[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 177 (Tuesday, September 13, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56392-56393]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-23295]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

September 7, 2011.
    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.

[[Page 56393]]

    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: Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Improper Payment 
Meal Claims Assessment.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: The Improper Payments Information Act (IPIA) 
of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-300) requires the Food and Nutrition Service 
(FNS), to provide estimates of erroneous payments in the Child and 
Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), and to identify and report corrective 
actions the agency is taking to reduce them. These measures are 
necessary to enhance the accuracy and integrity of Federal payments in 
the CACFP. The CACFP reimburses family day care home for serving 
nutritious meals and snacks to children, especially low-income children 
who receive day care services in these facilities. The Food and 
Nutrition Service (FNS), on behalf of the Secretary of Agriculture, is 
conducting a feasibility evaluation of the parent-recall data 
collection methodology for validating the number and type of meals 
claimed for reimbursement by family day care homes (FDCHs) in the 
CACFP.
    Need and use of the Information: Data collection is to be conducted 
in sixteen states to evaluate whether a parent-recall data collection 
methodology under evaluation can: (1) Validate the meal reimbursement 
claims submitted by FDCHs for the number of children who are CACFP 
eligible and present in the FDCHs during the time period(s) for which 
the meals/snacks were claimed. (2) Generate data required for 
developing an estimate of improper payments, based on the meals claimed 
for reimbursement by FDCHs that meet the requirements of the Improper 
Payments Information Act of 2002. (3) Be implemented nationwide in an 
efficient and cost effective method. Observations conducted on-site in 
the homes of FDSCH providers will be used in the feasibility 
evaluation. Without the information no assessment of the cost, amount 
and type of meal claiming errors can be estimated nor can corrective 
action be developed and implemented.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-
profit institutions; State, Local, or Tribal Government; Individuals or 
households.
    Number of Respondents: 1,520.
    Frequency of Responses: Report: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 2,439.

Food and Nutrition Service

    Title: National Assistance in Farmers Markets: Understanding 
Current Operations.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: The growing obesity crisis in the United 
States has created urgency among scientists and public health officials 
to develop and test sustainable programs that improve American diets. 
Fruits and vegetable intake has been shown to reduce the long term risk 
of obesity and other chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer 
and serves as a market for a healthy diet. However, two thirds of U.S. 
adults do not meet the USDA Dietary Guidelines for fruit and vegetable 
intake. The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is conducting a new study 
titled ``Nutrition Assistance in Farmers Markets: Understanding Current 
Operations.'' The study, planned for FY 2011-2012 affirms the Food, 
Nutrition and Consumer Services (FNCS) priority for expanding the farm-
food connection in FNS programs. The collection is authorized under 
paragraph 17(a)(1) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 
2026).
    Need and use of the Information: The proposed study involves a 
national survey of Farmers Market managers and Direct Marketing (DM) 
farmers to understand their current operations and how those affect 
participation in USDA nutrition assistance programs. The information 
gathered in the data collection activities will be used by FNS to 
understand the characteristics of farmers markets and direct marketing 
farmers and facilitators and barriers to participating in the 
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. These data will inform FNS 
policy decision intended to increase the number of DM farmers and 
farmers markets that participate as SNAP retailers, as well as improve 
operations for currently authorized DM farmers and farmers markets. If 
data is not collected, FNS will be unable to improve its understanding 
of the farmers' market environment, particularly barriers to 
participation in nutrition assistance programs by these markets.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; 
Individuals or households; Not-for-profit institutions; Farms.
    Number of Respondents: 2,859.
    Frequency of Responses: Report: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 911.

Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-23295 Filed 9-12-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P