80_FR_60810 80 FR 60616 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request-USDA Foods in Schools Cost Dynamics

80 FR 60616 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request-USDA Foods in Schools Cost Dynamics

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 194 (October 7, 2015)

Page Range60616-60617
FR Document2015-25444

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on this proposed information collection. This is a new collection for a study of USDA Foods in Schools Cost Dynamics.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 194 (Wednesday, October 7, 2015) 
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 194 (Wednesday, October 7, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60616-60617]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-25444]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request--USDA Foods in Schools Cost Dynamics

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) invites the general public and other 
public agencies to comment on this proposed information collection. 
This is a new collection for a study of USDA Foods in Schools Cost 
Dynamics.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received on or before 
December 7, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection 
of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions 
of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information, 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 use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology.
    Comments may be sent to: Dennis Ranalli, Policy Analyst, Office of 
Policy Support, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 1014, Alexandria, VA 22302. 
Comments may also be submitted via fax to the attention of Dennis 
Ranalli at 703-305-2576 or via email to [email protected]. 
Comments will also be accepted through the Federal eRulemaking Portal. 
Go to http://www.regulations.gov, and follow the online instructions 
for submitting comments electronically.
    All written comments will be open for public inspection at the 
office of the Food and Nutrition Service during regular business hours 
(8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday) at 3101 Park Center Drive, 
Room 1014, Alexandria, Virginia 22301.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments will 
be a matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
should be directed to Dennis Ranalli at 703-305-2149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: USDA Foods in Schools Cost Dynamics.
    Form Number: N/A.
    OMB Number: Not yet assigned.
    Expiration Date: Not yet determined.
    Type of Request: New collection.
    Abstract: USDA Foods play an important role in school meals and may 
contribute up to 20% of the foods served in school meals through the 
National School Lunch Program (NSLP). States and School Food 
Authorities (SFAs) receive a USDA Foods entitlement to acquire products 
offered through the USDA Foods program. USDA Foods can be directly 
delivered from USDA's vendor to state warehouses, distributors, buying 
cooperatives, or SFAs. Fruits and vegetables can be requisitioned 
through the Department of Defense (DoD) Fresh Fruit and Vegetable 
Program. Bulk USDA Foods can be sent directly to a processor to create 
final products for use in school meals.
    An SFA's costs of using USDA Foods begin with how it spends its 
entitlement, which is managed by State Distribution Agencies (SDAs). 
SFAs incur additional costs to obtain USDA Foods for procurement, 
storage, distribution and administration. These functions are performed 
by a variety of agencies involved in this process (FNS, SDAs, storage/
distribution contractors, SFAs and schools). SDAs may absorb some of 
these costs. Finally, the model of contracting with food processors may 
affect the full cost of USDA Foods to SFAs--whether the contract is a 
payment for final product (with a rebate or discount for the SFA) or a 
payment for service, i.e., for transforming the USDA Food into a final 
product.
    While several USDA-funded studies have examined SFA food purchasing 
practices and have compared foods purchased by SFAs with commercial 
products, very little research has focused specifically on the full 
cost of USDA Foods used in school meals. The most recent study on this 
topic, and the model for the current study, is the State Commodity 
Distribution System study covering the 1985-86 school year.
    The proposed study will examine the variety of factors that 
determine the cost and value of USDA Foods to local school and school 
district food programs. The objectives of the study are to (1) identify 
distribution models (including procurement, transportation, storage and 
delivery) used by 49 states and the District of Columbia to distribute 
USDA Foods to schools; (2) identify 4 to 10 procurement and 
distribution models that represent the state systems used in School 
Year (SY) 2015-16; and (3) develop cost estimates for a group of USDA 
Foods, full processed products made from USDA Foods, and comparable 
commercial products.
    Affected Public: Respondent groups include: (1) State officials 
with responsibility for USDA Food provision and (2) directors of school 
food authorities.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 440-950. The proposed final 
samples will include State Distribution Agencies in up to 49 States and 
the District of Columbia, and 112-280 unique SFAs, depending on how 
many distribution models are studied (Kansas is excluded because it 
receives cash payments in lieu of USDA foods). The number studied will 
be determined on the basis of the results of the survey of SDAs.
    Estimated Frequency of Responses per Respondent: All respondents 
will be asked to respond to each instrument only once.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 440-950, depending on the number 
of distribution models studied.
    Estimated Time per Response: 43 minutes (0.72 hours). The estimated 
response time varies from 5 minutes for notifications of the surveys to 
360 minutes (6 hours), depending on the survey and the respondent 
group, as shown in the following table.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 308 to 693 hours.

[[Page 60617]]



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                                                                                                                                           Total annual
                                    Data collection                          Estimated     Frequency of    Total annual    Average hours      burden
         Affected public               activity           Respondents        number of       response        responses     per response      estimate
                                                                            respondents                                                       (hours)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State...........................  Notify state        State education                 50               1              50            0.08               4
                                   officials of web    agency financial
                                   survey.             officer.
State...........................  Self-Administered   Non-respondents...               3               1               3            0.08             0.2
                                   Web Survey.
                                  (Administrative     State education                 47               1              47             1.0              47
                                   data on USDA Food   agency financial
                                   costs).             officer.
State...........................  Notify state        State education               8-20               1            8-20            0.25             2-5
                                   officials of in-    agency financial
                                   person interview.   officer.
State...........................  In-person           State education               8-20               1            8-20               6          48-120
                                   interview of        agency financial
                                   state               officer.
                                   distribution
                                   agency
                                   (Additional
                                   information on
                                   USDA Food costs).
Local and Tribal................  Notify local and    Foodservice                112-280               1         112-280            0.08        9.0-22.4
                                   tribal officials    director.
                                   of web survey.
Local and Tribal................  Self-Administered   Non-respondents...           12-30               1           12-30            0.08         1.0-2.4
                                   Web Survey.
                                  (Administrative     Foodservice                100-250               1         100-250            0.75      75.0-187.5
                                   data on USDA Food   director.
                                   costs).
                                  Phone Follow-up     Nonrespondents....           20-50               1           20-50            0.08         1.6-4.0
                                   Survey.
                                  (Administrative     Foodservice                 80-200               1          80-200             1.5         120-300
                                   data on USDA Food   director.
                                   costs).
                                                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Grand Total.................  ..................  ..................         440-950               1         440-950            0.72         308-693
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Dated: September 30, 2015.
Telora T. Dean,
Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-25444 Filed 10-6-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-30-P

60616 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 194 / Wednesday, October 7, 2015 / Notices Signed by online instructions for submitting While several USDA-funded studies Val Dolcini, comments electronically. have examined SFA food purchasing Administrator, Farm Service Agency. All written comments will be open for practices and have compared foods [FR Doc. 2015–25426 Filed 10–6–15; 8:45 am] public inspection at the office of the purchased by SFAs with commercial BILLING CODE 3410–05–P Food and Nutrition Service during products, very little research has regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5 focused specifically on the full cost of p.m., Monday through Friday) at 3101 USDA Foods used in school meals. The DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Park Center Drive, Room 1014, most recent study on this topic, and the Alexandria, Virginia 22301. model for the current study, is the State Food and Nutrition Service All responses to this notice will be Commodity Distribution System study summarized and included in the request covering the 1985–86 school year. Agency Information Collection for Office of Management and Budget The proposed study will examine the Activities: Proposed Collection; approval. All comments will be a matter variety of factors that determine the cost Comment Request—USDA Foods in of public record. and value of USDA Foods to local Schools Cost Dynamics FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: school and school district food AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service Requests for additional information programs. The objectives of the study (FNS), USDA. should be directed to Dennis Ranalli at are to (1) identify distribution models 703–305–2149. (including procurement, transportation, ACTION: Notice. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: storage and delivery) used by 49 states SUMMARY: In accordance with the Title: USDA Foods in Schools Cost and the District of Columbia to Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Dynamics. distribute USDA Foods to schools; (2) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Form Number: N/A. identify 4 to 10 procurement and invites the general public and other OMB Number: Not yet assigned. Expiration Date: Not yet determined. distribution models that represent the public agencies to comment on this Type of Request: New collection. state systems used in School Year (SY) proposed information collection. This is Abstract: USDA Foods play an 2015–16; and (3) develop cost estimates a new collection for a study of USDA important role in school meals and may for a group of USDA Foods, full Foods in Schools Cost Dynamics. contribute up to 20% of the foods processed products made from USDA DATES: Written comments on this notice served in school meals through the Foods, and comparable commercial must be received on or before December National School Lunch Program (NSLP). products. 7, 2015. States and School Food Authorities Affected Public: Respondent groups ADDRESSES: Comments are invited on: (SFAs) receive a USDA Foods include: (1) State officials with (a) Whether the proposed collection of entitlement to acquire products offered responsibility for USDA Food provision information is necessary for the proper through the USDA Foods program. and (2) directors of school food performance of the functions of the USDA Foods can be directly delivered authorities. agency, including whether the from USDA’s vendor to state Estimated Number of Respondents: information shall have practical utility; warehouses, distributors, buying 440–950. The proposed final samples (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate cooperatives, or SFAs. Fruits and will include State Distribution Agencies of the burden of the proposed collection vegetables can be requisitioned through in up to 49 States and the District of of information, including the validity of the Department of Defense (DoD) Fresh Columbia, and 112–280 unique SFAs, the methodology and assumptions used; Fruit and Vegetable Program. Bulk depending on how many distribution (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, USDA Foods can be sent directly to a models are studied (Kansas is excluded and clarity of the information to be processor to create final products for use because it receives cash payments in collected; and (d) ways to minimize the in school meals. lieu of USDA foods). The number burden of the collection of information An SFA’s costs of using USDA Foods studied will be determined on the basis on those who are to respond, including begin with how it spends its of the results of the survey of SDAs. use of appropriate automated, entitlement, which is managed by State Estimated Frequency of Responses per electronic, mechanical, or other Distribution Agencies (SDAs). SFAs Respondent: All respondents will be technological collection techniques or incur additional costs to obtain USDA asked to respond to each instrument other forms of information technology. Foods for procurement, storage, only once. Comments may be sent to: Dennis distribution and administration. These Ranalli, Policy Analyst, Office of Policy functions are performed by a variety of Estimated Total Annual Responses: Support, Food and Nutrition Service, agencies involved in this process (FNS, 440–950, depending on the number of U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 SDAs, storage/distribution contractors, distribution models studied. Park Center Drive, Room 1014, SFAs and schools). SDAs may absorb Estimated Time per Response: 43 Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may some of these costs. Finally, the model minutes (0.72 hours). The estimated also be submitted via fax to the attention of contracting with food processors may response time varies from 5 minutes for of Dennis Ranalli at 703–305–2576 or affect the full cost of USDA Foods to notifications of the surveys to 360 via email to dennis.ranalli@ SFAs—whether the contract is a minutes (6 hours), depending on the fns.usda.gov. Comments will also be payment for final product (with a rebate survey and the respondent group, as shown in the following table. asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES accepted through the Federal or discount for the SFA) or a payment eRulemaking Portal. Go to http:// for service, i.e., for transforming the Estimated Total Annual Burden on www.regulations.gov, and follow the USDA Food into a final product. Respondents: 308 to 693 hours. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:12 Oct 06, 2015 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\07OCN1.SGM 07OCN1

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 194 / Wednesday, October 7, 2015 / Notices 60617 Total annual Estimated Data collection Frequency of Total annual Average hours burden Affected public Respondents number of activity response responses per response estimate respondents (hours) State ................... Notify state offi- State education 50 1 50 0.08 4 cials of web agency finan- survey. cial officer. State ................... Self-Administered Non-respondents 3 1 3 0.08 0.2 Web Survey. (Administrative State education 47 1 47 1.0 47 data on USDA agency finan- Food costs). cial officer. State ................... Notify state offi- State education 8–20 1 8–20 0.25 2–5 cials of in-per- agency finan- son interview. cial officer. State ................... In-person inter- State education 8–20 1 8–20 6 48–120 view of state agency finan- distribution cial officer. agency (Addi- tional informa- tion on USDA Food costs). Local and Tribal .. Notify local and Foodservice di- 112–280 1 112–280 0.08 9.0–22.4 tribal officials of rector. web survey. Local and Tribal .. Self-Administered Non-respondents 12–30 1 12–30 0.08 1.0–2.4 Web Survey. (Administrative Foodservice di- 100–250 1 100–250 0.75 75.0–187.5 data on USDA rector. Food costs). Phone Follow-up Nonrespondents 20–50 1 20–50 0.08 1.6–4.0 Survey. (Administrative Foodservice di- 80–200 1 80–200 1.5 120–300 data on USDA rector. Food costs). Grand Total ............................ ............................ 440–950 1 440–950 0.72 308–693 Dated: September 30, 2015. describes the documents (Assessment ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Telora T. Dean, Report of Ecological, Social, and Carson National Forest, Attn: Plan Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition Economic Conditions, Trends, and Revision, 208 Cruz Alta Road, Taos, Service. Sustainability for the Carson NF; New Mexico 87571. Comments may also [FR Doc. 2015–25444 Filed 10–6–15; 8:45 am] Summaries of Public Meetings; and be sent via email to carsonplan@ BILLING CODE 3410–30–P Carson NF’s Needs to Change fs.fed.us. Management Direction of Its Existing FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 1986 Forest Plan) available for review Kevin Naranjo, Forest Planner, 575– DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE and how to obtain them; summarizes 758–6221. Individuals who use the needs to change the existing forest telecommunication devices for the deaf Forest Service plan; provides information concerning (TDD) may call the Federal Information Revision of Land Management Plan for public participation and engagement, Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 Carson National Forest; Counties of including the process for submitting between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Colfax, Mora, Rio Arriba, and Taos, comments; provides an estimated Eastern Standard Time, Monday New Mexico schedule for the planning process, through Friday. More information on the planning including the time available for AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. process can also be found on the Carson comments, and includes the names and ACTION: Notice of intent to revise the National Forest’s Web site at addresses of agency contacts who can www.fs.usda.gov/goto/carsonforestplan. Carson National Forest Land provide additional information. Management Plan and prepare an SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: associated Environmental Impact DATES: Comments concerning the Needs Name and Address of the Responsible Statement. to Change and Proposed Action Official provided in this Notice will be most SUMMARY: As directed by the National asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES useful in the development of the draft James Duran, Forest Supervisor, Forest Management Act, the USDA Carson National Forest, 208 Cruz Alta, Forest Service is revising the existing revised plan and draft EIS if received by November 20, 2015. The agency expects Taos, New Mexico 87571. Carson National Forest’s Land Management Plan (hereafter referred to to release a draft revised plan and draft Nature of the Decision To Be Made as forest plan) through development of EIS, developed through a collaborative The Carson National Forest (NF) is an associated National Environmental public engagement process, by late Fall/ preparing an EIS to revise the existing Policy Act (NEPA) Environmental Winter 2016 and a final revised plan forest plan. The EIS process is meant to Impact Statement (EIS). This Notice and final EIS by Spring 2018. inform the Forest Supervisor so he can VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:12 Oct 06, 2015 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\07OCN1.SGM 07OCN1


Document Created: 2015-12-15 08:48:37
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 08:48:37
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice.
DatesWritten comments on this notice must be received on or before December 7, 2015.
ContactRequests for additional information should be directed to Dennis Ranalli at 703-305-2149.
FR Citation80 FR 60616 
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