[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 46 (Tuesday, March 9, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10973-10974]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-5199]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Food Stamp Program Regulations, Part 275--Quality 
Control

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment 
on a 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. The reporting and recordkeeping 
burdens associated with the Food Stamp Program QC System are approved 
through August 31, 2004, under OMB No. 0584-0303. Part 275 of the Food 
Stamp Program regulations on QC requires these burdens.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before May 10, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Send comments and requests for copies of this information 
collection to: Daniel Wilusz, Chief, Quality Control Branch, Program 
Accountability Division, Food and

[[Page 10974]]

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) 305-2460.
    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: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection should be directed to Daniel 
Wilusz, (703) 305-2460 or e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Food Stamp Program Regulations, Part 275--Quality Control.
    OMB Number: 0584-0303.
    Expiration Date: August 31, 2004.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection of 
information.
    Abstract: There are three components of the QC system that are 
covered in this proposed information collection. They are: (1) The 
sampling plan and (2) the arbitration and (3) good cause processes. 
Each State is required to develop a sampling plan which demonstrates 
the integrity of its case selection procedures. The QC system is 
designed to measure each State agency's payment error rate based on a 
statistically valid sample of food stamp cases. A State's payment error 
rate represents the proportion of cases that were reported through a QC 
review as being ineligible, overissued and underissued food stamp 
benefits. 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. This is 
referred to as the good cause process.
    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. There was a minor increase in the burden due to an 
increase in the number of responses associated with the good cause 
process. The annual reporting burdens associated with arbitration and 
good cause processes are estimated to total 1643 and 8480 respectively. 
The reporting burden for good cause increased from 1917 to 8480 hours. 
This is a result of a re-determination in the number of responses from 
0.226 to 1 per year. 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 1.25 respectively. The recordkeeping burden 
for good cause increased from .28 to 1.25 hours due a re-determination 
in the number of records from .226 to 1 per year. The total annual 
burden for the QC system, as proposed by this notice, increased from 
3830 to 10,394 hours.

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: 1.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 160 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 8480.

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.
    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: 1.
    Estimated Staff Hours Per Recordkeeping: .0236.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1.25.
    The Combined Quality Control System Burden (includes the burdens 
associated with the Sampling Plan, Arbitration and Good Cause): 10,394 
hours.

    Dated: March 1, 2004.
Roberto Salazar,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 04-5199 Filed 3-8-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P