[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 79 (Wednesday, April 24, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20083-20084]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-9967]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Economic Research Service


Notice of Intent of Seek Approval To Collect Information

AGENCY: Economic Research Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. 
L. 104-13) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations at 5 
CFR part 1320 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 1995), this notice announces the 
Economic Research Service's (ERS) intention to request renewal of 
approval for annual information collection on supplemental food 
security questions in the Current Population Survey, commencing with 
the December 2002 survey. These data will be used: to monitor household 
level food security, food insecurity, and hunger in the United States; 
to assess food security and changes in food security for population 
subgroups; to assess the need for, and performance of, domestic food 
assistance programs; to improve the measurement of food security; and 
to provide information to aid in public policy decision making.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by June 28, 2002 to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Address all comments concerning this notice to Mark Nord, 
Team Leader for Food Stamp and Food Security Research, Food and Rural 
Economics Division, Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, 1800 M Street NW Room N-2078, Washington, DC 20036-5831. 
Tel. 202-694-5433. Submit electronic comments to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:   
    Title: Application for Annual Food Security Supplement to the 
Current Population Survey, beginning in December 2002.
    Type of Request: Approval to collect information on household food 
insecurity.
    OMB Number: New number not yet assigned. Number for previous 
collection, 0536-0043.
    Expiration Data: N/A
    Abstract: The U.S. Census Bureau will supplement the December 
Current Population Survey, beginning in 2002, with questions regarding 
household food shopping, food sufficiency, coping mechanisms and food 
scarcity, and concern about food sufficiency. A similar supplement has 
been appended to the CPS annually since 1995. The last collection was 
in December 2001. Copies of the information to be collected can be 
obtained from the address in the preamble.
    ERS is responsible for conducting studies and evaluations of the 
Nation's food assistance programs that are administered by the Food and 
Nutrition Service (FNS), U. S. Department of Agriculture. The 
Department spends about $38 billion each year to ensure access to 
nutritious, healthful diets for all Americans. The Food and Nutrition 
Service administers the 15 food assistance programs of the USDA 
including Food Stamps, Child Nutrition, and WIC programs. These 
programs, which serve 1 in 6 Americans, represent our Nation's 
commitment to the principle that no one in our country should lack the 
food needed for an active healthy life. They provide a safety net to 
people in need. The programs' goals are to provide needy persons with

[[Page 20084]]

access to a more nutritious diet, to improve the eating habits of the 
Nation's children, and to help America's farmers by providing an outlet 
for the distribution of food purchased under farmer assistance 
authorities.
    These data will be used to monitor the prevalence of food security, 
food insecurity, and hunger among the Nation's households. The 
prevalence of these conditions as well as year-to-year trends in their 
prevalence will be estimated at the national level and for population 
subgroups. The data will also be used to monitor the amounts that 
households spend for food and their use of community food pantries and 
emergency kitchens. These statistics along with research based on the 
data will be used to identify the causes and consequences of food 
insecurity, and to assess the need for, and performance of, domestic 
food assistance programs. The data will also be used to improve the 
measurement of food security and to develop measures of additional 
aspects and dimensions of food security. This consistent measurement of 
the extent and severity of food insecurity will aid in policy decision 
making. The supplemental survey instrument was developed in conjunction 
with food security experts nationwide as well as survey method experts 
within the Census Bureau. This supplemental information will be 
collected by both personal visit and telephone interviews in 
conjunction with the regular monthly CPS interviewing. All interviews, 
whether by personal visit or by telephone, are conducted using 
computers.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this data 
collection is estimated to average 7.5 minutes for each household that 
responds to the laborforce portion of the CPS.
    Respondents: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 57,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 7,126 hours.
    Comments: 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; 
(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. Comments should be 
sent to the address in the preamble. 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.

    Dated: March 14, 2002.
Susan Offutt,
Administrator, Economic Research Service.
[FR Doc. 02-9967 Filed 4-23-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-18-P