[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 181 (Tuesday, September 18, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48113-48114]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-23215]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 181 / Tuesday, September 18, 2001 / 
Notices  

[[Page 48113]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: 
Comment Request--Food Stamp Program Redemption Certificate, Form FNS-
278B; Food Stamp Program Wholesaler Redemption Certificate, Form FNS-
278-4

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Food and Nutrition Service is publishing for public comment a summary 
of a proposed information collection. The proposed collection is an 
extension, with change, of a currently approved information collection 
of the Food Stamp Program for which approval expires on November 30, 
2001. The Food Stamp Act of 1977, as amended, requires that the Food 
and Nutrition Service will provide all authorized retail food stores 
and wholesale food concerns with redemption certificates. The 
redemption certificates are to be used by all authorized retailers and 
wholesale firms to present food coupons to insured financial 
institutions for credit or for cash. Requirements in the Food Stamp 
Program regulations are the basis for the information collected on Form 
FNS-278B, Food Stamp Redemption Certificate and Form FNS-278-4, 
Wholesaler Redemption Certificate.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by November 19, 2001 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Karen J. Walker, Chief, Retailer Management 
Branch, Benefit Redemption Division, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 404, 
Alexandria, VA 22302.
    Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507), 
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 has 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 matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen J. Walker, (703) 305-2418.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Food Stamp Redemption Certificate.
    OMB Number: 0584-0085.
    Expiration Date: November 30, 2001.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture is the Federal Agency responsible for the 
Food Stamp Program (FSP). Section 10 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977, as 
amended, (7 U.S.C. 2019) requires that FNS provide for the redemption, 
through financial institutions, of food coupons accepted by approved 
retail food stores and wholesale food concerns from program 
participants. 7 CFR 278.3 and 7 CFR 278.4 of the FSP regulations govern 
the participation of authorized wholesale food concerns and retail 
stores in the food coupon redemption process. Form FNS-278B, Food Stamp 
Redemption Certificate and Form FNS-278-4, Wholesaler Redemption 
Certificates (RCs) are required to be used by all authorized 
wholesalers or retailers, and are processed by financial institutions 
when they are presented for cash or credit. Without the RCs, no vehicle 
would exist for financial institutions, Federal Reserve Banks, and FNS 
to track deposits of food coupons.
    The burden associated with this form is derived from the number of 
RCs processed annually, based on information available in our Store 
Tracking and Redemption System (STARS) database. As of April 2001, the 
number of program respondents was 158,365 retailers and wholesalers and 
5,850 banks participating in the Food Stamp Program. The number of 
completed RC responses by authorized retailers was 5,521,243 annually. 
We estimate that it takes an average of 1.2 minutes (or .020 hours) for 
a retailer to complete the information on the RC and for the financial 
institution to handle and process the document. For this information 
collection package, we calculated the burden hours from each year, 
added them together (2002-2004) and divided by three to obtain the 
average burden for which we are seeking OMB approval. We estimate the 
average burden hours for the next three years to be 135,947.02.
    The burden for each of the three fiscal years (FYs) are estimated 
as follows:
    In FY 2002, we estimate the number of program respondents will be 
152,515 respondents with 5,850 banks continuing to participate in the 
FSP--reduction of 3,113 (or 2 percent) respondents. We also estimate 
that the number of completed RC responses by authorized retailers to be 
10,497,840 annually--providing for a reduction of 2,624,460 (or 20 
percent) annual responses, and a total burden hours calculated to be 
209,956.80 hours.
    In FY 2003, we estimate the number of program respondents will be 
149,465 respondents with 5,850 banks continuing to participate in the 
FSP--a reduction of 3,050.30 (or 2 percent) respondents. We also 
estimate that the number of completed RC responses by authorized 
retailers to be 6,823,596 annually--providing for a reduction of 
3,674,244 (or 35 percent) annual responses, and a total burden hours 
calculated to be 136,471.92 hours.
    In FY 2004, we estimate the number of program respondents will be 
147,223 respondents with 5,850 banks continuing to participate in the 
FSP--a reduction of 2,241.97 (or 1.5 percent) respondents. We also 
estimate that the number of completed RC responses by authorized 
retailers to be 3,070,618

[[Page 48114]]

annually--providing for a reduction of 3,752,977.80 (or 55 percent) 
annual responses, and a total burden hours calculated to be 61,412.364 
hours.
    The estimated reduction of respondents and annual burden hours is 
based on a projected decrease in the number of authorized retailers 
participating in the FSP, and a decrease in the number of RCs processed 
as a result of fewer authorized retailers accepting paper food coupons 
due to the increased use of the Electronic Benefit Transfer system.
    Affected Public: Businesses, wholesale food concerns, or other not-
for profit financial institutions.
    Estimated Average Number of Respondents: 155,584.
    Estimated Average Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 
43.68923.
    Estimated Total Average Annual Responses: 6,797,351.
    Estimate of Burden: Estimated to average .020 hours per response.
    Estimated Total Average Annual Burden: 135,947.02 hours.

    Dated: September 4, 2001.
George A. Braley,
Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 01-23215 Filed 9-17-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P