of FGIS, including whether the information will have a

practical utility; (b) the accuracy of FGIS' estimate of the burden,

including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c)

ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to

be collected; and (d) ways to 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.

Comments should be addressed to Sharon Vassiliades, as referenced

above. All responses to this notice will be summarized and include in

the request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of

public record.

Dated: September 20, 1999.

James R. Baker,

Administrator, Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration.

[FR Doc. 99-24949 Filed 9-23-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-EN-P