[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 23, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7460-7461]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-2015]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request--7 CFR part 210, National School Lunch Program

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
Notice announces the Food and Nutrition Service's (FNS) intention to 
request Office of Management and Budget (OMB) review of the information 
collections related to the National School Lunch Program, OMB number 
0584-0006.

DATES: To be assured of consideration, comments must be received by 
March 26, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Send comments and requests for copies of this information 
collection to: Mr. Terry Hallberg, Chief, Program Analysis and 
Monitoring Branch, Child Nutrition Division, Food and Nutrition 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 
1006, 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

[[Page 7461]]

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.
    All comments will be summarized and included in the request for OMB 
approval, and will become a matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact Mr. Terry Hallberg at (703) 305-2590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: 7 CFR part 210, National School Lunch Program.
    OMB Number: 0584-0006.
    Expiration Date: February 28, 2001.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: The National School Lunch Act of 1946 (NSLA), as amended, 
authorizes the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). The Department of 
Agriculture provides States with general and special cash assistance 
and donations of foods to assist schools in serving nutritious lunches 
to children each school day. Participating schools must serve lunches 
that are nutritionally adequate and to the extent practicable ensure 
that participating children gain a full understanding of the 
relationship between proper eating and good health.
    The Department of Agriculture prescribes the nutritional 
requirements of the lunches in accordance with Subsection 9(a) of the 
NSLA (42 U.S.C. 1758(a)). That provision requires that ``Lunches served 
by schools participating in the school lunch program under this Act 
shall meet minimum nutritional requirements prescribed by the Secretary 
on the basis of tested nutritional research * * *.''
    On June 8, 2000, the Department published in the Federal Register 
(65 FR 36315) an interim rule which allows schools to offer foods that 
consist of up to 100 percent alternate protein products. In so doing, 
school food authorities that already provide menus or otherwise 
communicate with program participants must identify products or dishes 
with more than 30 percent alternate protein products in a manner which 
does not characterize it solely as beef, pork, poultry or seafood 
products or dishes. This could include information provided on serving 
lines and does not require that school food authorities use menus or 
other methods of communication. This provision allows program 
participants to make informed decisions about their food choices under 
the school meals programs and is referred to as a third-party 
disclosure requirement. Although this provision is in effect, this 
Notice affords the public an opportunity to again comment on the burden 
associated with the Identification of Blended Beef, Pork, Poultry or 
Seafood Products rule.
    The purpose of this Notice is also to request an extension of the 
Information Collection Budget for the NSLP and in accordance with the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, and to allow the public 60 days to 
comment on all reporting and recordkeeping burdens as indicated under 
the Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents below. The information 
being requested is required to administer and operate this program in 
accordance with the NSLA, as amended. The Program is administered at 
the State and school food authority levels and the operations include 
the submission and approval of applications, execution of agreements, 
submission of claims, payment of claims and, monitoring and providing 
technical assistance. All of the reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements associated with the NSLP are currently approved by the 
Office of Management and Budget and are in force.
    Respondents: State agencies, school food authorities, schools.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 118,051 respondents.
    Average Number of Responses per Respondent: The number of responses 
is estimated to be 160 responses per respondent per year.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: The recordkeeping 
hours are estimated at 8,336,342, and the reporting burden hours are 
estimated at 1,126,280, for an estimated total annual burden of 
9,462,622.

    Dated: January 16, 2001.
Samuel Chambers, Jr.,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 01-2015 Filed 1-22-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-U