[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 39 (Tuesday, February 28, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10003-10004]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-2811]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Negative QC Review Schedule; Status of Sample 
Selection and Completion

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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[[Page 10004]]

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment 
on the proposed information collections for the FNS-245, Negative Case 
Action Review Schedule and the FNS-248, Status of Sample Selection and 
Completion. The two forms are currently used in the Quality Control 
process for the Food Stamp Program. The proposed collections are 
revisions of collections currently approved under OMB No. 0584-0034.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before May 1, 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 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. Send comments and requests for 
copies of this information collection to: Daniel Wilusz, Chief, Quality 
Control Branch, Program Accountability Division, Food and Nutrition 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 
822, Alexandria, VA 22302. You may fax comments on this notice to (703) 
305-0928. An electronic version of this notice may be downloaded at 
http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/rules/Regulations/default.htm. Comments may 
be submitted via the Internet at the same address and will receive an 
electronic confirmation upon receipt.
    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: Daniel Wilusz, (703) 305-2460.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Negative QC Review Schedule; Status of Sample Selection and 
Completion.
    OMB Number: 0584-0034.
    Form Number: FNS-245 & FNS-248.
    Expiration Date: 07/31/06.
    Type of Request: Revision of currently approved collections.
    Abstract: The FNS-245, Negative Case Action Review Schedule, is 
designed to collect quality control (QC) data and serve as the data 
entry form for negative case action QC reviews in the Food Stamp 
Program. State agencies complete the FNS-245 for each negative case in 
their QC sample. The reporting and recordkeeping burden associated with 
the completion of the FNS-245 is being reduced from 123,026 hours to 
121,572 hours. The decrease is the result of a reduction of the total 
case selection from 40,262 cases in FY 2001 to 39,782 cases in FY 2004. 
The FNS-248, Status of Sample Selection and Completion, tracks a 
State's progress in sample selection and case completion on a monthly 
basis. A proposed rule entitled ``Food Stamp Program: Discretionary 
Quality Control Provisions of Title IV of Public Law 107-171'', was 
published in the Federal Register on September, 23, 2005. The 
rulemaking proposed to eliminate this form as a means of collecting 
this information and would allow State agencies to report in a manner 
as directed by the regional offices. FNS expects to publish a final 
rule on this subject in October 2006. Until then, FNS-248 will remain 
in effect. The burden associated with the collection remains unchanged.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; State or local 
governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 53.
    Number of Responses Per Respondent: 751.
    Total Number of Responses: 39,782.
    Estimated Reporting Time Per Response: 3.03 Hours.
    Estimated Reporting Annual Burden: 120,618 Hours.
    Number of Recordkeepers: 53.
    Annual Hours Per Recordkeeper: 18.
    Estimated Recordkeeping Annual Burden: 954 Hours.
    Total Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden: 121,572 Hours.

    Dated: February 21, 2006
Roberto Salazar,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E6-2811 Filed 2-27-06; 8:45 am]
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