[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 186 (Tuesday, September 26, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56100-56101]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-8215]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


 Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

September 20, 2006.
    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments 
regarding (a) Whether the 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 burden 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 are 
to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology should be addressed to: Desk 
Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), [email protected] or 
fax (202) 395-5806 and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, 
Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-7602. Comments regarding these 
information collections are best assured of having their full effect if 
received within 30 days of this notification. Copies of the 
submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720-8958.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to 
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

Food and Nutrition Service

    Title: Federal Collection Methods for Food Stamp Program Recipient 
Claims.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-0446.
    Summary of Collection: The Debt Collection Improvement (DCIA), Food 
Stamp Act (FSA) and the Privacy Acts require that State agencies advise 
debtors of the intended referral to the Treasury Offset Program (TOP). 
TOP is a method used to collect debts owed for over-issued food stamp 
recipient claims. TOP offers debtors an opportunity to repay the claim, 
and an opportunity to request a review of the validity of the 
collection action.

[[Page 56101]]

    Need and Use of the Information: The information collected is used 
to operate Federal offset. State agencies collect this information to 
offset debts as a result of over-issuance of Food Stamp benefits that 
become delinquent claims. Without the information, compliance with the 
DCIA would not be possible and departmental participation in TOP would 
be jeopardized.
    Description of Respondents: State, local, or tribal government; 
individual or households.
    Number of Respondents: 380,053.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; reporting: on occasion; 
annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 69,451.

Food and Nutrition Service

    Title: Supplemental form for collecting taxpayer identifying 
numbers.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-0501.
    Summary of Collection: Section 31001(y) of the Debt Collection 
Improvement Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-134) requires all Federal 
agencies to obtain taxpayer identifying number (TINs) from all 
individuals and entities they do business with, and to furnish the TIN 
whenever a request for payment is submitted to Federal payment 
officials. A taxpayer identifying number can be either a Social 
Security Number or an Employer Identification Number. The Food and 
Nutrition Service (FNS) will collect information using form FNS-711.
    Need and Use of the Information: FNS will collect taxpayer identify 
numbers from individuals and entities receiving payments directly from 
the agency under any of the various nutrition and nutrition education 
programs administered by the Agency. The information is collected at 
the time of program application, and is only collected once unless an 
entity renews its application or reapplies for program participation. 
If the information were not collected, FNS would be unable to include 
taxpayer identifying numbers with each certified request for payment.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; 
individuals or households; not-for-profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 800.
    Frequency of Responses: Report: on occasion; other (at time of 
app.).
    Total Burden Hours: 66.

Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 06-8215 Filed 9-25-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P