[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 79 (Wednesday, April 23, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21901-21902]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-8835]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Food Stamp Program Redemption Certificate, Form FNS-
278B and Food Stamp Program Wholesaler Redemption Certificate, Form 
FNS-278-4

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), 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 proposed information collections. The proposed collection is a 
revision of a currently approved collection.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before June 23, 2008 to 
be assured of consideration.

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 the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology.
    Comments may be sent to Lindy Haffey, Acting Chief, Retailer 
Operations Branch, Benefit Redemption Division, Food and Nutrition 
Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 
403, Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may also be submitted via fax to 
the attention of Lindy Haffey at (703) 305-2523 or via e-mail to: 
[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 403.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval. All 
comments will be a matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of this information collection should be directed to Lindy 
Haffey, (703) 305-2523.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Food Stamp Redemption Certificate.
    OMB Number: 0584-0085.
    Form Number: FNS-278B and FNS-278-4.
    Expiration Date: July 31, 2008.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection of 
information.
    Abstract: The Food Stamp Act of 1977, as amended, Section 10, (7 
U.S.C. 2019) states that regulations issued pursuant to the Act shall 
provide for the redemption of coupons accepted by retail food stores 
and wholesale food concerns or through selected financial institutions.
    FNS provides for this redemption in 7 CFR 278.2 through 278.5. 
Section 278.4 outlines the procedure for redeeming coupons for 
wholesale food concerns retail stores. Form FNS-278B, Food Stamp 
Redemption Certificate, and Form FNS-278-4, Wholesaler Redemption 
Certificates, collectively called RCs, are required to be used by all 
authorized wholesalers or retailers, and are processed by financial 
institutions when they are presented for cash or credit. Requirements 
in the Food Stamp Program regulations are the basis for the information 
collected on Form FNS-278B, Food Stamp Redemption Certificate, and Form 
FNS-278-4, Wholesaler Redemption Certificate.
    The proposed revision to the information collection burden 
associated with this form is derived from a reduction in the number of 
RCs submitted by program respondents. The number of responses also 
declined as FNS phased-out the issuance of paper food coupons; and as 
the number of States with Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) systems 
increased nationwide. Currently, 100 percent of all food stamp benefits 
are issued electronically. Some paper food coupons remain in 
circulation, however, as they were issued before EBT was fully 
implemented in each of the States. Because there is not an expiration 
date on food coupons, recipients who were previously issued paper food 
coupons can use the benefits they have until they are spent. Likewise, 
retailers must also continue to accept paper food coupons as a form of 
payment, and the Federal government must continue to honor them as 
legal tender. Currently, there is a legislative proposal to de-obligate 
the paper food coupon but until legislation is passed, paper food 
coupons do not expire.
    FNS is seeking approval not to display the expiration date of the 
information collection because it is impractical and not cost efficient 
to incur expenses for a form that hasn't been used since our last 
submission to OMB (Form FNS-278-4), or for one thats use is rapidly 
declining (Form FNS-278B). There are no sensitive questions of private 
or personal nature involved in this information collection. All data 
collected concerns food stamp deposits within the banking system.
    For this information collection package, the estimated reduction of 
respondents is based on a projected decrease in the number of RCs 
submitted as a result of fewer paper food coupons remaining in 
circulation. The estimated burden hours are 28.60442 hours.
    Respondents: Businesses, wholesale food concerns, or other not-for-
profit financial institutions.
    Estimated Average Number of Respondents: 385.95723.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 4.3033369.
    Estimated Total Average Annual Responses: 1,660.904.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average .0172222 hours per response.
    Estimated Total Average Annual Burden: 28.660442 hours.


[[Page 21902]]


    Dated: April 14, 2008.
Roberto Salazar,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. E8-8835 Filed 4-22-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P