[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]


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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.

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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