82 FR 55079 - Notice of Request for a New Information Collection: Food Safety Behaviors and Consumer Education: Focus Group Research
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 222 (November 20, 2017)
Food Safety and Inspection Service
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 222 (November 20, 2017)
| Page Range | 55079-55081 | |
| FR Document | 2017-25099 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 222 (Monday, November 20, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 55079-55081] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-25099] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Food Safety and Inspection Service [Docket No. FSIS-2017-0042] Notice of Request for a New Information Collection: Food Safety Behaviors and Consumer Education: Focus Group Research AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing its intention to collect information from focus groups on consumer food safety knowledge, attitudes, and practices and to elicit consumer responses to FSIS food safety messages and determine their impact on consumer food safety knowledge and behavior. DATES: Submit comments on or before January 19, 2018. ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this information collection. Comments may be submitted by one of the following methods:Federal eRulemaking Portal: This Web site provides the ability to type short comments directly into the comment field on this Web page or attach a file for lengthier comments. Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions at that site for submitting comments. Mail, including CD-ROMs, etc.: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Docket Clerk, Patriots Plaza 3, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Mailstop 3782, Room 8-163A, Washington, DC 20250-3700. Hand- or courier-delivered submittals: Deliver to Patriots Plaza 3, 355 E Street SW., Room 8-163A, Washington, DC 20250-3700. Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2017-0042. Comments received in response to this docket will be made available for public inspection and posted without change, including any personal information, to http://www.regulations.gov. Docket: For access to background documents or comments received, go to the FSIS Docket Room at Patriots Plaza 3, 355 E Street SW., Room 8- 164, Washington, DC 20250-3700 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gina Kouba, Office of Policy and Program Development, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room 6065, South Building, Washington, DC 20250-3700; (202) 720-5627. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Food Safety Behaviors and Consumer Education: Focus Group Research. Type of Request: New information collection. Abstract: FSIS has been delegated the authority to exercise the functions of the Secretary (7 CFR 2.18, 2.53) as specified in the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 601, et seq.), and the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA) (21 U.S.C. 451, et seq.). FSIS protects the public by verifying that meat and poultry products are safe, wholesome, not adulterated, and correctly labeled and packaged. FSIS's Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Education (USDA, FSIS, OPACE) ensures that all segments of the farm-to-table chain receive valuable food safety information. The consumer education programs developed by OPACE inform the public how to safely handle, prepare, and store meat, poultry, and processed egg products so [[Page 55080]] as to minimize incidence of foodborne illness. OPACE strives to continuously increase consumer awareness of recommended food safety practices and to improve food-handling behaviors at home. OPACE shares its messages through The Food Safe Families campaign (a cooperative effort of USDA, Food and Drug Administration [FDA], and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC]); social media; AskKaren (an online database of frequently asked food safety questions); the FSIS Web site; FoodSafety.gov (a Web site operated by FSIS, FDA and CDC used to promote safe food handling to consumers); the Meat and Poultry Hotline; and various publications and events. These messages are focused on the four core food safety behaviors: Clean, separate, cook, and chill. By testing planned and tailoring existing consumer messaging, FSIS can better ensure that it is effectively communicating with the public to improve consumer food safety practices. Findings from the proposed focus group research will provide insight into how to effectively inform consumers about recommended safe food handling practices. The results of this research will be used to enhance messaging to improve consumers' food safety behaviors and help prevent foodborne illness. To collect information on consumer food safety knowledge, attitudes, and practices, and to elicit consumer responses to FSIS food safety messages and determine their impact on consumer food safety knowledge and behavior, FSIS is requesting approval for a new information collection to conduct consumer focus groups. Focus groups are typically used for developing and testing health communication messages. Qualitative research is particularly useful in studies such as this one, in which the research is exploratory in nature. These findings help provide insight and direction into the topics of interest and provide an understanding of the target audience's attitudes and behaviors. FSIS has contracted with RTI International to conduct two series of focus groups with adults. Each series will include 16 focus groups. The first series will be conducted in Fiscal Year (FY) 2018, and the second series will be conducted in FY 2020. In FY 2018, two sets of focus groups will be conducted, with eight groups per set. The first set of focus groups (Set 1) in FY 2018 will be conducted with parents who have children younger than 18 years old. In Set 1, two focus groups will be conducted in each of four different locations. In each location, one group will be conducted with English- speaking adults and one group with Spanish-speaking adults. The groups will be segmented by education level to increase the homogeneity of the groups. The second set of eight focus groups (Set 2) in FY 2018 will be conducted with English-speaking adults who have intentionally prepared meat or poultry dishes at home to be served undercooked or raw, such as chicken liver pate, hamburgers cooked rare or medium rare, kibbeh, raw meat sandwiches, or beef tartare. The groups will be segmented by type of food and conducted in locations where consumption of these foods is common based on ethnic, cultural, or other traditions. A second series of focus groups will be conducted in FY 2020 with a total of 16 focus groups. The topics for these groups have yet to be determined and will ultimately inform the development of communication campaigns on foodborne illness prevention. For each series of focus groups, a local market research company in each location will recruit potential participants from their databases and other sources. They will also provide the facilities for hosting the focus group discussions. Using convenience sampling, a non- probability sampling technique where subjects are selected because of their convenient accessibility instead of random selection, the market research companies will recruit potential participants who meet the eligibility criteria as defined by the screening questionnaires. An experienced moderator will conduct the focus group discussions and use a facilitator guide, which will serve as an outline and provide structure for the focus group discussions. Each focus group discussion will be professionally recorded (audio and video) by the local market research companies. The audio-recordings will be professionally transcribed. The moderators will review the video-recordings and transcripts of the focus group discussions and prepare a detailed summary of each discussion. The moderators will then analyze the summaries to identify common themes and any exceptions to these themes. The contractor will summarize these findings in a final report to FSIS. No statistical analyses will be conducted. Estimate of Burden: For each series of 16 focus groups, it is expected that 1,280 individuals will complete the screening questionnaire, and it is assumed that 160 will be eligible and subsequently agree to participate in the focus group study (10 people per group). Each screening questionnaire is expected to take 8 minutes (0.133 hour). Taking part in the focus group discussion will take a total of 90 minutes (1.5 hours). For each series of 16 focus groups, the estimated annual reporting burden is 410.24 hours, which is the sum of the burden estimates for the screening and focus group discussion. For the two series of focus groups (32 groups total), the estimated total number of individuals to be screened is 2,560 (1,280 each year) and the estimated total number of individuals to take part in the focus group discussions is no more than 320 (160 each year). The estimated total burden for the two series of focus groups is 820.48 hours (410.24 * 2). Estimated Annual Reporting Burden for the FY 2018 Focus Group Study -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Estimated Annual Study component number of frequency per Total annual Hours per response Total hours respondents response responses -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Screening questionnaire...................... 1,280 1 1,280 0.133 (8 min.)........................... 170.24 Focus group discussion....................... 160 1 160 1.5 (90 min.)............................ 240 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total.................................... .............. .............. .............. ......................................... 410.24 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [[Page 55081]] Estimated Annual Reporting Burden for the FY 2020 Focus Group Study -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Estimated Annual Study component number of frequency per Total annual Hours per response Total hours respondents response responses -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Screening questionnaire...................... 1,280 1 1,280 0.133 (8 min.)........................... 170.24 Focus group discussion....................... 160 1 160 1.5 (90 min.)............................ 240 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total.................................... .............. .............. .............. ......................................... 410.24 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Respondents: Consumers. Estimated No. of Respondents: 2,560. Estimated No. of Annual Responses per Respondent: 1. Estimated Total Burden on Respondents: 820.48 hours. Copies of this information collection assessment can be obtained from Gina Kouba, Office of Policy and Program Development, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 Independence SW., Room 6077, South Building, Washington, DC 20250, (202)690-6510. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of FSIS's functions, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of FSIS's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the method 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, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques, or other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to both FSIS, at the addresses provided above, and the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20253. Responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of public record. Additional Public Notification Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy development is important. Consequently, FSIS will announce this Federal Register publication on-line through the FSIS Web page located at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/federal-register. FSIS also will make copies of this publication available through the FSIS Constituent Update, which is used to provide information regarding FSIS policies, procedures, regulations, Federal Register notices, FSIS public meetings, and other types of information that could affect or would be of interest to our constituents and stakeholders. The Update is available on the FSIS Web page. Through the Web page, FSIS is able to provide information to a much broader, more diverse audience. In addition, FSIS offers an email subscription service which provides automatic and customized access to selected food safety news and information. This service is available at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/subscribe. Options range from recalls to export information, regulations, directives, and notices. Customers can add or delete subscriptions themselves, and have the option to password protect their accounts. USDA Non-Discrimination Statement No agency, officer, or employee of the USDA shall, on the grounds of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, or political beliefs, exclude from participation in, deny the benefits of, or subject to discrimination any person in the United States under any program or activity conducted by the USDA. How To File a Complaint of Discrimination To file a complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, which may be accessed online at http://www.ocio.usda.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2012/Complain_combined_6_8_12.pdf, or write a letter signed by you or your authorized representative. Send your completed complaint form or letter to USDA by mail, fax, or email: Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410, Fax: (202) 690-7442, Email: [email protected]. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.), should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). Done at Washington, DC, on: November 15, 2017. Paul Kiecker, Acting Administrator. [FR Doc. 2017-25099 Filed 11-17-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 222 / Monday, November 20, 2017 / Notices 55079
distributed throughout the United variety of individuals who are involved • Federal eRulemaking Portal: This
States. The regulations in ‘‘Subpart- in breeding, exporting, importing, and Web site provides the ability to type
Fruits and Vegetables’’ (7 CFR 319.56 containing bees and related articles. The short comments directly into the
through 319.56–50), referred to as the information APHIS collects serves as the comment field on this Web page or
regulations, allow a number of fruits supporting documentation needed to attach a file for lengthier comments. Go
and vegetables to be imported into the issue required PPQ forms and to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow
United States, under specified documents that allow importation of the on-line instructions at that site for
conditions, from certain parts of the bees and related articles or authorizes submitting comments.
world. The Animal and Plant Health the release of bees. This documentation • Mail, including CD–ROMs, etc.:
Inspection Service (APHIS) requires that is vital to helping APHIS ensure that Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department
some plants or plant products be exotic bee diseases and parasites, and of Agriculture, Food Safety and
accompanied by a phytosanitary undesirable species and subspecies of Inspection Service, Docket Clerk,
inspection certificate that is completed honeybees, do not spread into or within Patriots Plaza 3, 1400 Independence
by plant health officials in the the United States. Without the Avenue SW., Mailstop 3782, Room 8–
originating or transiting country. information, APHIS could not verify 163A, Washington, DC 20250–3700.
Need and Use of the Information: that imported bees and related articles • Hand- or courier-delivered
APHIS uses the following information do not present a significant risk of submittals: Deliver to Patriots Plaza 3,
activities phytosanitary certificate, fruit introducing exotic bee disease, 355 E Street SW., Room 8–163A,
fly monitoring records and the labeling parasites, and undesirable species and Washington, DC 20250–3700.
of boxes to allow a number of fruits and subspecies of honeybees. Instructions: All items submitted by
vegetables to be imported in the United Description of Respondents: mail or electronic mail must include the
States under specified condition from Businesses or other-for-profit; Foreign Agency name and docket number FSIS–
certain parts of the world. This Federal Government. 2017–0042. Comments received in
information is used as a guide to the Number of Respondents: 18. response to this docket will be made
intensity of the inspection that APHIS Frequency of Responses: available for public inspection and
must conduct when the shipment Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion. posted without change, including any
arrives. Without the information, all Total Burden Hours: 50. personal information, to http://
shipments would need to be inspected Ruth Brown,
www.regulations.gov.
very thoroughly, thereby requiring Docket: For access to background
Departmental Information Collection
considerably more time. This would Clearance Officer.
documents or comments received, go to
slow the clearance of international the FSIS Docket Room at Patriots Plaza
[FR Doc. 2017–25066 Filed 11–17–17; 8:45 am]
shipments. 3, 355 E Street SW., Room 8–164,
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
Description of Respondents: Business Washington, DC 20250–3700 between
or other for profit; Federal Government. 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday
Number of Respondents: 1,112. through Friday.
Frequency of Responses: DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gina
Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion. Kouba, Office of Policy and Program
Food Safety and Inspection Service
Total Burden Hours: 480.
Development, Food Safety and
[Docket No. FSIS–2017–0042]
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Inspection Service, USDA, 1400
Service Notice of Request for a New Independence Avenue SW., Room 6065,
Title: Bees and Related Articles. Information Collection: Food Safety South Building, Washington, DC 20250–
OMB Control Number: 0579–0207. Behaviors and Consumer Education: 3700; (202) 720–5627.
Summary of Collection: The Plant Focus Group Research SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Protection Act (APA) (7 U.S.C. 7701 et Title: Food Safety Behaviors and
seq.), authorizes the Secretary of AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Consumer Education: Focus Group
Agriculture to prohibit or restrict the Service, USDA. Research.
importation, entry, or interstate ACTION: Notice and request for Type of Request: New information
movement of plants, plant products, and comments. collection.
other articles to prevent the Abstract: FSIS has been delegated the
SUMMARY: In accordance with the authority to exercise the functions of the
introduction of plant pests into the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and Secretary (7 CFR 2.18, 2.53) as specified
United States or their dissemination
Office of Management and Budget in the Federal Meat Inspection Act
within the United States.
Under the Honeybee Act (7 U.S.C. (OMB) regulations, the Food Safety and (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 601, et seq.), and the
281–286), the Secretary is authorized to Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA)
prohibit or restrict the importation of its intention to collect information from (21 U.S.C. 451, et seq.). FSIS protects
honeybees and honeybee semen to focus groups on consumer food safety the public by verifying that meat and
prevent the introduction into the United knowledge, attitudes, and practices and poultry products are safe, wholesome,
States of diseases and parasites harmful to elicit consumer responses to FSIS not adulterated, and correctly labeled
to honeybees and of undesirable species food safety messages and determine and packaged.
and subspecies of honeybees. The their impact on consumer food safety FSIS’s Office of Public Affairs and
Animal and Plant Health Inspection knowledge and behavior. Consumer Education (USDA, FSIS,
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Service (APHIS), Plant Protection and DATES: Submit comments on or before OPACE) ensures that all segments of the
Quarantine (PPQ), is responsible for January 19, 2018. farm-to-table chain receive valuable
implementing the intent of these Acts, ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested food safety information. The consumer
and does so through the enforcement of persons to submit comments on this education programs developed by
its pollinator and bee regulations. information collection. Comments may OPACE inform the public how to safely
Need and Use of the Information: be submitted by one of the following handle, prepare, and store meat,
APHIS collects information from a methods: poultry, and processed egg products so
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![55080 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 222 / Monday, November 20, 2017 / Notices
as to minimize incidence of foodborne understanding of the target audience’s instead of random selection, the market
illness. attitudes and behaviors. research companies will recruit
OPACE strives to continuously FSIS has contracted with RTI potential participants who meet the
increase consumer awareness of International to conduct two series of eligibility criteria as defined by the
recommended food safety practices and focus groups with adults. Each series screening questionnaires.
to improve food-handling behaviors at will include 16 focus groups. The first
An experienced moderator will
home. OPACE shares its messages series will be conducted in Fiscal Year
through The Food Safe Families (FY) 2018, and the second series will be conduct the focus group discussions
campaign (a cooperative effort of USDA, conducted in FY 2020. and use a facilitator guide, which will
Food and Drug Administration [FDA], In FY 2018, two sets of focus groups serve as an outline and provide
and Centers for Disease Control and will be conducted, with eight groups per structure for the focus group
Prevention [CDC]); social media; set. The first set of focus groups (Set 1) discussions. Each focus group
AskKaren (an online database of in FY 2018 will be conducted with discussion will be professionally
frequently asked food safety questions); parents who have children younger than recorded (audio and video) by the local
the FSIS Web site; FoodSafety.gov (a 18 years old. In Set 1, two focus groups market research companies. The audio-
Web site operated by FSIS, FDA and will be conducted in each of four recordings will be professionally
CDC used to promote safe food handling different locations. In each location, one transcribed. The moderators will review
to consumers); the Meat and Poultry group will be conducted with English- the video-recordings and transcripts of
Hotline; and various publications and speaking adults and one group with the focus group discussions and prepare
events. These messages are focused on Spanish-speaking adults. The groups a detailed summary of each discussion.
the four core food safety behaviors: will be segmented by education level to The moderators will then analyze the
Clean, separate, cook, and chill. increase the homogeneity of the groups. summaries to identify common themes
By testing planned and tailoring The second set of eight focus groups and any exceptions to these themes. The
existing consumer messaging, FSIS can (Set 2) in FY 2018 will be conducted contractor will summarize these
better ensure that it is effectively with English-speaking adults who have findings in a final report to FSIS. No
communicating with the public to intentionally prepared meat or poultry statistical analyses will be conducted.
improve consumer food safety practices. dishes at home to be served
undercooked or raw, such as chicken Estimate of Burden: For each series of
Findings from the proposed focus group
liver pate, hamburgers cooked rare or 16 focus groups, it is expected that
research will provide insight into how
medium rare, kibbeh, raw meat 1,280 individuals will complete the
to effectively inform consumers about
sandwiches, or beef tartare. The groups screening questionnaire, and it is
recommended safe food handling
practices. The results of this research will be segmented by type of food and assumed that 160 will be eligible and
will be used to enhance messaging to conducted in locations where subsequently agree to participate in the
improve consumers’ food safety consumption of these foods is common focus group study (10 people per group).
behaviors and help prevent foodborne based on ethnic, cultural, or other Each screening questionnaire is
illness. traditions. expected to take 8 minutes (0.133 hour).
To collect information on consumer A second series of focus groups will Taking part in the focus group
food safety knowledge, attitudes, and be conducted in FY 2020 with a total of discussion will take a total of 90
practices, and to elicit consumer 16 focus groups. The topics for these minutes (1.5 hours). For each series of
responses to FSIS food safety messages groups have yet to be determined and 16 focus groups, the estimated annual
and determine their impact on will ultimately inform the development reporting burden is 410.24 hours, which
consumer food safety knowledge and of communication campaigns on is the sum of the burden estimates for
behavior, FSIS is requesting approval foodborne illness prevention. the screening and focus group
for a new information collection to For each series of focus groups, a local discussion. For the two series of focus
conduct consumer focus groups. Focus market research company in each groups (32 groups total), the estimated
groups are typically used for developing location will recruit potential total number of individuals to be
and testing health communication participants from their databases and screened is 2,560 (1,280 each year) and
messages. Qualitative research is other sources. They will also provide the estimated total number of
particularly useful in studies such as the facilities for hosting the focus group individuals to take part in the focus
this one, in which the research is discussions. Using convenience group discussions is no more than 320
exploratory in nature. These findings sampling, a non-probability sampling (160 each year). The estimated total
help provide insight and direction into technique where subjects are selected burden for the two series of focus
the topics of interest and provide an because of their convenient accessibility groups is 820.48 hours (410.24 * 2).
ESTIMATED ANNUAL REPORTING BURDEN FOR THE FY 2018 FOCUS GROUP STUDY
Estimated Annual Total annual Hours per
Study component number of frequency per Total hours
responses response
respondents response
Screening questionnaire .............................................. 1,280 1 1,280 0.133 (8 min.) ........ 170.24
Focus group discussion ............................................... 160 1 160 1.5 (90 min.) .......... 240
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Total ...................................................................... ........................ ........................ ........................ ................................ 410.24
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ESTIMATED ANNUAL REPORTING BURDEN FOR THE FY 2020 FOCUS GROUP STUDY
Estimated Annual Total annual Hours per
Study component number of frequency per Total hours
responses response
respondents response
Screening questionnaire .............................................. 1,280 1 1,280 0.133 (8 min.) ........ 170.24
Focus group discussion ............................................... 160 1 160 1.5 (90 min.) .......... 240
Total ...................................................................... ........................ ........................ ........................ ................................ 410.24
Respondents: Consumers. that could affect or would be of interest Done at Washington, DC, on: November 15,
Estimated No. of Respondents: 2,560. to our constituents and stakeholders. 2017.
Estimated No. of Annual Responses The Update is available on the FSIS Paul Kiecker,
per Respondent: 1. Web page. Through the Web page, FSIS Acting Administrator.
Estimated Total Burden on is able to provide information to a much [FR Doc. 2017–25099 Filed 11–17–17; 8:45 am]
Respondents: 820.48 hours. broader, more diverse audience. In BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P
Copies of this information collection addition, FSIS offers an email
assessment can be obtained from Gina subscription service which provides
Kouba, Office of Policy and Program automatic and customized access to DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Development, Food Safety and selected food safety news and
Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 information. This service is available at: Rural Utilities Service
Independence SW., Room 6077, South http://www.fsis.usda.gov/subscribe.
Building, Washington, DC 20250, Options range from recalls to export Announcement of Loan Application
(202)690–6510. information, regulations, directives, and Procedures, and Deadlines for the
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether Rural Energy Savings Program
notices. Customers can add or delete
the proposed collection of information
subscriptions themselves, and have the AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
is necessary for the proper performance
option to password protect their ACTION:Notice of Funding Availability
of FSIS’s functions, including whether
accounts. (NOFA); the RESP application process
the information will have practical
utility; (b) the accuracy of FSIS’s USDA Non-Discrimination Statement and deadlines.
estimate of the burden of the proposed
No agency, officer, or employee of the SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service
collection of information, including the
USDA shall, on the grounds of race, (RUS), an agency of the United States
validity of the method and assumptions
color, national origin, religion, sex, Department of Agriculture (USDA), is
used; (c) ways to enhance the quality,
gender identity, sexual orientation, announcing funding availability and is
utility, and clarity of the information to
disability, age, marital status, family/ soliciting letters of intent for loan
be collected; and (d) ways to minimize
parental status, income derived from a applications under the Rural Energy
the burden of the collection of
public assistance program, or political Savings Program (RESP), announcing
information, including through the use
beliefs, exclude from participation in, the application process for those loans
of appropriate automated, electronic,
deny the benefits of, or subject to and deadlines for applications from
mechanical, or other technological
collection techniques, or other forms of discrimination any person in the United eligible entities. These loans are made
information technology. Comments may States under any program or activity available under the authority of Section
be sent to both FSIS, at the addresses conducted by the USDA. 6407 of the Farm Security and Rural
provided above, and the Desk Officer for Investment Act of 2002, as amended,
How To File a Complaint of (Section 6407) and the Title III, Section
Agriculture, Office of Information and Discrimination
Regulatory Affairs, Office of 769 of the Consolidated Appropriations
Management and Budget, Washington, To file a complaint of discrimination, Act, 2017. This notice describes the
DC 20253. complete the USDA Program eligibility requirements, the application
Responses to this notice will be Discrimination Complaint Form, which process and deadlines, the criteria that
summarized and included in the request may be accessed online at http:// will be used by RUS to assess
for OMB approval. All comments will www.ocio.usda.gov/sites/default/files/ Applicants’ creditworthiness, and how
also become a matter of public record. docs/2012/Complain_combined_6_8_ to obtain application materials.
12.pdf, or write a letter signed by you DATES: The application process consists
Additional Public Notification of two steps. To be considered for this
or your authorized representative.
Public awareness of all segments of funding, Applicants must submit their
Send your completed complaint form
rulemaking and policy development is documentation no later than the
or letter to USDA by mail, fax, or email:
important. Consequently, FSIS will mandatory dates set forth herein.
announce this Federal Register Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Step 1: To be considered for financing
publication on-line through the FSIS Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 pursuant to this notice, an Applicant
Web page located at: http:// Independence Avenue SW., seeking financing must submit a Letter
www.fsis.usda.gov/federal-register. Washington, DC 20250–9410, Fax: (202) of intent to apply, as provided herein,
nshattuck on DSK9F9SC42PROD with NOTICES
FSIS also will make copies of this 690–7442, Email: program.intake@ in an electronic Portable Document
publication available through the FSIS usda.gov. Format (PDF), not to exceed 10 MB in
Constituent Update, which is used to Persons with disabilities who require size, by electronic mail (email) to
provide information regarding FSIS alternative means for communication RESP@wdc.usda.gov no later than 11:59
policies, procedures, regulations, (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.), p.m. (EST) on January 19, 2018. Late or
Federal Register notices, FSIS public should contact USDA’s TARGET Center incomplete Letters of Intent will not be
meetings, and other types of information at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD). considered by RUS.
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Document Created: 2018-10-25 10:41:35
Document Modified: 2018-10-25 10:41:35
| 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 and request for comments. | |
| Dates | Submit comments on or before January 19, 2018. | |
| Contact | Gina Kouba, Office of Policy and Program Development, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room 6065, South Building, Washington, DC 20250-3700; (202) 720-5627. | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 55079 |
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