[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 245 (Thursday, December 22, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76019-76020]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-7689]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Food Stamp Program: Agency Information Collection Activities: 
Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Disaster Food Stamp Program

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment 
on proposed information collections. This information collection is 
based on the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act and Section 5(h) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977, as 
amended, which provide the Secretary of Agriculture with the authority 
to develop an emergency food stamp program to address the needs of 
families temporarily in need of food assistance after a disaster. The 
information collection under this notice is required for the 
establishment and operation of emergency food stamp assistance 
programs.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before February 21, 
2006.

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 shall 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; (d) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who 
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 Patrick 
Waldron, Chief, Certification Policy Branch, Program Development 
Division, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may also be 
faxed to the attention of Mr. Waldron at (703) 305-2486. The Internet 
address is:

[[Page 76020]]

[email protected]. All written comments will be open for 
public inspection at the office of the Food and Nutrition Service 
during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through 
Friday) at 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, Virginia, 22302, Room 
812.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will be a matter of public 
record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
should be directed to Mr. Waldron at (703) 305-2495.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Disaster Food Stamp Program.
    OMB Number: 0584-0336.
    Expiration Date: March 31, 2006.
    Type of Request: Revision of a previously approved collection.
    Abstract: Pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act and Section 5(h) of the Food Stamp Act of 
1977, as amended, the Secretary of Agriculture has the authority to 
develop an emergency food stamp program to address the temporary food 
needs of families following a disaster. The information collection 
under this notice is required to be provided by State agencies in order 
to receive approval from the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to 
operate an emergency food stamp program as the result of a disaster.
    The number of disasters that occur annually and the average number 
of households affected by disasters cannot be accurately predicted. 
During the period from calendar year 1996 through calendar year 2004, 
the number of disasters has ranged from a low of three (in calendar 
years 2000 and 2001) to highs of 13 and 14 (for calendar years 2003 and 
1998 respectively). The information collection under this reporting 
burden is limited to burden encountered by State agencies in preparing 
their requests to operate disaster food stamp programs. FNS estimates 
that approximately 10 hours of State agency personnel time would be 
required to prepare such requests. Burden associated with the process 
of applying for food stamp benefits under disaster food stamp programs 
and the processing of these applications by State and local food stamp 
personnel are approved under OMB docket 0584-0064. The burden 
associated with preparing requests to operate disaster food stamp 
programs varies very little from disaster to disaster and is 
independent of the scope of the disaster with major disasters requiring 
little additional document preparation time than relatively minor 
disasters.
    Based on an estimate of eight State agency requests per year to 
operate disaster food stamp programs and 10 hours of State agency 
personnel time to prepare each application, we have calculated an 
estimated burden of 80 hours per year in an average year. This 
represents a small increase from our 2003 estimate based on a slight 
increase in the annual average number of disasters. We note that in 
most years the number of disasters (eight) necessitating the operation 
of disaster food stamp programs falls below the minimum threshold for 
which OMB approval of the reporting burden associated with this 
information collection is required. Since an above average number of 
disasters may occur in any given year we have elected to submit this 
information collection to OMB for their approval, and consequently, are 
requesting public comments associated with the collection.
    Affected Public: State and local governments.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 8.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 8.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Recipient: 1.
    Estimated Time per Response: 10 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 80 hours.

     Dated: December 12, 2005.
Roberto Salazar,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. E5-7689 Filed 12-21-05; 8:45 am]
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