[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 172 (Tuesday, September 7, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54295-54296]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-22181]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 75 , No. 172 / Tuesday, September 7, 2010 / 
Notices  

[[Page 54295]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request--Evaluation of SNAP Nutrition Education Practices Study

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 the proposed collection of data for the Evaluation of Supplemental 
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Nutrition Education (-Ed) Practices 
Study. The goal of SNAP-Ed is to improve the likelihood that SNAP 
participants and those eligible to participate will make healthy 
choices within a limited budget and choose active lifestyles consistent 
with the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the USDA Food 
Guidance System. With limited resources, SNAP-Ed nutrition educators 
attempt to tailor their messages to fit the varying needs of differing 
populations and evaluate the extent to which their efforts result in 
positive, voluntary changes in nutrition behaviors.
    The Evaluation of SNAP Nutrition Education Practices is an 
extension of the current Models of SNAP-Ed and Evaluation Study, 
conducting rigorous, independent evaluations of an additional three 
SNAP-Ed demonstration projects. Each of the demonstration projects is 
also conducting an impact evaluation assessment which will be compared 
to FNS's more rigorous, independent evaluation. In conjunction with the 
Models of SNAP-Ed and Evaluation Study, the Evaluation of SNAP 
Nutrition Education Practices will provide FNS with a total of seven 
sound, independent estimates of the effectiveness of SNAP-Ed 
approaches, and will provide SNAP-Ed educators with examples of 
evaluation designs that are both feasible and scientifically robust.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before November 8, 
2010.

ADDRESSES: Comments are invited on (a) whether the proposed data 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the agency, including whether the information has 
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 the use of 
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Comments may be sent to: Steven Carlson, Director, Office of 
Research and Analysis, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and 
Nutrition Service, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 1014, Alexandria, VA 
22302. Comments may also be submitted via fax to the attention of 
Steven Carlson at 703-305-2576 or via e-mail to 
[email protected]. Comments will also be accepted through the 
Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow 
the online instructions for submitting comments electronically.
    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 Room 1014, 3101 Park 
Center Drive, Alexandria, Virginia 22302.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments will 
also be a matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
should be directed to Steven Carlson on 703-305-2017.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Evaluation of SNAP Nutrition Education Practices.
    OMB Number: 0584-0554.
    Expiration Date: 1/31/2013.
    Type of Request: Revision of currently approved data collection.
    Abstract: The purposes of the Evaluation of SNAP Nutrition 
Education Practices Study are to (1) demonstrate that nutrition 
education through SNAP can bring about meaningful behavioral change, 
and (2) show that nutrition education implementers can mount meaningful 
intervention outcome evaluations.
    In fiscal year 2010, three nutrition education interventions were 
selected to participate as demonstration projects for this study. The 
three demonstration projects that will be approved under their States' 
Annual SNAP-Ed Plan are:
    The Iowa Nutrition Network (INN) will use its BASICS program and 
Pick a Better Snack campaign to test the hypothesis that nutrition 
education delivered through a multi-channel approach will produce 
better results than one limited to school-based channels.
    The University of Kentucky Extension Service is modifying its 
Literacy, Eating and Activity for Preschoolers (LEAP I) to be suitable 
for first and third graders in two rural, Appalachian school districts. 
The University of Kentucky self-evaluation will be a randomized control 
trial using pre-intervention, post-intervention and follow-up 
measurement of fruit and vegetable consumption. Measurement will be 
conducted, in part, by photographic plate waste assessment.
    The Michigan State University Extension Service will administer the 
Eat Smart, Live Strong nutrition education program for older Americans 
in 9 Michigan counties of which approximately two-thirds are rural. The 
self-evaluation component involves the pairing of 24 senior centers and 
subsequent random assignment to experimental condition. At both 
treatment and control sites, pre-intervention and post-intervention 
measurements of fruit and vegetable consumption will be made.
    Respondent Type: Individuals or Households, State and Local 
Government, Business (for and not for profit).
    Affected Public: Parents and educators in Council Bluffs, 
Davenport,

[[Page 54296]]

Des Moines, and Waterloo Counties, Iowa; older Americans, ages 60 and 
up, in 9 counties dispersed throughout Michigan, but especially the 
Upper Peninsula, as well as seniors' center staff; and parents and 
educators in Laurel and Perry Counties, Kentucky.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 909 parents of third graders, 6 
nutrition educators, 6 school principals, 3 food service directors, 6 
retail store produce managers, and 50 third grade teachers in Iowa; 864 
elder Americans (60+), 16 nutrition educators, 6 seniors' center 
program managers, and 5 subprogram level seniors' center staff in 
Michigan; and 800 parents of elementary school students, 50 elementary 
school teachers, 4 school principals, 4 nutrition educators and 4 
subprogram level staff in Kentucky.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 2 for parents; 2 for 
nutrition educators/dietitians/staff; 2 for elder Americans; 1 for 
classroom teachers, principals, food service directors, retail produce 
managers and seniors' center directors. An additional 2 responses for 
13 of the parents consenting to participate in in-depth, open-ended, 
process discussions. An additional response for 28 of the classroom 
teachers consenting to participate in in-depth, open-ended process 
discussions. An additional response for 56 parents in Iowa and Kentucky 
who consent to participate in structured group interviews. An 
additional response for 48 Michigan seniors who consent to participate 
in structured group interviews.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 3,499 for parents; 1,776 for 
seniors; 52 for nutrition educators; 138 for principals and classroom 
teachers; 3 for school food service directors; 6 for retail produce 
managers; 6 for seniors' center program managers; 18 for subprogram 
level staff. See the tables, below.
    Hours per Response: 0.25 for parents; an additional 2 for the 56 
parents who consent to participate in structured group interviews; and 
an additional 0.67 for the 20 parents consenting to participate in in-
depth, open-ended discussions. 0.25 for seniors; an additional 2 for 
the 48 seniors consenting to participate in structured group 
interviews; and an additional 0.67 for 3 seniors consenting to 
participate in in-depth, open-ended discussions. 0.25 for Iowa 
classroom teachers with an additional 0.5 for the 16 consenting to 
participate in in-depth, open-ended discussions. 0.17 for classroom 
teachers in Kentucky with an additional 0.25 for the 12 consenting to 
participate in in-depth, open-ended discussions. 0.25 for school 
principals in Iowa and 0.5 for principals in Kentucky. 0.5 for 
nutrition educators. 0.25 for school food service directors and retail 
produce managers. 0.67 for seniors' center managers. 0.67 for staff.
    Maximum Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2,050 hours 
for parents; 1,041 hours for seniors; 32 hours for teachers; 3.5 hours 
for school principals; 26 hours for nutrition educators, 1.5 hours for 
retail store produce managers; 0.8 hours for school food service 
directors; 4 hours for seniors' center managers; and 12.1 hours for 
staff.

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                                                      Average                         Average
                                     Estimated       responses     Total annual      response        Estimated
           Respondent                number of     annually per      responses       burden in      total hours
                                    respondents     respondent                         hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Demonstration Project                      2,573            2.05           5,275           0.586           3,091
 Respondents....................
Direct Educators................              26               2              52           1.000              26
School Principals...............              10               1              10           0.350             3.5
Classroom Teachers..............             100            1.28             128           0.320              32
School Food Service Directors...               3               1               3           0.267             0.8
Retail store produce managers...               6               1               6           0.250             1.5
Program managers at senior                     6               1               6           0.667               4
 centers........................
Subprogram-level staff..........               9               2              18           1.344              24
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    Burden Totals...............           2,733  ..............           5,498  ..............           3,183
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    Dated: August 31, 2010.
Jeffrey Tribiano,
Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-22181 Filed 9-3-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P