[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 121 (Friday, June 24, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 36558]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-12478]



[[Page 36558]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Special Supplemental 
Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Proposed 
Collection; Comment Request Forms FNS-698, FNS-699, and FNS-700, The 
Integrity Profile (TIP)

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the Food and Nutrition Service's (FNS) intention to 
request approval of revision of a currently approved collection, Forms 
FNS-698--State Agency Profile of Integrity Practices and Procedures 
Report Form, FNS-699--The Integrity Profile Report Form, and FNS-700--
TIP Data Entry Form.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by August 23, 2005.

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 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. Comments may be sent to: 
Patricia N. Daniels, Director, Supplemental Food Programs Division, 
Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park 
Center Drive, Room 520, Alexandria, VA 22302.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval and will become a matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection form and instructions should be 
directed to: Patricia N. Daniels, (703) 305-2749.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: The Integrity Profile (TIP).
    OMB Number: 0584-0401.
    Expiration Date: 06-30-2007.
    Type of Request: Revision of the Currently Approved Collection 
Form.
    Abstract: State agencies administering the Special Supplemental 
Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) are required by 
7 CFR 246.12(j)(5) to submit to FNS an annual summary of the results of 
their vendor monitoring efforts in order to provide Congress, senior 
FNS officials, as well as the general public, assurance that every 
reasonable effort is being made to ensure integrity in the WIC Program. 
Since 1989, WIC State agencies have been required to submit such data 
annually. FNS compiles the data to produce a national report, which 
shows the level of monitoring and investigation conducted by WIC State 
agencies to detect and eliminate, or substantially reduce, vendor fraud 
and abuse. Most State agencies download the data from their automated 
system and transmit it electronically to FNS.
    Comments are being solicited on integrating the TIP reporting 
system as a subsystem of the Food Stamp Store Tracking and Redemption 
System (STARS). Comments are also being solicited on the addition of 
the following proposed data elements to the TIP Data Entry Form (FNS-
700) data submission:
    (1) Identification of vendors (i.e., retail stores) authorized that 
derive more than 50 percent of their annual food sales revenue from WIC 
food instruments, and
    (2) The number of months for which redemption data is being 
reported. In addition, the following data elements are proposed for 
inclusion to the State Agency Profile of Integrity Practices and 
Procedures Report Form (FNS-698) data submission regarding criteria 
used to select vendors for authorization:
    (1) A vendor must provide a variety of foods other than WIC 
supplemental foods;
    (2) A vendor must obtain infant formula only from the sources on 
the State agency's list of infant formula wholesalers, distribution, 
and retailers, licensed under State law/regulations and manufacturers 
registered with the Food and Drug Administration;
    (3) A vendor must obtain prior approval to provide incentive items 
to WIC participants if the store derives more than 50 percent of its 
annual food sales revenue from WIC food instruments; and
    (4) A vendor must be authorized by the Food Stamp Program. Most of 
these proposed revisions are a result of amendments made to seciton 17 
ot the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786), as amended, by the 
Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, Public Law 108-265 
enacted June 30, 2004. Lastly, comments are sought on the inclusion of 
an EBT card as an option in reporting the type of food instrument used 
in the State agency's food delivery system.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 46.56 hours per response, including 
the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, 
gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing 
the collection of information. The total annual burden on respondents 
was previously 3,725 hours. This revision includes an adjustment that 
adds one respondent, which increases the total annual burden by 46.56 
hours, and program changes, which increase the total annual burden by 
about 372 hours, for a total annual increase of 419 hours.
    Respondents: Directors or Administrators of WIC State agencies.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 89 respondents.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: One.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 4,144 hours.

    Dated: June 3, 2005.
Roberto Salazar,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 05-12478 Filed 6-23-05; 8:45 am]
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