Notice of Intent to Seek Approval to Collect Information

Title: Application for April Food Security Supplement to the Current Population Survey, 1999. Type of Request: Approval to collect information on household food insecurity. Abstract: The U.S. Bureau of the Census will supplement the April 1999 Current Population Survey with questions regarding household food shopping, food sufficiency, coping mechanisms and food scarcity, and concern about food sufficiency. A similar supplement was also appended to the CPS in April 1995, September 1996, April 1997, and August 1998. ERS is responsible for conducting studies and evaluations of the Nation's food assistance programs that are administered by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Department spends about $37 billion each year to ensure access to nutritious, healthful diets for all Americans. The Food and Nutrition Service administers the 15 food assistance programs of the USDA including Food Stamps, Child Nutrition, and WIC programs. These programs, which serve 1 in 6 Americans, represent our nation's commitment to the principle that no one in our country should fear hunger or experience want. They provide a safety net to people in need. The programs' goals are to provide needy persons with access to a more nutritious diet, to improve the eating habits of the nation's children, and to help America's farmers by providing an outlet for the distribution of food purchased under farmer assistance authorities. These data will be used to develop a scale of food security reflecting a range from food secure households through households experiencing severe food insecurity. Ultimately, this scale will be used to identify the prevalence of poverty-linked food insecurity and hunger experienced in the United States. The purpose of this project is to provide a consistent measure of the extent and severity of food insecurity that will aid in policy decision making. The supplemental survey instrument has been developed in conjunction with food security experts nationwide as well as survey method experts within the Census Bureau. This supplemental information will be collected by both personal visit and telephone interviews in conjunction with the regular monthly CPS interviewing. All interviews, whether by personal visit or by telephone, are conducted using computers. Estimates of Burden: Public reporting burden for this data collection is estimated to average 10 minutes. Respondents: Individuals or households. Estimated number of Respondents: 50,000. Estimated Total Annual Burden on respondents: 8,330 hours. Copies of the information to be collected can be obtained from David M. Smallwood, Deputy Director for Food Assistance Research, Food and Rural Economics Division, Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1800 M Street NW Room 2130, Washington, DC 20036-5831, 202-694-5466. Comments: 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 will 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; (d) 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 may be sent to David M. Smallwood, Deputy Director for Food Assistance Research, Food and Rural Economics Division, Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1800 M Street NW Room 2130, Washington, D.C. 20036-5831, 202-694-5466. All 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.

Dated: November 5, 1998. Betsey Kuhn, Director, Food and Rural Economy Division. [FR Doc. 98-31261 Filed 11-20-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-18-P