[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 60 (Monday, March 29, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16225-16226]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-6917]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request--National School Lunch Program

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Food and Nutrition Service requests public comment on the information 
collection related to the National School Lunch Program, OMB number 
0584-0006.

DATES: To be assured of consideration, comments must be received by May 
28, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Send comments and requests for copies of this information 
collection to: Mr. Terry Hallberg, Chief, Program Analysis and 
Monitoring Branch, Child Nutrition Division, Food and Nutrition 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 
640, Alexandria, Virginia 22302.
    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 comments will be summarized and included in the request for OMB 
approval, and will become a matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Mr. Terry Hallberg at (703) 
305-2590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: 7 CFR part 210, National School Lunch Program.

[[Page 16226]]

    OMB Number: 0584-0006.
    Expiration Date: May 31, 2004.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: The National School Lunch Act of 1946 (NSLA), as amended, 
authorizes the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). The Department of 
Agriculture provides States with general and special cash assistance 
and donations of foods to assist schools in serving nutritious lunches 
to children each school day. Participating schools must serve lunches 
that are nutritionally adequate and to the extent practicable ensure 
that participating children gain a full understanding of the 
relationship between proper eating and good health.
    The Department of Agriculture prescribes the nutritional 
requirements of the lunches in accordance with Section 9(a) of the NSLA 
(42 U.S.C. 1758). That provision requires that ``Lunches served by 
schools participating in the school lunch program under this Act shall 
meet minimum nutritional requirements prescribed by the Secretary on 
the basis of tested nutritional Research * * *.''
    No new reporting and recordkeeping burden are requested under this 
information collection. However, numbers of the reporting and 
recordkeeping burdens are reduced due to the number of the State 
agencies administering the program dropping from 58 to 57, and also the 
elimination of 7 CFR 210.28(d), 64 FR 50735, 50741 (Sept. 20, 1999), 
which contained the requirements for the State Food Distribution 
Advisory Council.
    The purpose of this Notice is to allow the public 60 days to 
comment on all reporting and recordkeeping burdens as indicated under 
the Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents below. The information 
being requested is required to administer and operate this program in 
accordance with the NSLA. The Program is administered at the State and 
school food authority levels and the operations include the submission 
and approval of applications, execution of agreements, submission of 
claims, payment of claims, providing monitoring and technical 
assistance. All of the reporting and recordkeeping requirements 
associated with the NSLP are currently approved by the Office of 
Management and Budget and in force.
    Estimated Number Respondents: 57 State agencies, 20,144 school food 
authorities and 97,767 schools, Total: 118,224.
    Reporting:
     Total Annual Responses: 2,200,706.
     Total Annual Burden: 1,126,021.
     Average Time per Response: .51 hour.
    Recordkeeping:
     Total Annual Responses: 30,472,990.
     Total Annual Burden: 8,335,490.
     Average Time per Response: .27 hour.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden:
     Reporting burden: 1,126,021.
     Recordkeeping burden: 8,335,490.
     Total annual burden hours: 9,461,511.

    Dated: March 22, 2004.
Roberto Salazar,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 04-6917 Filed 3-26-04; 8:45 am]
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