[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 183 (Monday, September 22, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55028-55029]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-24098]



[[Page 55028]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request--Food Stamp Program--Store Applications, Form FNS-252, 
Food Stamp Application for Stores

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: On January 2, 2003, USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) 
published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register, asking for comments 
from the public on the revised Food Stamp Program Application for 
Stores, Form FNS-252. We will now actively solicit feedback from 
approximately 30 retailers on the clarity and significance of questions 
on the revised application through one-on-one interactions, through 
small focus groups and/or online. Participants may include new 
applicant retailers, currently participating retailers and members from 
national and local retailer associations.
    We will incorporate comments from retailers into the final version 
of the revised Form FNS-252 and then forward it to OMB for approval. We 
do not intend to use the revised retailer application until the new 
Store Tracking and Redemption Subsystem (STARS) is operational, around 
the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2004. We will use the current Form 
FNS-252 until then.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before November 21, 
2003.

ADDRESSES: 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 
validity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to minimize the 
burden of the collection of information of those who are to respond, 
including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or 
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology. Comments may be sent to Karen 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; FAX number (703) 305-1863; e-mail: [email protected]. All submitted comments should refer to the title of 
this proposal and/or the OMB approval number.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
should be directed to Karen Walker at (703) 305-2418 or [email protected]. Information requests submitted through e-mail should 
refer to the title of this proposal and/or the OMB approval number in 
the subject line.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Food Stamp Program: Food Stamp Program Application for 
Stores, Form FNS-252 (Soliciting Comments from Retailers on the Revised 
Application).
    OMB Number: 0584-0008.
    Expiration Date: May 31, 2004.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: Section 9 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977, as amended, (7 
U.S.C. 2011-2036) requires retail food stores to submit applications to 
FNS for approval prior to participating in the Food Stamp Program. 
Recently, reengineering teams were charged with improving the current 
food stamp application for stores, Form FNS-252, to make it shorter, 
easier to understand and more customer- and computer-friendly. We 
believe the revised Form FNS-252 is an improvement over the current 
Form FNS-252 because it:
    [sbull] Utilizes plain language;
    [sbull] Deletes redundant questions and questions that solicit 
information that can be collected from other FNS sources such as store 
visits and databases;
    [sbull] Improves the accuracy of submitted information through 
better targeted questions; and
    [sbull] Supports the Department's efforts to comply with the E-GOV 
requirements by making the form compatible with current technology. The 
revised retailer application has been developed in a format that can be 
scanned and easily converted into an online document.
    As part of the reengineering team's efforts, we received feedback 
on the revised Form FNS-252 from staff from our regional and field 
offices. Additionally, we published a 60-day notice in the Federal 
Register on January 2, 2003, asking for comments from the public on the 
revised retailer application. We are now seeking additional input from 
retailers. Through this feedback, we will gain a more comprehensive 
evaluation of the revised Form FNS-252 and identify areas that may need 
to be improved further.
    We will solicit comments from approximately 30 retailers on the 
revised retailer application. We will solicit comments through one-on-
one sessions with retailers, or by convening small groups of retailers 
at the conclusion of training sessions on the Food Stamp Program or at 
other meetings of retailers. If we convene small groups of retailers, 
retailers will be asked to give their individual opinions and 
impressions of the form. We will not elicit a group consensus during 
this process. We may also ask individual retailers to complete an 
application to verify that our burden estimates are accurate for the 
time it takes to complete the form. Headquarters or field office staff 
who conduct food stamp training sessions will carry out these comment 
request sessions. The sessions will take place at more than one 
location throughout the country. The purpose of the discussions is to 
get feedback on the form's content; readability; overall form design; 
the clarity of the form's instructions; and to discuss the ease or 
difficulty in completing the revised application. Finally, we may also 
solicit comments online from participating retailers in addition to 
soliciting comments in-person as discussed above.
    Burden Estimates: When soliciting comments, we estimate that we 
will spend at least 40 minutes, or .66 hour, per retailer (20 minutes 
interacting with the retailer and 20 minutes having the retailer 
complete the application, if applicable). Comments will be solicited 
through one-on-one interactions and through small focus groups. 
Participants may include new applicant retailers, currently 
participating retailers and representatives from national and local 
retailer associations. We will consider the comments we receive before 
making final changes to the revised Form FNS-252. If the results of the 
evaluation are positive, we will implement the revised Form FNS-252 
when the new STARS system is operational some time during the fourth 
quarter of fiscal year 2004.
    The estimated burden computation is provided below:
    Affected Public: Currently participating retailers, new applicant 
retailers and members of national and local retailer associations will 
participate in comment request sessions and provide feedback on the 
redesigned form.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 30.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses Per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 30.
    Estimated Hours Per Respondent: .66.

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    Estimate of Burden: 19.8.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 19.8.

    Dated: September 10, 2003.
Roberto Salazar,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 03-24098 Filed 9-18-03; 12:01 pm]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P