81 FR 70088 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comments Request-Assessment of the Barriers That Constrain the Adequacy of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Allotments
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 196 (October 11, 2016)
Food and Nutrition Service
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 196 (October 11, 2016)
| Page Range | 70088-70089 | |
| FR Document | 2016-24478 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 196 (Tuesday, October 11, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 70088-70089] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-24478] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Food and Nutrition Service Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comments Request--Assessment of the Barriers That Constrain the Adequacy of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Allotments AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), USDA. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the public and other public agencies to comment on this proposed information collection. This is a new collection for the purpose of assessing the individual, household, and the environmental factors that limit the adequacy of the SNAP allotment. DATES: Written comments must be received on or before December 12, 2016. ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to: Rosemarie Downer, 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 (703) 305-2576 at (703) 305-2129 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 22302. 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 collected should be directed to Rosemarie Downer at (703) 305-2129. 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 on 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 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: Assessment of the Barriers that Constrain the Adequacy of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Allotments. OMB Number: 0584--NEW. Expiration Date: Not Yet Determined. Type of Request: New collection. Abstract: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is intended to alleviate food insecurity among low-income households. Towards this end, it provides eligible low-income households with a monthly benefit amount (SNAP allotment) based on household size and net income to purchase foods from authorized retailers that can be prepared and eaten at home. SNAP benefits are based on the Thrifty Food Plan, which is intended to be a minimal-cost nutritionally adequate diet, but has been the subject of significant criticism for being inadequate. In 2015, about 53 percent of SNAP households experienced food [[Page 70089]] insecurity, with about 23 percent of SNAP households experiencing very low food security (or severe food insecurity). While participation in SNAP for about 6 months is associated with decreased food insecurity, it does not guarantee food security or a healthy diet. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has examined the current SNAP benefit and has raised several concerns about its adequacy. The IOM committee recommended that FNS assess the individual, household, and the environmental factors that limit the adequacy of the current SNAP allotment. To this end, FNS is conducting a survey followed by in-depth interviews with SNAP participants. The data collection activities to be undertaken subject to this notice include:Food and Your Household Survey: SNAP participants selected for the study will be asked questions about their food budgets, shopping patterns, knowledge and attitudes about healthy diets, barriers to purchasing foods to ensure they eat a healthy diet, coping strategies when resources are limited, participation in nutrition assistance programs, and household characteristics. First, a hard-copy survey will be mailed to SNAP participants, and they will be asked to return it in a postage-paid envelope. Those with bad addresses and those who do not respond to the mailing will be given an option to complete a telephone interview. In-depth interviews. To supplement the survey data, in- person in-depth interviews will be conducted with 120 SNAP participants. Interviewees will be asked open-ended questions about their food budgets, choices, options, preferences, their perceptions of a healthy diet, the extent to which they provide and receive food assistance from others in their social networks, and why they shop for food in specific locations. They will also be asked to narrate a ``tour'' of their kitchen and eating spaces. In-depth interview respondents will be chosen from among survey respondents based on their representation of the following analytic categories of interest: Food security, rural-urban location, geographical region, and phase of the benefit month. Affected Public: Respondent groups identified include individuals/ households (SNAP participants). Estimated Number of Respondents: The total sample size for this collection is 6,983 individuals/households who will be contacted. Out of those, the total number of respondents who will move on to participate in part or whole is 4,800. This includes 4,800 SNAP participants for the Food and Your Household survey (with an 80 percent response rate for eligible respondents) and 120 SNAP participants who will complete the in-depth interviews (with an 80 percent response rate for eligible respondents) in addition to the SNAP survey. Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: Participants in the survey-only group will respond one time and those in the in-depth interview group will respond two times: once to the survey and once to the in-depth interview. Estimated Total Annual Responses: 4,920. Estimated Time per Response: The surveys will take an average of 30 minutes (.5 hours). In-depth interviews will take an average of 75 minutes (1.25 hours). Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2,691.34 hours. See the table below for estimated total annual burden for each type of respondent. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Average Number of Number of Total annual burden per Total burden Respondent respondents responses per responses response (in (in hours) respondent hours) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SNAP Client Survey ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Completed....................... 4,800 1 4,800 0.500 2,400.00 Attempted....................... 1,793 1 1,793 0.067 120.13 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Survey Total................ 6,593 .............. 6,593 .............. 2,520.13 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In-depth Interview with SNAP Clients ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Recruitment Screener: Completed................... 216 1 216 0.083 17.93 Attempted................... 24 1 24 0.033 0.79 In-depth Interview: Completed................... 120 1 120 1.250 150.00 Attempted................... 30 1 30 0.083 2.49 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In-depth Interviews Total... 390 .............. 390 .............. 171.21 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total................... 6,983 .............. 6,983 .............. 2.691.34 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dated: October 3, 2016. Telora T. Dean, Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service. [FR Doc. 2016-24478 Filed 10-7-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-30-P
![70088 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 196 / Tuesday, October 11, 2016 / Notices
collection of information is necessary modality in response to fulfilling its via email to rosemarie.downer@
for the proper performance of the legislative mandate to disseminate vital fns.usda.gov. Comments will also be
functions of the agency, including agricultural information and truly accepted through the Federal
whether the information will have become the national digital library of eRulemaking Portal. Go to http://
practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the agriculture. www.regulations.gov and follow the
agency’s estimate of burden including Need and Use of the Information: The online instructions for submitting
the validity of the methodology and purpose of the research is to ensure that comments electronically.
assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance intended audiences find the information All written comments will be open for
the quality, utility and clarity of the provided on the Internet sites easy to public inspection at the Office of the
information to be collected; and (4) access, clear, informative, and useful. Food and Nutrition Service during
ways to minimize the burden of the The research will provide a means by regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5
collection of information on those who which to classify visitors to the NAL p.m. Monday through Friday) at 3101
are to respond, including through the Internet sites, to better understand how Park Center Drive, Room 1014,
use of appropriate automated, to serve them. If the information is not Alexandria, Virginia 22302.
electronic, mechanical, or other collected, NAL will be limited in its All responses to this notice will be
technological collection techniques or ability to provide accurate, timely summarized and included in the request
other forms of information technology. information to its user community. for Office of Management and Budget
Comments regarding this information Description of Respondents: approval. All comments will be a matter
collection received by November 10, Individuals or households; Business or of public record.
2016 will be considered. Written other for-profit; Not-for-profit FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
comments should be addressed to: Desk institutions; Farms; State, Local or Requests for additional information or
Officer for Agriculture, Office of Tribal Government. copies of this information collected
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Number of Respondents: 12,000. should be directed to Rosemarie Downer
Office of Management and Budget Frequency of Responses: Reporting: at (703) 305–2129.
(OMB), New Executive Office Building, Annually. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Comments
725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC Total Burden Hours: 720.
20502. Commenters are encouraged to are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed
submit their comments to OMB via Ruth Brown, collection of information is necessary
email to: OIRA_Submission@ Departmental Information Collection for the proper performance of the
OMB.EOP.GOV or fax (202) 395–5806 Clearance Officer. functions of the agency, including
and to Departmental Clearance Office, [FR Doc. 2016–24440 Filed 10–7–16; 8:45 am] whether the information shall have
USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, BILLING CODE 3410–03–P
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
Washington, DC 20250–7602. Copies of agency’s estimate of the burden on the
the submission(s) may be obtained by proposed collection of information,
calling (202) 720–8958. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE including the validity of the
An agency may not conduct or methodology and assumptions that were
sponsor a collection of information Food and Nutrition Service used; (c) ways to enhance the quality,
unless the collection of information utility, and clarity of the information
Agency Information Collection collected; and (d) ways to minimize the
displays a currently valid OMB control
Activities: Proposed Collection; burden of the collection of information
number and the agency informs
Comments Request—Assessment of on those who are to respond, including
potential persons who are to respond to
the Barriers That Constrain the use of appropriate automated,
the collection of information that such
Adequacy of Supplemental Nutrition electronic, mechanical, or other
persons are not required to respond to
Assistance Program (SNAP) technological collection techniques or
the collection of information unless it
Allotments other forms of information technology.
displays a currently valid OMB control
number. AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service Title: Assessment of the Barriers that
(FNS), USDA. Constrain the Adequacy of
Agricultural Research Service Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
ACTION: Notice.
Title: Evaluation of User Satisfaction Program (SNAP) Allotments.
with NAL Internet Sites. SUMMARY: In accordance with the OMB Number: 0584—NEW.
OMB Control Number: 0518–0040. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this Expiration Date: Not Yet Determined.
Summary of Collection: There is a notice invites the public and other Type of Request: New collection.
need to measure user satisfaction with public agencies to comment on this Abstract: The Supplemental Nutrition
the National Agricultural Library (NAL) proposed information collection. This is Assistance Program (SNAP) is intended
Internet sites in order for NAL to a new collection for the purpose of to alleviate food insecurity among low-
comply with Executive Order 12862, assessing the individual, household, income households. Towards this end,
which directs federal agencies that and the environmental factors that limit it provides eligible low-income
provide significant services directly to the adequacy of the SNAP allotment. households with a monthly benefit
the public to survey customers to amount (SNAP allotment) based on
DATES: Written comments must be
determine the kind and quality of household size and net income to
services they want and their level of received on or before December 12, purchase foods from authorized retailers
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
satisfaction with existing services. NAL 2016. that can be prepared and eaten at home.
Internet sites are a vast collection of ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to: SNAP benefits are based on the Thrifty
Web pages created and maintained by Rosemarie Downer, Food and Nutrition Food Plan, which is intended to be a
component organizations of NAL, and Service/U.S. Department of Agriculture, minimal-cost nutritionally adequate
are visited by 8.6 million people per 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 1014, diet, but has been the subject of
month on average. The information Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may significant criticism for being
generated from this research will enable also be submitted via fax to the attention inadequate. In 2015, about 53 percent of
NAL to evaluate the success of this new of (703) 305–2576 at (703) 305–2129 or SNAP households experienced food
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![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 196 / Tuesday, October 11, 2016 / Notices 70089
insecurity, with about 23 percent of characteristics. First, a hard-copy survey is 6,983 individuals/households who
SNAP households experiencing very will be mailed to SNAP participants, will be contacted. Out of those, the total
low food security (or severe food and they will be asked to return it in a number of respondents who will move
insecurity). While participation in postage-paid envelope. Those with bad on to participate in part or whole is
SNAP for about 6 months is associated addresses and those who do not respond 4,800. This includes 4,800 SNAP
with decreased food insecurity, it does to the mailing will be given an option participants for the Food and Your
not guarantee food security or a healthy to complete a telephone interview. Household survey (with an 80 percent
diet. • In-depth interviews. To supplement response rate for eligible respondents)
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has the survey data, in-person in-depth and 120 SNAP participants who will
examined the current SNAP benefit and interviews will be conducted with 120 complete the in-depth interviews (with
has raised several concerns about its SNAP participants. Interviewees will be an 80 percent response rate for eligible
adequacy. The IOM committee asked open-ended questions about their respondents) in addition to the SNAP
recommended that FNS assess the food budgets, choices, options, survey.
individual, household, and the preferences, their perceptions of a Estimated Number of Responses per
environmental factors that limit the healthy diet, the extent to which they Respondent: Participants in the survey-
adequacy of the current SNAP provide and receive food assistance only group will respond one time and
allotment. To this end, FNS is from others in their social networks, and those in the in-depth interview group
conducting a survey followed by in- why they shop for food in specific will respond two times: once to the
depth interviews with SNAP locations. They will also be asked to survey and once to the in-depth
participants. The data collection narrate a ‘‘tour’’ of their kitchen and interview.
activities to be undertaken subject to eating spaces. In-depth interview Estimated Total Annual Responses:
this notice include: respondents will be chosen from among 4,920.
• Food and Your Household Survey: survey respondents based on their Estimated Time per Response: The
SNAP participants selected for the study representation of the following analytic surveys will take an average of 30
will be asked questions about their food categories of interest: Food security, minutes (.5 hours). In-depth interviews
budgets, shopping patterns, knowledge rural-urban location, geographical will take an average of 75 minutes (1.25
and attitudes about healthy diets, region, and phase of the benefit month. hours).
barriers to purchasing foods to ensure Affected Public: Respondent groups Estimated Total Annual Burden on
they eat a healthy diet, coping strategies identified include individuals/ Respondents: 2,691.34 hours.
when resources are limited, households (SNAP participants). See the table below for estimated total
participation in nutrition assistance Estimated Number of Respondents: annual burden for each type of
programs, and household The total sample size for this collection respondent.
Average
Number of
Number of Total annual burden per Total burden
Respondent responses per
respondents responses response (in hours)
respondent (in hours)
SNAP Client Survey
Completed ............................................................................ 4,800 1 4,800 0.500 2,400.00
Attempted ............................................................................. 1,793 1 1,793 0.067 120.13
Survey Total .................................................................. 6,593 ........................ 6,593 ........................ 2,520.13
In-depth Interview with SNAP Clients
Recruitment Screener:
Completed ..................................................................... 216 1 216 0.083 17.93
Attempted ...................................................................... 24 1 24 0.033 0.79
In-depth Interview:
Completed ..................................................................... 120 1 120 1.250 150.00
Attempted ...................................................................... 30 1 30 0.083 2.49
In-depth Interviews Total .............................................. 390 ........................ 390 ........................ 171.21
Total ....................................................................... 6,983 ........................ 6,983 ........................ 2.691.34
Dated: October 3, 2016. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
Telora T. Dean, Public Law 104–13. Comments are
Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition Forest Service requested regarding (1) whether the
collection of information is necessary
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016–24478 Filed 10–7–16; 8:45 am]
Submission for OMB Review; for the proper performance of the
Comment Request functions of the agency, including
BILLING CODE 3410–30–P
whether the information will have
October 4, 2016.
practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the
The Department of Agriculture has agency’s estimate of burden including
submitted the following information the validity of the methodology and
collection requirement(s) to OMB for assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance
review and clearance under the the quality, utility and clarity of the
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Document Created: 2018-02-13 16:34:15
Document Modified: 2018-02-13 16:34:15
| 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 December 12, 2016. | |
| Contact | Requests for additional information or copies of this information collected should be directed to Rosemarie Downer at (703) 305-2129. | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 70088 |
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