[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 117 (Monday, June 19, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35249-35250]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-9571]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion; Agency Information 
Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request--Generic 
Clearance for the Development of Nutrition Education Messages and 
Materials for the General Public

AGENCY: Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment 
on a proposed information collection. This notice announces the Center 
for Nutrition Policy and Promotion's (CNPP) intention to request the 
Office of Management and Budget's approval of the information 
collection processes and instruments to be used during consumer 
research while testing nutrition education messages and materials 
developed for the general public. The purpose for performing consumer 
research will be to identify consumers' understanding of potential 
nutrition education messages and obtain their reaction to prototypes of 
nutrition education materials, including Internet-based materials. The 
information collected will be used to refine messages and materials to 
improve their usefulness as well as aid consumer understanding of all 
Dietary Guidelines for Americans and MyPyramid-related materials.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be submitted on or before 
August 18, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to Carole Davis, Nutrition Promotion 
Staff Director, Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 1034, 
Alexandria, VA 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

[[Page 35250]]

clarity of the information 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 responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
OMB Clearance Supporting Statement requesting Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) approval. All comments will also become a matter of public 
record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
should be directed to Carole Davis, 703-305-7600.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Generic Clearance for the Development of Nutrition Education 
Messages and Materials for the General Public/CNPP.
    OMB Number: 0582-0523.
    Expiration Date: December 31, 2006.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, issued jointly by 
the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services, are 
the cornerstone of Federal nutrition policy and form the basis for 
nutrition education efforts of these agencies. The U.S. Department of 
Agriculture's CNPP develops and promotes nutrition education materials 
to help consumers understand and use the Dietary Guidelines for 
Americans as well as MyPyramid, the tool designed to help consumers 
implement the Dietary Guidelines. Additional materials (hard copy and 
electronic) will be developed to help consumers understand and use the 
Dietary Guidelines, many of which may be geared toward various special 
population groups. Publications that have become obsolete since the 
release of the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and MyPyramid will 
also need to be updated and replaced. With the increased prevalence of 
overweight and obesity in the United States, it has become increasingly 
important to communicate clear and useful nutrition education 
information related to the Dietary Guidelines on food choices, weight, 
and physical activity. The USDA will have the lead responsibility for 
the 2010 Dietary Guidelines revision process from which new messages 
and materials may be developed, including a new consumer bulletin.
    Educational messages and materials in support of the Dietary 
Guidelines for Americans and MyPyramid will be developed by the Center 
for Nutrition Policy and Promotion which may include:
    1. Messages and materials related to the 2005 Dietary Guidelines 
for Americans that aim to teach the general public about proper 
nutrition and physical activity;
    2. Enhancement of the MyPyramid Web site to include additional 
components such as nutrition and physical activity personalized 
tracking and other interactive tools as well as more consumer and 
professional support materials;
    3. Nutrition education and Internet-based materials to help combat 
overweight and obesity in America;
    4. Materials relaying the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and 
MyPyramid for special population groups that might be identified; and
    5. New policy, messages and materials that might be developed as a 
result of the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans revision process.
    The materials for these initiatives will be tested using 
qualitative consumer research techniques, which may include focus 
groups (with general consumers, educators, students, etc.), interviews 
(i.e., intercept, individual, diads, triads, usability testing, etc.) 
and Web-based surveys. Participants in the testing will provide 
information regarding the clarity, understandability, and acceptability 
of the messages and materials during the developmental process and 
during the final product development stage.

                                           Estimation of Burden Hours
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                                     Estimated                                       Estimated       Estimated
                                     number of       Number of    Estimated time   total annual    total annual
       Testing instrument           individual     responses per   per response      burden in       burden in
                                    respondents     respondent      in minutes        minutes          hours
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Focus Group Screeners...........           7,500               1              15         112,500           1,875
Interview Screeners.............             750               1              15          11,250           187.5
Focus Groups....................         \1\ 500               1             120          60,000           1,000
Interviews......................             100               1             120          12,000             200
Web-based Collections...........             600               1              15           9,000             150
Confidentiality Agreement.......           1,200               1              10          12,000             200
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    Total.......................          10,650  ..............  ..............         216,750       3,612.50
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\1\ (50 grps)

    Affected Public: American Consumers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 10,650.
    Estimated Time per Response: 34 minutes.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: One.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 3,612.50 hours.

    Dated: June 13, 2006.
Eric J. Hentges,
Executive Director, Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion.
[FR Doc. E6-9571 Filed 6-16-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P