81 FR 41514 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 123 (June 27, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 123 (Monday, June 27, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41514-41515]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-15089]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

June 22, 2016.
    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments 
are requested regarding (1) whether the collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the 
accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of 
the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) 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 regarding this information collection received by July 27, 
2016 will be considered. Written comments should be addressed to: Desk 
Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), [email protected] or 
fax (202) 395-5806 and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, 
Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-7602. Copies of the submission(s) 
may be obtained by calling (202) 720-8958.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to 
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

Food and Nutrition Service

    Title: Community Eligibility Provision Characteristics Study (CEP).
    OMB Control Number: 0584-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: Section 104(a) of the Healthy Hunger-Free 
Kids Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-296) amended section 11(a) (1) of the 
Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1759a(a)(1)(the 
law) to provide an alternative to household applications for free and 
reduced- price meals in high poverty local education agencies (LEAs) 
and schools. This alternative is referred to as the Community 
Eligibility Provision (CEP). In accordance with the law, CEP was phased 
in over a period of several years. CEP became available nationwide to 
all eligible LEAs and schools beginning July 1, 2014. The objective of 
the study is to examine operational issues and perceived incentives and 
barriers for adopting CEP as well as the impacts on National School 
Lunch Programs and School Breakfast Program participation and per meal 
revenues.
    Need and Use of the Information: This study is necessary to 
implement section 28(a)(1) of the Richard B. Russell National School 
Lunch Act. This legislation directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
to carry out annual national performance assessments of the School 
Breakfast Program and the National School Lunch Programs. With the 
expansion of CEP nationwide, the CEP Characteristics Study will include 
surveys of nationally representative samples of participating and 
eligible non-participating LEAs to obtain updated information on the 
characteristics of participating and non-participating districts and 
schools. It will also examine CEP impacts on student participation and 
per meal revenue.
    Description of Respondents: State, Local, or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 1,029.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: One time.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,621.

Food and Nutrition Service

    Title: Special Nutrition Programs Quick Response Surveys.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: This is a new generic clearance that will 
allow the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to quickly collect and 
analyze specific information from State and local administrators of the 
Special Nutrition Programs (SNP), including the Special Supplemental 
Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, National School 
Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Summer Food Service Program, 
the Child and Adult Care Food Program, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable 
Program, Food Distribution on Indian Reservation, Commodity 
Supplemental Food Program, and the Emergency Food Assistance Program. 
Currently, FNS conducts lengthy, large, and complex studies on broad 
topics about each SNP, which often take several years to complete. The 
Quick Response Surveys will provide a new mechanism for succinct, 
quick-

[[Page 41515]]

turnaround studies to complement the larger SNP studies. This generic 
clearance will enable FNS to administer the SNPs more effectively by 
providing a mechanism for rapidly collecting current information on 
specific time-sensitive features or issues. The surveys submitted under 
this generic clearance will be voluntary surveys.
    Need and Use of the Information: The surveys submitted under this 
generic clearance will collect information from key administrators of 
the SNPs at the State, local, and site level in response to various 
program and research questions resulting from the larger and more 
complex SNP studies. The data collected from these quick turnaround 
studies will be used to answer policy and implementation questions 
posed by the larger studies and will enable FNS to monitor program 
funding, comply with statutes and regulations, and adopt program 
changes.
    Please note that in the 60-day Federal Register Notice published on 
November 20, 2015, the estimated burden for this collection was 
calculated on an annual basis and did not include estimates for the 
three-year approval period. This notice reports the total burden hours 
for the three year approval.
    Description of Respondents: Not-for profit institutions and State, 
Local, or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 110,403.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On Occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 34,638.

Food and Nutrition Service

    Title: Generic Clearance to Conduct Formative Research.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-0524.
    Summary of Collection: This information collection is based on 
section 19 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1787), section 
5 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1754) 
and section 11(f) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 
2020). This information collection will conduct research in support of 
FNS' goal of delivering science-based nutrition education to targeted 
audiences. From development through testing of materials and tools with 
the target audience, FNS plans to conduct data collections that involve 
formative research including focus groups, interviews (dyad, triad, 
telephone, etc.), surveys and Web-based collection tools.
    Need and Use of the Information: Obtaining formative input and 
feedback is fundamental to FNS' success in delivering science- based 
nutrition messages and reaching diverse segments of the population in 
ways that are meaningful and relevant. This includes conferring with 
the target audience, individuals who serve the target audience, and key 
stakeholders on the communication strategies and interventions that 
will be developed and on the delivery approaches that will be used to 
reach consumers. The formative research and testing activities 
described will help in the development of effective education and 
promotion tools and communication strategies. Collection of this 
information will increase FNS' ability to formulate nutrition education 
interventions that resonate with the intended target population, in 
particular low-income families.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; Not for-
profit institutions; Farms; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 113,775.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 43,803.

Food and Nutrition Service

    Title: Food Program Reporting System (FPRS).
    OMB Control Number: 0584-0594.
    Summary of Collection: The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is 
consolidating certain programmatic and financial data reporting 
requirements under the Food Programs Reporting System (FPRS), an 
electronic reporting system. The purpose is to give State agencies and 
Indian Tribal Organization (ITO) agencies one portal for the various 
reporting required for the programs that the State and ITO agencies 
operate.
    Need and Use of the Information: The data collected will be used 
for a variety of purposes, mainly program evaluation, planning, audits, 
funding, research, regulatory compliance and general statistics. The 
data is gathered at various times, ranging from monthly, quarterly, 
annual or final submissions. Without the information, FNS would be 
unable to meet its legislative and regulatory reporting requirements 
for the affected programs.
    Description of Respondents: State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 5,095.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Quarterly, Semi-annually, 
Monthly; Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 104,556.

Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-15089 Filed 6-24-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-30-P