[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 118 (Wednesday, June 18, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34702-34703]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-13742]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request--Evaluation of the Birth Month Breastfeeding Changes to 
the WIC Food Packages

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 this proposed information collection.
    On December 6, 2007, FNS published an interim regulation in the 
Federal Register: Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, 
Infants and Children (WIC): Revisions in the WIC Food Packages; Interim 
Rule [72 FR 68966]. This current notice announces FNS' intent to 
request from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to 
collect information for the evaluation of impacts of the Interim Rule 
on the food package choices and breastfeeding outcomes of postpartum 
women who participate in WIC.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before August 18, 2008.

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 that were 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 use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    Comments may be sent to: Ted Macaluso, Food and Nutrition Service, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 
22302. Comments may also be submitted via fax to the attention of Ted 
Macaluso at 703-305-2576 or via e-mail to [email protected].
    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 or 
copies of this information collection should be directed to Ted 
Macaluso at 703-305-2121.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Evaluation of the Birth Month Breastfeeding Changes to the 
WIC Food Packages.
    OMB Number: Not Yet Assigned.
    Expiration Date: Not Yet Determined.
    Type of Request: New collection of information.
    Abstract: The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Woman, 
Infants and Children (WIC), (42 U.S.C. 1786) provides low-income 
pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants, and children up 
to age five with nutritious supplemental foods. The program also 
provides nutrition education and referrals to health and social 
services. An Interim Rule published on December 6, 2007 (72 FR 68966) 
revises the WIC food packages to align them with the 2005 Dietary 
Guidelines for Americans and infant feeding practice guidelines of the 
American Academy of Pediatrics. The Interim Rule revisions largely 
reflect recommendations made by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the 
United States National Academies, in its 2005 report, ``WIC Food 
Packages: Time for a Change,'' with certain cost containment and 
administrative modifications found necessary by the Department to 
ensure cost neutrality. The Interim Rule's comment period ends on 
February 1, 2010.
    The revised food packages for infants and women were designed to 
strengthen WIC's breastfeeding promotion efforts and provide additional 
incentives to assist mothers in making the decision to start and 
continue breastfeeding. Under the interim regulation, there are three 
infant feeding options available in the first month after birth--either 
(1) fully formula feeding; (2) fully breastfeeding; or (3) partially 
breastfeeding. Under the partial breastfeeding food package, the amount 
of infant formula available during the first month postpartum is 
limited. Thereafter, in months two through six, partially breastfed 
infants may only receive one half of the maximum amount of infant 
formula available to a fully formula fed infant. These changes are 
designed to promote the initiation, intensity, and duration of 
breastfeeding. The underlying theory is that by greatly reducing the 
amount of formula available for the partial breastfeeding option in the 
first month postpartum: (a) more mothers will initiate breastfeeding; 
and (b) mothers who have difficulty breastfeeding during the first 
month will be less likely to stop breastfeeding if formula is not so 
readily available. In addition, if less formula is available to partial 
breastfeeding mothers in months two through five postpartum, there is a 
greater likelihood that: (a) mothers will feed their infants relatively 
more breastmilk than formula each month; and (b) they will do so for 
longer than they would if formula were more plentiful.
    These regulatory changes may have intended or unintended 
consequences for WIC mothers and infants. To identify potential 
positive impacts of the regulatory change, to address concerns about 
unintended consequences, and in response to recommendations from the 
IOM to study the effects of the rule change, FNS has funded this study 
to examine the effects of the changes in packages for postpartum women 
and infants on the initiation, intensity, and duration of 
breastfeeding.
    To study the effects of the changes in food packages for postpartum 
women and infants, FNS is conducting a study in 16 Local WIC Agencies 
(LWAs). The study will gather data from administrative records; local 
WIC administrators; and WIC participants in 16 LWAs, selected as a 
sample with probability proportional to size; as well as officials from 
those States where the 16 LWAs are located. Data will be gathered prior 
to and after the interim regulation is implemented. The study will 
measure the impact of changes on food package choices and on 
breastfeeding initiation, intensity and duration. The study also will 
describe the implementation of these changes in these LWAs.
    Affected Public: Respondent groups identified include: (1) WIC 
participants who are postpartum women with infants newborn through six 
months of age; (2) local WIC administrators from 16 LWAs selected as a 
sample with probability proportional to size; and (3) State WIC 
officials from, at most, 16 States (if the 16 sampled Local WIC 
Agencies are from different States).
    Estimated Number of Respondents: The total estimated number of 
respondents is 2,144. This includes: 2,000 WIC participants (80% of 
whom will complete interviews); 16 Local WIC Agency directors; 16 Local 
WIC Agency outreach coordinators; 16 Local WIC

[[Page 34703]]

Agency senior nutrition coordinators; 32 Local WIC Agency 
nutritionists; and, at most, 16 State WIC directors, 16 State 
breastfeeding coordinators, and 16 State nutrition coordinators.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: The WIC participants 
will be asked to participate in one survey. All other respondents 
(Local WIC Agency directors, Local WIC Agency outreach coordinators, 
Local WIC Agency senior nutrition coordinators, Local WIC Agency 
nutritionists, State WIC directors, State breastfeeding coordinators, 
and State nutrition coordinators) will respond to one telephone 
interview and two in-person interviews for a total of three responses 
each.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 2,432.
    Estimated Time per Response: 32.4 minutes (0.54 hours). The 
estimated time of response varies from 30 to 60 minutes depending on 
respondent group, as shown in the table below, with an average 
estimated time of three minutes for non-responders to the participant 
survey.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 78,800 minutes 
(1,335.20 hours). See the table below for estimated total annual burden 
for each type of respondent.


 
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                                                                                         Estimated
                                                               Responses      Total     avg.  of hours   Estimated
                   Respondent                            per       responses       per      total hours
                                                 respondents   respondent   (Col. bxc)    response    (Col. dxe)
 
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                                                Reporting Burden
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WIC Participants--completed interviews.........         1600            1     1,600.00      0.58450        935.2
WIC Participants--attempted interviews.........          400            1          400          0.1         40.0
State WIC Director.............................           16            3           48            1           48
State Breastfeeding Coordinator................           16            3           48          0.5           24
State Nutrition Coordinator....................           16            3           48          0.5           24
Local WIC Agency Director......................           16            3           48            1           48
Local WIC Breastfeeding Coordinator............           16            3           48            1           48
Local WIC Agency Outreach Coordinator..........           16            3           48          0.5           24
Local WIC Agency Nutritionists.................           32            3           96            1           96
Local WIC Agency Senior Nutrition Coordinator..           16            3           48            1           48
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    Total Reporting Burden.....................        2,144  ...........     2,432.00  ...........     1,335.20
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    Dated: June 12, 2008.
Roberto Salazar,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
 [FR Doc. E8-13742 Filed 6-17-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P