81 FR 54552 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request-Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Quality Control
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 158 (August 16, 2016)
Food and Nutrition Service
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 158 (August 16, 2016)
| Page Range | 54552-54553 | |
| FR Document | 2016-19533 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 158 (Tuesday, August 16, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 54552-54553] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-19533] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Food and Nutrition Service Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request--Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program--Quality Control AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), USDA. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on this proposed information collection. DATES: Written comments must be received on or before October 17, 2016. ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to: Stephanie Proska, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 822, Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may also be submitted via fax to the attention of Stephanie Proska at 703-305-0928 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 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 or copies of this information collection should be directed to Stephanie Proska at 703-305-2437. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 that were 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. Title: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)--Title 7, Part 275. OMB Number: 0584-0303. Expiration Date: January 31, 2017. Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection. Abstract: There are three components of the Quality Control (QC) system that are covered in this required information collection. They are: (1) The sampling plan; (2) the arbitration process; and (3) the good cause process. Each State is required to develop a sampling plan that demonstrates the integrity of its case selection procedures. The QC system is designed to measure each State agency's payment error rate based on a statistically valid sample of SNAP cases. A State agency's payment error rate represents the proportion of cases that were reported through a QC review as being ineligible, as well as the proportion of SNAP benefits that were either overissued or underissued to SNAP households. The QC system contains procedures for resolving differences in review findings between State agencies and FNS. This is referred to as the arbitration process. The QC system also contains procedures that provide relief for State agencies from all or a part of a QC liability when a State agency can demonstrate that a part or all of an excessive error rate was due to an unusual event that had an uncontrollable impact on the State agency's payment error rate. This is referred to as the good cause process. The approved burden for the QC system includes the burden for the QC sampling plan, the arbitration process and the good cause process. The currently approved burden for total reporting burden for the QC system is 1,544.91 hours, an increase of 167.91 hours. (1) The annual reporting burden associated with the QC sampling plan remains at 265 hours. (2) We estimate the annual reporting burdens associated with arbitration and (3) good cause processes to total 791.1 and 320 hours, respectively. The decrease in the revised burden from the currently approved 792 to 791.1 hours for the arbitration process is due to a decrease in the estimated number of responses per State agency. These decreases are a result of State agencies less frequently disagreeing with FNS' findings. The requested annual reporting burden for the good cause process remains at 320 hours. In addition, we are adding two additional forms to the reporting burden: FNS 74A, Template for QC-related New Investment Plans and FNS 74B, Template for QC-related New Investment Plan Progress Reports. These two templates are being added to this collection in an effort to formalize the regulatory requirements of these two items for States that are subject to QC-related new investments. Based on the number of State agencies subject to the QC-related new investment requirement over the last three years and feedback from those State agencies that responded to our inquiry, we estimate the amount of time to create a QC-related new investment plan is approximately 32 hours. This estimate includes determining root causes of a State agency's error rate, exploring methods to address those causes, and writing up the plan to address those causes. In addition, we estimate it takes approximately 5 hours to complete a progress report updating FNS on the status of the activities in the State agency's relevant QC-related new investment plan. We estimate the total annual reporting burden for 4 State Agencies to complete a new investment plan to be 128 hours and 40 hours for the progress report. The requested annual recordkeeping burden associated with the QC sampling plan remains at 1.25 hours per year. The revised annual recordkeeping burdens associated with arbitration has increased from 0.7788 hour to 1.4868 hours and the good cause process has remained at 0.0472 hour. The estimated recordkeeping burden for the QC-related new investment plan and progress reports total 0.0944 hour and 0.1888 hours respectively. The burden for recordkeeping has increased from 2.076 hours to 3.068 hours. As a result, the overall annual burden for the QC system, as proposed by this notice, increased from 1,379.076 to 1547.978 hours, totaling an increase of 168.90 hours. [[Page 54553]] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Estimated Estimated Responses Total annual average number Estimated Affected public Requirement number of annually per responses of hours per total hours respondents respondent (Col. b x c) response (Col. d x e) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reporting Burden -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State Agencies............................ Sampling Plan............... 53 1 53 5 265 State Agencies............................ Arbitration Process......... 15 4.2 63 12.57 791.91 State Agencies............................ Good Cause Process.......... 2 1 2 160 320 State Agencies............................ New Investment Plan Template 4 1 4 32 128 Form FNS 74 A. State Agencies............................ New Investment Progress 4 2 8 5 40 Report Template Form FNS 74 B. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Grand Total Reporting................. ............................ 53 .............. 130 .............. 1544.91 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Estimated Estimated reports Number of Estimated time total Affected public Requirement number of annually per total annual per record recordkeeping respondents state records hours -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Recordkeeping Burden -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State Agencies............................ Sampling Plan............... 53 1 53 0.0236 1.2508 State Agencies............................ Arbitration Process......... 15 4.2 63 0.0236 1.4868 State Agencies............................ Good Cause Process.......... 2 1 2 0.0236 0.0472 State Agencies............................ New Investment Plan Template 4 1 4 0.0236 0.0944 Form FNS 74 A. State Agencies............................ New Investment Progress 4 2 8 0.0236 0.1888 Report Template Form FNS 74 B. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Grand Total Recordkeeping............. ............................ 53 .............. 130 .............. 3.068 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Combined Grand Total Reporting and ............................ 53 4.90566 260 5.953730 1547.978 Recordkeeping. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dated: August 2, 2016. Yvette S. Jackson, Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service. [FR Doc. 2016-19533 Filed 8-15-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-30-P
![54552 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 158 / Tuesday, August 16, 2016 / Notices
Signed this 8th day of August, 2016. used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, respectively. The decrease in the revised
Carolyn C. Parker, utility, and clarity of the information to burden from the currently approved 792
Director, Office of Advocacy and Outreach. be collected; and (d) ways to minimize to 791.1 hours for the arbitration process
[FR Doc. 2016–19532 Filed 8–15–16; 8:45 am] the burden of the collection of is due to a decrease in the estimated
BILLING CODE P
information on those who are to number of responses per State agency.
respond, including use of appropriate These decreases are a result of State
automated, electronic, mechanical, or agencies less frequently disagreeing
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE other technological collection with FNS’ findings. The requested
techniques or other forms of information annual reporting burden for the good
Food and Nutrition Service technology. cause process remains at 320 hours.
Title: Supplemental Nutrition In addition, we are adding two
Agency Information Collection Assistance Program (SNAP)—Title 7, additional forms to the reporting
Activities: Proposed Collection; Part 275. burden: FNS 74A, Template for QC-
Comment Request—Supplemental OMB Number: 0584–0303. related New Investment Plans and FNS
Nutrition Assistance Program—Quality Expiration Date: January 31, 2017. 74B, Template for QC-related New
Control Type of Request: Revision of a Investment Plan Progress Reports. These
AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service currently approved collection. two templates are being added to this
(FNS), USDA. Abstract: There are three components collection in an effort to formalize the
of the Quality Control (QC) system that regulatory requirements of these two
ACTION: Notice.
are covered in this required information items for States that are subject to QC-
SUMMARY: In accordance with the collection. They are: (1) The sampling related new investments.
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this plan; (2) the arbitration process; and (3)
Based on the number of State agencies
notice invites the general public and the good cause process. Each State is
subject to the QC-related new
other public agencies to comment on required to develop a sampling plan that
investment requirement over the last
this proposed information collection. demonstrates the integrity of its case
three years and feedback from those
selection procedures. The QC system is
DATES: Written comments must be State agencies that responded to our
designed to measure each State agency’s
received on or before October 17, 2016. inquiry, we estimate the amount of time
payment error rate based on a
ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to: to create a QC-related new investment
statistically valid sample of SNAP cases.
Stephanie Proska, Food and Nutrition plan is approximately 32 hours. This
A State agency’s payment error rate
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, estimate includes determining root
represents the proportion of cases that
3101 Park Center Drive, Room 822, causes of a State agency’s error rate,
were reported through a QC review as
Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may exploring methods to address those
being ineligible, as well as the
also be submitted via fax to the attention causes, and writing up the plan to
proportion of SNAP benefits that were
of Stephanie Proska at 703–305–0928 or address those causes. In addition, we
either overissued or underissued to
via email to SNAPHQ–WEB@ estimate it takes approximately 5 hours
SNAP households.
fns.usda.gov. Comments will also be to complete a progress report updating
The QC system contains procedures
accepted through the Federal FNS on the status of the activities in the
for resolving differences in review
eRulemaking Portal. Go to http:// State agency’s relevant QC-related new
findings between State agencies and
www.regulations.gov, and follow the investment plan. We estimate the total
FNS. This is referred to as the
online instructions for submitting annual reporting burden for 4 State
arbitration process. The QC system also
comments electronically. Agencies to complete a new investment
contains procedures that provide relief
All responses to this notice will be plan to be 128 hours and 40 hours for
for State agencies from all or a part of
summarized and included in the request the progress report.
a QC liability when a State agency can
for Office of Management and Budget demonstrate that a part or all of an The requested annual recordkeeping
approval. All comments will be a matter excessive error rate was due to an burden associated with the QC sampling
of public record. unusual event that had an plan remains at 1.25 hours per year. The
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: uncontrollable impact on the State revised annual recordkeeping burdens
Requests for additional information or agency’s payment error rate. This is associated with arbitration has
copies of this information collection referred to as the good cause process. increased from 0.7788 hour to 1.4868
should be directed to Stephanie Proska The approved burden for the QC hours and the good cause process has
at 703–305–2437. system includes the burden for the QC remained at 0.0472 hour. The estimated
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Comments sampling plan, the arbitration process recordkeeping burden for the QC-related
are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed and the good cause process. The new investment plan and progress
collection of information is necessary currently approved burden for total reports total 0.0944 hour and 0.1888
for the proper performance of the reporting burden for the QC system is hours respectively.
functions of the agency, including 1,544.91 hours, an increase of 167.91 The burden for recordkeeping has
whether the information shall have hours. (1) The annual reporting burden increased from 2.076 hours to 3.068
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the associated with the QC sampling plan hours. As a result, the overall annual
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
agency’s estimate of the burden of the remains at 265 hours. (2) We estimate burden for the QC system, as proposed
proposed collection of information, the annual reporting burdens associated by this notice, increased from 1,379.076
including the validity of the with arbitration and (3) good cause to 1547.978 hours, totaling an increase
methodology and assumptions that were processes to total 791.1 and 320 hours, of 168.90 hours.
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![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 158 / Tuesday, August 16, 2016 / Notices 54553
Estimated
Estimated Responses Total annual average Estimated total
Affected public Requirement number of annually per responses number of hours
respondents respondent (Col. b × c) hours per (Col. d × e)
response
Reporting Burden
State Agencies .................................... Sampling Plan ..................................... 53 1 53 5 265
State Agencies .................................... Arbitration Process .............................. 15 4.2 63 12.57 791.91
State Agencies .................................... Good Cause Process .......................... 2 1 2 160 320
State Agencies .................................... New Investment Plan Template Form 4 1 4 32 128
FNS 74 A.
State Agencies .................................... New Investment Progress Report 4 2 8 5 40
Template Form FNS 74 B.
Grand Total Reporting .................. ............................................................. 53 ........................ 130 ........................ 1544.91
Number of
Estimated Number of Estimated total
reports Estimated time
Affected public Requirement number of total annual recordkeeping
annually per per record
respondents records hours
state
Recordkeeping Burden
State Agencies .................................... Sampling Plan ..................................... 53 1 53 0.0236 1.2508
State Agencies .................................... Arbitration Process .............................. 15 4.2 63 0.0236 1.4868
State Agencies .................................... Good Cause Process .......................... 2 1 2 0.0236 0.0472
State Agencies .................................... New Investment Plan Template Form 4 1 4 0.0236 0.0944
FNS 74 A.
State Agencies .................................... New Investment Progress Report 4 2 8 0.0236 0.1888
Template Form FNS 74 B.
Grand Total Recordkeeping ......... ............................................................. 53 ........................ 130 ........................ 3.068
Combined Grand Total Reporting ............................................................. 53 4.90566 260 5.953730 1547.978
and Recordkeeping.
Dated: August 2, 2016. to attendance, please contact the person to make oral statements of three minutes
Yvette S. Jackson, listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION or less. Individuals wishing to make an
Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition CONTACT. oral statement should request in writing
Service. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at by September 2, 2015, to be scheduled
[FR Doc. 2016–19533 Filed 8–15–16; 8:45 am] Superior Ranger District, 209 W. on the agenda. Anyone who would like
BILLING CODE 3410–30–P Riverside Avenue, Superior, Montana. to bring related matters to the attention
Written comments may be submitted of the committee may file written
as described under SUPPLEMENTARY statements with the committee staff
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE INFORMATION. All comments, including before or after the meeting. Written
names and addresses when provided, comments and requests for time to make
Forest Service
are placed in the record and are oral comments must be sent to Racheal
Mineral County Resource Advisory available for public inspection and Koke, RAC Coordinator, P.O. Box 460,
Committee copying. The public may inspect Superior, Montana 59872; by email to
comments received at Superior Ranger rkoke@fs.fed.us, or via facsimile to 406–
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. District. Please call ahead to facilitate 822–3903.
ACTION: Notice of meeting. entry into the building.
Meeting Accommodations: If you are
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: a person requiring reasonable
SUMMARY: The Mineral County Resource Carole Johnson, District Ranger, by accommodation, please make requests
Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet in phone at 406–822–4233 or via email at in advance for sign language
Superior, Montana. The committee is cajohnson01@fs.fed.us; or Racheal
authorized under the Secure Rural interpreting, assistive listening devices
Koke, RAC Coordinator, by phone at
Schools and Community Self- or other reasonable accommodation for
406–822–3930 or via email at rkoke@
Determination Act (the Act) and access to the facility or proceedings by
fs.fed.us.
operates in compliance with the Federal contacting the person listed in the
Individuals who use
Advisory Committee Act. The purpose telecommunication devices for the deaf section titled FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
of the committee is to improve CONTACT. All reasonable
(TDD) may call the Federal Information
collaborative relationships and to Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 accommodation requests are managed
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
provide advice and recommendations to between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., on a case by case basis.
the Forest Service concerning projects Eastern Standard Time, Monday Dated: August 8, 2016.
and funding consistent with title II of through Friday. Carole Johnson,
the Act. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The District Ranger.
DATES: The meeting will be held August purpose of the meeting is to vote on [FR Doc. 2016–19524 Filed 8–15–16; 8:45 am]
25, 2016, at 6:00 p.m. projects that were previously presented.
BILLING CODE 3411–15–P
All RAC meetings are subject to The meeting is open to the public.
cancellation. For status of meeting prior The agenda will include time for people
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Document Created: 2016-08-16 03:20:14
Document Modified: 2016-08-16 03:20:14
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice. | |
| Dates | Written comments must be received on or before October 17, 2016. | |
| Contact | Requests for additional information or copies of this information collection should be directed to Stephanie Proska at 703-305-2437. | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 54552 |
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