[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 13 (Thursday, January 20, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3599-3600]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-1131]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request Form FNS-798 and FNS-798A, WIC Financial Management and 
Participation Report With Addendum

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, 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.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received on or before 
March 21, 2011.

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 through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to: Debra 
Whitford, Director, Supplemental Food Programs Division, Food and 
Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center 
Drive, Room 520, Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may also be submitted 
via fax to the attention of Joan Carroll at 703-305-2196 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 518.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval, and will become a matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection form and instructions should be 
directed to: Joan Carroll, (703) 305-2729.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: WIC Financial Management and Participation Report with 
Addendum.
    OMB Number: 0584-0045.
    Form Number: FNS 798 and FNS 798A.
    Expiration Date: 09-30-2011.
    Type of Request: Revision of a Currently Approved Collection Form.
    Abstract: Section 17(f)(4) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 
U.S.C. 1786(f)(4)) provides that ``State agencies shall submit monthly 
financial reports and participation data to the Secretary'' (See also 7 
CFR 246.25(b)(1)). The WIC Financial Management and Participation 
Report with Addendum (FNS-798 and FNS-798A) are the forms State 
agencies complete to comply with this requirement. FNS and State 
agencies use the reported information for program monitoring, funds 
management, budget projections, monitoring caseload, policy 
development, and responding to requests from Congress and interested 
parties.
    In addition, nonentitlement programs, such as the Special 
Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), 
are required to conduct an annual closeout and reconciliation of 
grants. Departmental regulations at 7 CFR 3016.23(b) require that ``[a] 
grantee must liquidate all obligations incurred under the award not 
later than 90 days after the end of the funding period (or as specified 
in a program regulation) to coincide with the submission of the annual 
Federal Financial Report (SF-425).'' WIC Program regulations at 7 CFR 
246.17(b)(2) instruct State agencies to ``submit to FNS, within 120 
days after the end of the fiscal year, final fiscal year closeout 
reports.'' The final WIC Financial Management and Participation Report 
(FNS-798) submitted for the year with its addendum (FNS-798A) are used 
as a substitute for the SF-425, because they maintain the integrity of 
WIC's two grant components (food and nutrition services and 
administration (NSA)) as well as the four NSA grant components (program 
management, client services,

[[Page 3600]]

nutrition education, and breastfeeding promotion and support).
    The proposed revision of the WIC Financial Management and 
Participation Report (FNS-798) and its addendum (FNS-798A) will modify 
the format for reporting unliquidated NSA obligations. The current FNS-
798 requires unliquidated NSA obligations to be reported in the columns 
corresponding to the 12 months of the fiscal year in which the 
obligations are incurred. These obligation amounts are then revised 
downward as outlays and deobligations are made. WIC State agencies have 
determined reporting downward adjustments for outlays and deobligations 
is more laborious when reported by obligation month rather than as an 
adjustment to a cumulative amount. Therefore, the proposed revision 
will return to a prior format to allow WIC State agencies to report 
unliquidated NSA obligations as a cumulative year-to-date total.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 3.35 hours per response, including 
the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, 
gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing 
the collection of information. The total annual burden on respondents 
was previously 4,523 hours. This revision does not change the total 
annual burden of 190 hours.
    Affected Public: State, Local and Tribal Agencies: Respondent Type: 
Directors or Administrators of WIC state agencies.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 90 respondents.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 15.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 4,523 hours.

    Dated: January 12, 2011.
Julia Paradis,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-1131 Filed 1-19-11; 8:45 am]
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