[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 1 (Monday, January 4, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 71]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-34753]


 ========================================================================
 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 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 
 appearing in this section.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 1 / Monday, January 4, 1999 / 
Notices  

[[Page 71]]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request--Survey of States on Their School Meals Initiative 
(SMI) Reviews

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is publishing for public comment a 
summary of a proposed information collection. FNS wishes to examine 
whether data currently collected by States can be used to devise a 
nationwide estimate of the nutrient content of the meals that are 
offered under the school meals programs. Obtaining this estimate is 
necessary for FNS to monitor progress toward goals in its strategic 
plan.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by March 5, 1999 to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposed collection of information to 
Matthew Sinn; Food and Nutrition Service; 3101 Park Center Drive; Room 
208; Alexandria, VA 22302-1500. 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.
    When FNS requests approval for this information collection from the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), FNS will provide OMB with all 
comments received. All comments will thus become public documents.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matthew Sinn, (703) 305-2133.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Survey of States on their School Meals Initiative Reviews.
    OMB Number: Not yet assigned.
    Expiration Date: N/A.
    Type of Request: New collection of information.
    Abstract: The Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food and Nutrition 
Service (FNS) wishes to examine whether certain data currently 
collected by States can be used to devise a nationwide estimate of 
FNS's progress toward a goal in its strategic plan. The goal is that 
school meals be consistent with the Recommended Daily Allowances (RDA) 
and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, i.e., the nutritional 
standards for school meals that were recently established by USDA's 
School Meals Initiative (SMI).
    SMI is the umbrella term for all efforts and activities associated 
with updating the nutritional standards for school meals served 
pursuant to the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. 
The primary goal of SMI was to make the nutritional standards for these 
meals consistent with the latest scientific evidence on proper 
nutrition for children. The legislative and regulatory history of SMI 
began when USDA published a proposed rule on June 10, 1994 (59 FR 
30218), and culminated when the President signed the Healthy Meals for 
Children Act (Public Law 104-149) into law on May 29, 1996. The 
operational implementation of SMI began soon after and is ongoing.
    States are required to assess nutritional compliance with school 
meals requirements of all their school food authorities (SFAs) (the 
legal entities, typically school districts, that operate the USDA 
school meals programs in schools). This proposed data collection is 
intended to inform FNS of the specific data States are collecting in 
their school meals nutrition compliance reviews so that FNS can 
determine whether this data is in such a form that it would allow FNS 
to derive from it national estimates of the nutrient content of meals 
analyzed in the reviews. This data collection will not ask States to 
provide their review data; rather, it will only ask States about the 
disposition and contents of their review data, where it is maintained, 
and how it is maintained (on paper, electronically, etc.).
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 45 minutes per State.
    Respondents: Respondents will be the persons or person in each 
State most knowledgeable of the specifics of school meals nutrition 
compliance reviews in that State.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: There will be 51 respondents for 
the survey: the 48 contiguous States, Hawaii, Alaska, and the District 
of Columbia.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: One.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 38 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Matthew 
Sinn, Food and Nutrition Service, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 208, 
Alexandria, VA 22302-1500.

    Dated: December 14, 1998.
Samuel Chambers, Jr.,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 98-34753 Filed 12-31-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P