[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 11, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18742-18743]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-8901]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 70 / Wednesday, April 11, 2001 / 
Notices  

[[Page 18742]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Food Stamp Program--Quality Control

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 collection. This notice is an extension of the 
currently approved information collection burden for the Quality 
Control (QC) system which includes the sampling plan and the 
arbitration and good cause processes. This part of the QC system burden 
has been approved through June 30, 2001.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before June 11, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Send comments and requests for copies of this information 
collection to: Retha Oliver, Chief, Quality Control Branch, Program 
Accountability Division, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302. You may FAX 
comments to us at (703) 305-0928 or 
e-mail at [email protected]. You may also download an 
electronic version of this notice at http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/ and 
comment via the Internet at the same address. If you do not receive a 
confirmation from the system that we have received your message, 
contact us directly at (703) 305-2474.
    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.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of 
public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Request for additional information or 
copies of the information collection form and instruction should be 
directed to Retha Oliver, (703) 305-2474 or 
e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Food Stamp Program Regulations, Part 275--Quality Control.
    OMB Number: 0584-0303.
    Expiration Date: June 30, 2001.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection of 
information.
    Abstract: These burdens are required by Part 275 of the Food Stamp 
Program regulations on QC. The reporting and recordkeeping burden 
associated with the Food Stamp Program QC System is approved through 
June 30, 2001, under OMB No. 0584-0303. The approved burden for the QC 
system includes the burden for the QC sampling plan and the arbitration 
and good cause processes. The annual reporting burden associated with 
the QC sampling plan is 265 hours per year. The annual reporting 
burdens associated with arbitration and good cause processes are 
estimated to total 1643 and 1917 respectively. The annual recordkeeping 
burden associated with the QC sampling plan is 1.25 hours per year. The 
annual recordkeeping burdens associated with arbitration and good cause 
processes are estimated to total 3.89 and .28 respectively. The total 
annual burden for the QC system, as proposed by this notice, is 3830 
hours.
    The QC system contains procedures for resolving differences in 
review findings between State agencies and FNS. This is referred to as 
the arbitration process. The QC system also contains procedures which 
provide relief for State agencies from all or a part of a QC liability 
when a State agency can demonstrate that a part or all of an excessive 
error rate was due to an unusual event which had an uncontrollable 
impact on the State agency's payment error rate.

Quality Control System Reporting Burden Associated With the 
Sampling Plan, Arbitration, and Good Cause

1. Sampling Plan

    Affected Public: State agencies.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 53.
    Estimated Number of Responses Per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 5 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 265.

2. Arbitration Process

    Affected Public: State agencies.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 53.
    Estimated Number of Responses Per Respondent: 3.1.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 10 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1643.

3. Good Cause Process

    Affected Public: State agencies.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 53.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 0.226.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 160 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1917.

Quality Control System Recordkeeping Burden Associated With the 
Sampling Plan, Arbitration, and Good Cause

1. Sampling Plan

    Estimated Number of Recordkeepers: 53.
    Estimated Number of Records Per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Staff Hours Per Recordkeeping: .0236.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1.25.

2. Arbitration Process

    Estimated Number of Recordkeepers: 53.
    Estimated Number of Records Per Respondent: 3.1.

[[Page 18743]]

    Estimated Staff Hours Per Recordkeeping: .0236.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3.89.

3. Good Cause Process

    Estimated Number of Recordkeepers: 53.
    Estimated Number of Records: .226.
    Estimated Staff Hours Per Recordkeeping: .0236.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: .28.
    The Combined Quality Control System Burden (includes the burdens 
associated with the Sampling Plan, Arbitration and Good Cause): 3830 
hours.

    Dated: April 5, 2001.
George A. Braley,
Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 01-8901 Filed 4-10-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-U