[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 220 (Tuesday, November 16, 1999)] [Notices] [Page 62165] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-29867] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Food and Nutrition Service Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request--Form FNS-471, Coupon Account and Destruction Report AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on proposed information collections. Sections 7, 11, and 13 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 are the bases for the information collected on Form FNS-471, Coupon Account and Destruction Report. The Food Stamp Act and regulations require an appropriate procedure for accounting for coupons that are no longer usable and subsequently destroyed by the State agency. The FNS-471 is used to document this process. DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before January 18, 2000 to be assured consideration. ADDRESSES: Send comments to Barbara Hallman, Chief, State Administration Branch, Food and Nutrition Service, USDA, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, Virginia 22302. 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 the use of appropriate, automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology. All comments will be summarized and included in the request for Office of Management and Budget approval of the information collection. All comments will become a matter of public record. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dawn Addison, (703) 305-2450. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Coupon Account and Destruction Report. OMB Number: 0584-0053. Form Number: FNS-471. Expiration Date: October 31, 1999. Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection. Abstract: Sections 274.7(f), (g) and (h) of the Food Stamp Program regulations require that State agencies properly dispose of coupons that are received at issuance, claims collection, inventory, and bulk storage points, within 30 days after the end of the month in which the coupons are received. These are coupons received as payments on claims, mutilated or improperly manufactured coupons, old-series coupons that are exchanged for current series, and coupons returned for various other reasons. Coupon books returned intact and unsigned are reusable and returned to inventory. Since coupons are a Federal obligation, the value by denomination of unusable coupons, whether loose or in book form, must be documented and reported on Form FNS-471 and the coupons destroyed. Form FNS-471 is also used to document overages and shortages discovered by issuance and bulk storage points during coupon shipment or transfer. The information contained on the Form FNS-471 is necessary to substantiate coupon inventory and claims collection (coupon payment) data. We are reducing the estimated burden from 40,331 hours to 12,127 hours to reflect the lower volume of coupons currently in circulation due to declining participation combined with the growth in the number of States currently using electronic benefits transfer (EBT) to issue benefits. Total issuance has decreased nearly 25 percent from fiscal year 1996 to fiscal year 1998. In addition, in fiscal year 1996, 15.31 percent of the benefits were issued through EBT. As of July 1999, EBT has increased to about 63.81 percent of the total benefits issued. As a result, coupon issuances have decreased from $18.7 billion in fiscal year 1996 to an estimated $6.2 billion in fiscal year 1999. Affected Public: State and local governments. Estimated Number of Respondents: 9,276. Estimated Time per Response: 0.11 hours. Estimated Total Annual Burden: 12,127 hours. Dated: November 3, 1999. Samuel Chambers, Jr., Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service. [FR Doc. 99-29867 Filed 11-15-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-30-U