[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 219 (Thursday, November 13, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 60820]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-29871]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Consumer Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request Forms FCS-683, WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program 
Financial Report and FCS-203, WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program 
Recipient Report, and WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program 
Regulations.

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 Service's (FCS) intention to 
request revision and extension of a currently approved information 
collection pursuant to the WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program 
Regulations. The currently approved collection includes the WIC 
Farmers' Market Nutrition Program Financial Report, the WIC Farmers' 
Market Nutrition Program Recipient Report and WIC Farmers' Market 
Nutrition Program Regulations. The proposed revision and extension will 
include a reduction in overall burden under the regulations due to 
previous overestimation of costs for some reporting items and a 
reduction in burden for the Recipient Report based on the elimination 
of the monthly reporting requirement.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be postmarked by January 12, 1998.

ADDRESSES: 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; and (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: Barbara 
Hallman, Chief, Policy and Program Development Branch, Supplemental 
Food Programs Division, Food and Consumer Service, USDA, 3101 Park 
Center Drive, Room 540, Alexandria, Virginia 22302.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval, and will become a matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of information collection forms and instructions should be 
directed to: Barbara Hallman or Debra Whitford, (703) 305-2730.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program Financial Report, WIC 
Farmers' Market Nutrition Program Recipient Report and WIC Farmers' 
Market Nutrition Program Regulations.
    OMB Number: 0584-0447.
    Expiration Date: June 30, 1998.
    Type of Request: Revision and extension of a Currently Approved 
Collection Form.
    Abstract: Pursuant to section 17(m)(8) of the Child Nutrition Act 
of 1966, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1786(m)(8), section 248.23 of the WIC Farmers' 
Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) regulations requires that certain 
Program-related information be compiled and submitted to FCS. Based on 
reassessment of our previous calculations for reporting and 
recordkeeping for the FMNP, we realized that we had overstated the time 
necessary to complete some reporting items. In addition, respondents' 
experience in implementing and administering the program has reduced 
the cost overall. The number of estimated hours per response for 
selection of farmers/farmers' markets has been reduced from 2 hours to 
1 hour for a total of 1,248 burden hours. The number of estimated hours 
per response for completion of the State Plan has been reduced from 50 
hours to 30 hours for a total of 900 burden hours. The overall burden 
for FMNP regulations has been reduced from 5,952 hours to 4,664 hours.
    The burden hours for completion of the FMNP Recipient Report (FCS-
203) have been decreased from 1.5 hours to 1 hour per response due to 
elimination of the requirement for monthly recipient counts. This 
revision allows States to report annual totals for each category of 
information indicated on the form rather than entering monthly totals. 
Due to the short, seasonal nature of the program, it is 
administratively more efficient for States to report data once for the 
entire program year rather than on a monthly basis.
    Affected Public: State Directors of the FMNP, farmers and market 
managers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 30.
    Estimated Number of Responses Per Respondent: 39.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: Public reporting burden for this 
collection of information is estimated to average 3 hours per response 
for the Financial Report (FCS-683); 1 hour per response for the 
Recipient Report (FCS-203); and 76.5 hours per response for other 
program reporting requirements that do not require specific forms. 
Examples include, but are not limited to the submission of State Plans, 
monitoring requirements and authorization of farmers and markets. These 
requirements, together with the financial and recipient reporting 
requirements; give an overall total of 80.5 hours per response. These 
totals include the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing 
data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing 
and reviewing the collection of information.

    Dated: October 30, 1997.
Yvette S. Jackson,
Acting Administrator, Food and Consumer Service.
[FR Doc. 97-29871 Filed 11-12-97; 8:45 am]
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