[Federal Register: January 2, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 1)]
[Notices]               
[Page 122]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02ja04-99]                         

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OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

 
Comment Request for OMB Review of a New Information Collection: 
General Population Rental Equivalency Survey

AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. 
L. 104-13, May 22, 1995), this notice announces that the Office of 
Personnel Management (OPM) intends to submit to the Office of 
Management and Budget a request for a review of a new information 
collection. OPM is seeking comments on its plan to conduct a General 
Population Rental Equivalency Survey (GPRES) on a one-time basis to 
collect information on actual and estimated rents and rental 
characteristics from homeowners and renters in Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, 
Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Washington, DC, area. OPM 
will use this information to see whether (1) differences between 
homeowner rent estimates and rental rates for comparable housing vary 
among the nonforeign cost-of-living allowance (COLA) areas and the 
Washington, DC, area; (2) rents vary among areas based on how long 
renters live in their rental units; and (3) rental data collected in 
GPRES differ on average from rental data that OPM collects in the COLA 
surveys. OPM regulations, adopted pursuant to the stipulation of 
settlement in Caraballo v. United States, No. 1997-0027 (D.V.I.), 
August 17, 2000, require the survey of rents and rental equivalence 
(homeowner estimates of the rental value of their homes).
    OPM will collect information from approximately 5,000 to 8,000 
respondents and estimates the total time per respondent at 8 minutes, 
for a total burden of 670 to 1070 hours. To determine the number of 
respondents, OPM used a common statistical sampling formula and the 
standard deviations from a previous Federal employee housing survey and 
from COLA rental surveys at different confidence levels. At the 
recommendation of Westat, a contractor advising OPM, OPM anticipates 
using computer assisted telephone interviews (CATI) for this survey. 
Westat estimates, based on its experience and the experience of other 
surveyors, that each CATI will take on average approximately 8 minutes.
    Comments are particularly invited on whether (1) this collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of OPM functions, 
(2) it will have practical utility, (3) our estimate of the public 
burden of this collection of information is accurate and based on valid 
assumptions and methodology, and (4) there are ways in which we can 
minimize respondent burden of the collection of information through the 
use of appropriate technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology.
    For copies of this proposal, contact Mary Beth Smith-Toomey on 
(202) 606-8358, fax (202) 418-3251, or e-mail mbtoomey@opm.gov. Please 
include a mailing address with your request.

DATES: Submit comments on or before March 2, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Send or deliver comments to Donald J. Winstead, Deputy 
Associate Director for Pay and Performance Policy, Office of Personnel 
Management, Room 7H31, 1900 E Street, NW., Washington, DC 20415-8200; 
fax (202) 606-4264, or e-mail: cola@opm.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donald L. Paquin, (202) 606-2838.

    U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
Kay Coles James,
Director.
[FR Doc. 03-32257 Filed 12-31-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6325-39-P