[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 135 (Tuesday, July 15, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37861-37862]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-18467]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 135 / Tuesday, July 15, 1997 / 
Notices  

[[Page 37861]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Consumer Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request--Food Distribution Regulations and Forms

AGENCY: Food and Consumer Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the Food and Consumer Services's (FCS) intention to 
request an extension and revision of a currently approved information 
collection, the Food Distribution Regulations and Forms.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by September 
15, 1997.

ADDRESS: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information has practical utility; 
(b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
collection of information, including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and 
clarity of the information now collected; and (d) ways to minimize the 
burden of the collection of information on those who 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: Lillie F. Ragan, Assistant Branch 
Chief, Household Programs Section, Food Distribution Division, Food and 
Consumer Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center 
Drive, Alexandria, Virginia 22302-1594.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval. All 
comments will also become a matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection forms should be directed to Lillie 
F. Ragan, (703) 305-2673.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: Food Distribution Regulations and Forms.
    Number: 0584-0293.
    Expiration Date: 9-30-97.
    Type of Request: Revision of a Currently Approved Information 
Collection.
    Abstract: Under several legislative authorities, the Food and 
Consumer Service, Food Distribution Division, assists American farmers, 
needy people, and all children participating in child nutrition 
programs by distributing commodities acquired by other agencies within 
the Department. The commodities help meet the nutritional needs of: (a) 
Children from preschool age through high school in child nutrition 
programs and in nonprofit summer camps; (b) needy persons in households 
on Indian reservations that are participating in the Food Distribution 
Program on Indian Reservations, and Indian households residing in 
Oklahoma; (c) needy households in the Pacific Islands; (d) needy 
persons served by charitable institutions; (e) elderly participants in 
nutrition programs for the elderly; (f) pregnant and breastfeeding 
women, infants, and children and elderly persons participating in the 
Commodity Supplemental Food Program; (g) low-income, unemployed, and 
homeless persons receiving donated foods or congregate meals through 
organizations participating in the Emergency Food Assistance Program; 
(h) preschool and school age children, elderly and functionally 
impaired adults enrolled in centers participating in the Child and 
Adult Day Care Food Program; and (i) persons receiving food assistance 
as a result of presidentially-declared disasters or situations of 
distress.
    The above described programs are administered under the following 
parts of Title 7 of the Federal Code of Regulations: Part 240, Cash in 
lieu of Donated Foods; 247, Commodity Supplemental Food Program; 250, 
Donation of Foods for use in the United States, its Territories and 
Possessions and Areas under its Jurisdiction; 251, the Emergency Food 
Assistance Program; 252, National Commodity Processing Program; 253, 
Administration of the Food Distribution Program for Households on 
Indian Reservations; and 254, Administration of the Food Distribution 
Program for Indian Households in Oklahoma.
    For programs administered under these regulations, Distributing 
agencies and local organizations collect, prepare and submit to FCS and 
to distributing agencies a wide range of financial and commodity 
accountability reports and plans of operation. These reports and plans 
of operation are necessary to FCS for the ordering and distribution of 
commodities and the provision of Federal administrative funds to 
agencies administering these programs. Additionally, these 
organizations are required to maintain accurate and complete records of 
all their activities under these parts with regard to the receipt, 
distribution/disposal and inventory of donated foods, and with respect 
to any funds which arise from the operation of the distribution 
program. Such records must be maintained for three years from the close 
of the fiscal year to which they pertain; however, in instances where 
there is claims action or audit findings which have not been resolved 
they must be maintained as long as needed.
    Comments are requested on the extension of the approval for the 
following forms contained under OMB No. 0584-0293: FCS-7, Destination 
Data for Delivery of Donated Foods; FCS-52, Food Requisition--Donated 
Food and State Distribution; FCS-53, Multi-Commodity Food Requisition; 
FCS-57, Report of Shipment Received, Over, Short and/or Damaged; FCS-
152, Monthly Distribution of Donated Foods to Family Units; FCS-153, 
Monthly Report of the Commodity Supplemental Food Program and Quarterly 
Administrative Financial Status Report; FCS-155, Inventory Management 
Register; FCS-513, National Commodity Processing Agreement; FCS-153A, 
National Commodity Processing Agreement End Product Data Schedule; FCS-
516, National Commodity Processing System Post Card; FCS-519A and B, 
National Commodity Processing Monthly Performance Report; FCS-586A and 
B, Report of Meals Served--State and Indian Agencies on Aging;

[[Page 37862]]

and FCS-663, Commodity Acceptability Report. Additionally, comments are 
requested with regard to other program reporting requirements that do 
not require specific forms. Examples include, but are not limited to 
the submission of State plans, applications by local agencies, and 
audit responses.
    Comments are also requested regarding the following changes in the 
reporting and recordkeeping burden requirements:
    An adjustment in the reporting and recordkeeping requirements as a 
result of the publication of the proposed rule ``Food Distribution 
Programs--Reduction of the Paperwork Burden'', on March 14, 1997 (62 FR 
12108), and a final rule entitled ``Food Assistance in Disaster and 
Distress Situations'' (62 FR 8361) which was published on February 25, 
1997.
    A reduction in the frequency in which State plans must be submitted 
in the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). This change resulted 
from the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1966 (P.L. 
104-193) which now requires that plans be submitted every four years 
rather than annually.
    A reduction in burden hours resulting from the discontinuance of 
processing bonus commodities under the National Commodity Processing 
(NCP) system. Although NCP was reauthorized through Fiscal Year 2002 by 
Section 405 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 
1996, P.L. 104-127, the availability of bonus commodities is greatly 
reduced and not expected to be available for processing under NCP in 
the near future.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 10 minutes or less to 150 hours per 
response, including the time to review instructions, search existing 
data sources, gather the data needed, and complete and review the 
information collection.
    Respondents: Distributing agencies, subdistributing agencies, and 
recipient agencies; warehouses, food storage facilities, and 
transportation companies; commodity food processors and food service 
management companies.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 396,893 respondents.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 2.3.
    Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 918,862.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,157,508 hours.

    Dated: July 3, 1997.
William E. Ludwig,
Administrator, Food and Consumer Service.
[FR Doc. 97-18467 Filed 7-14-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P