[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 233 (Monday, December 6, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70432-70433]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-26680]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request Food Stamp Program Form FNS-521, Food Coupon Deposit 
Document

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, 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 of a currently approved collection of the Food Stamp Program 
for which approval expires on December 31, 2004. The Food Stamp Act of 
1977, as amended, requires that all verified and encoded redemption 
certificates accepted by insured financial institutions from authorized 
retail food stores shall be forwarded with the corresponding coupon 
deposits to the Federal Reserve Bank along with the accompanying Food 
Coupon Deposit Document (Form FNS-521). Requirements in the Food Stamp 
Program regulations are the basis for the information collected on Form 
FNS-521.
    The Food and Nutrition Service is rapidly phasing out the use of 
paper food coupons. Currently, 99.9 percent of all food stamp benefits 
are issued electronically. Forty-eight States, the District of 
Columbia, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and Puerto Rico have online 
operating Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) systems. Two States operate 
offline food stamp EBT systems and issue paper food coupons to 
recipients who move out of State and have remaining food stamp 
benefits. Many States have already closed out their coupon inventory 
completely and more will be doing the same in the upcoming year. 
Approximately 18,140 Food Coupon Deposit Documents were processed by 
financial institutions in Fiscal Year 2004 and the number continues to 
decline due to 100 percent EBT implementation. Until all of the paper 
food coupons issued are redeemed, the Food Coupon Deposit Document will 
remain an essential document to the food stamp redemption process.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by February 4, 2005, to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Send comments and requests for copies of this information 
collection to: Andrea Gordon, Chief, Redemption Management Branch, 
Benefit Redemption Division, Food and Nutrition Service, U. S. 
Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 404, 
Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may also be faxed to (703) 305-1863 or 
e-mailed to: [email protected]
    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 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 also become a matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrea Gordon, (703) 305-2456.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Food Coupon Deposit Document.
    OMB Number: 0584-0314.
    Expiration Date: December 31, 2004.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved 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. The Food Stamp Act of 1977, as amended, (the Act) 
requires that FNS provide for the redemption, through financial 
institutions, of food coupons accepted by retail food stores from 
program participants. Section 278.5 of the Food Stamp Program 
regulations governs financial institution and

[[Page 70433]]

Federal Reserve participation in the food coupon redemption process.
    Form FNS-521, Food Coupon Deposit Document (FCDD) is required to be 
used by all financial institutions when they deposit food coupons at 
Federal Reserve Banks. Without the FCDD, no vehicle would exist for 
financial institutions, Federal Reserve Banks, and the FNS to track 
deposits of food coupons.
    Respondents: Financial institutions and Federal Reserve Banks.
    Number of Respondents: 10,000.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: The number of 
responses is estimated to be 1.814 responses per financial institution 
or Federal Reserve Bank per year.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average .0097222 hours per response.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 176 hours.

    Dated: November 30, 2004.
Jerome A. Lindsay,
Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 04-26680 Filed 12-3-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P