[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 162 (Tuesday, August 21, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50457-50459]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-20435]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request--WIC Program Regulations--Reporting and Recordkeeping 
Burden

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. This collection is a revision 
to a currently approved information collection in the Special 
Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) 
Regulations (7 CFR part 246) for the reporting and recordkeeping 
burdens associated with the WIC Program regulations.

DATES: Written comments must be received by October 22, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent via email 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. In all cases, including when 
comments are sent via email, please label your comments as ``Proposed 
Collection of Information: WIC Program.''
    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: Donna Hines, [email protected] or (703) 305-2714.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the 
proposed collection of information is necessary

[[Page 50458]]

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.
    Title: WIC Program Regulations--Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden.
    OMB Number: 0584-0043.
    Expiration Date: November 30, 2012.
    Type of Request: Revision to a Currently Approved Collection.
    Abstract: The purpose of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program 
for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) is to provide supplemental foods, 
nutrition education, and health care referrals to low income, 
nutritionally at risk pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, 
infants, and children up to age five. Currently, WIC operates through 
State health departments in 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto 
Rico, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, America 
Samoa, and the Virgin Islands. Additionally, 34 Indian Tribal 
Organizations (ITOs) serve as WIC State agencies. The Federal 
regulations governing the WIC Program (7 CFR part 246) require that 
certain Program-related information be collected and that full and 
complete records concerning WIC operations are maintained. The 
information reporting and recordkeeping burdens are necessary to ensure 
appropriate and efficient management of the WIC Program.
    The reporting and recordkeeping burdens covered by this Information 
Collection Burden (ICB) include requirements that involve the 
certification of WIC participants; the nutrition education that is 
provided to participants; the authorization, training and monitoring of 
vendors; and the collection of vendor pricing information in order to 
comply with the Federal regulations regarding WIC cost containment. 
State Plans are the principal source of information about how each 
State agency operates its WIC Program. Information collected from 
participants and local agencies is collected through State-developed 
forms or Management Information Systems. The information collected is 
used by the Department of Agriculture to manage, plan, evaluate, make 
decisions and report on WIC Program operations. This information 
collection is requesting a revision in the burden hours due to program 
changes that have reduced the frequency of certification requirements 
for children and due to program adjustments that primarily reflect 
expected changes in the number of WIC participants, WIC authorized 
vendors, and WIC local agencies. The revisions increase approved 
reporting burden by 42,215 hours and increase the total approved 
recordkeeping burden by 372,489 hours.

Reporting Burden

    Affected Public: State, Local and Tribal Government; Individual/
Households; and Business or Other for Profit.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 9,011,137 respondents.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 2.79 responses.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 25,126,069.
    Estimate of Time per Respondent: .13 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Reporting Burden Hours: 3,328,939 hours.
    Current OMB Inventory: 3,286,724.
    Difference (Burden Revisions Requested): 42,215.

Recordkeeping Burden

    Estimated Number of Recordkeepers: 11,929.
    Estimated number of records: 3,011.
    Total estimated annual records: 35,919,470.
    Estimated annual hours per recordkeeper: .02 hours.
    Estimated Total Recordkeeping Burden Hours: 695,758 hours.
    Current OMB Inventory: 323,269.
    Difference (Burden Revisions Requested): 372,489.
    Estimated Grand Total for Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden: 
4,024,697 hours.

 Affected Public: State, Local and Tribal Government, Business-for and Not-for-Profit WIC Program Regulations--
                                                Reporting Burden
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                                   Total number
                                     estimated     Frequency of        Total      Estimated time
       Type of respondent            number of     response per      estimated      (hours) to       Estimated
                                    respondents     respondent        annual       complete each   burden hours
                                    (responses)                      responses      application
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STATE, LOCAL & INDIAN TRIBAL               1,929        6,531         12,598,157             .2        2,516,924
 GOVERNMENTS (90 WIC State
 agencies; 1,839 WIC local
 agencies)......................
BUSINESS OR OTHER FOR-PROFIT              48,621            2.23         108,302            1.77         191,987
 (48,621 WIC authorized vendors)
INDIVIDUAL/HOUSEHOLDS (8,960,587       8,960,587            1.39      12,419,611             .05         620,028
 WIC participants)..............
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    TOTAL.......................       9,011,137  ..............      25,126,069  ..............       3,328,939
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                                                      WIC Program Regulations--Recordkeeping Burden
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                                                                        Estimated        Estimated
                         Type of respondent                               number         number of     Total estimated   Estimated time     Estimated
                                                                      recordkeepers       records       annual records      (hours)        burden hours
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STATE, LOCAL & INDIAN TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS (90 WIC State agencies;             11,929            3,011       35,919,470              .02          695,758
 1,839 WIC local agencies, 10,000 clinics).........................
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[[Page 50459]]

    Dated: August 13, 2012.
Audrey Rowe,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-20435 Filed 8-20-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P