[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 7 (Friday, January 10, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1819-1820]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-00207]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 7 / Friday, January 10, 2014 / 
Notices  

[[Page 1819]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    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.
    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: Enhancing Completion Rates for Supplemental Nutrition 
Assistance Program (SNAP) Quality Control Reviews.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: Section 17 [7 U.S.C. 2026] (a)(1) of the 
Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 provides general legislative authority 
for the planned data collection. It authorizes the Secretary of the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture to enter into contracts with private 
institutions to undertake research that will help to improve the 
administration and effectiveness of the Supplemental Nutrition 
Assistance Program (SNAP) in delivering nutrition-related benefits. The 
SNAP Quality Control (QC) system requires States to conduct monthly 
quality control reviews of households participating in SNAP to assess 
the validity of SNAP cases, and, ultimately, the payment error rate for 
SNAP. The completion rate of sampled QC reviews has decreased 
nationally over the last few decades. In response to this overall 
decline and inter-State variation in SNAP QC completion rates, the 
current study seeks to identify the factors associated with incomplete 
QC reviews in active SNAP cases and to identify best practices related 
to completing SNAP QC reviews.
    Need and Use of the Information: The Food and Nutrition Service 
will collect information through four instruments: a semi-structured 
interview protocol for QC directors and supervisors, a semi-structured 
interview protocol for QC reviewers, a survey instrument for QC 
directors and supervisors, and a survey instrument for QC reviewers. 
The purpose of this information collection is to identify the factors 
that consistently lead to incomplete cases among active SNAP QC case 
reviews and identify possible means to enhance completion rates. If the 
data is not collected, USDA will not have critical information for 
assessing the causes of incomplete QC reviews and improving the 
integrity of the QC process.
    Description of Respondents: State, Local or Tribal Government; 
Federal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 1,050.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion; Other (1 time).
    Total Burden Hours: 307.

Food and Nutrition Service

    Title: WIC Nutrition Services and Administration (NSA) Costs Study.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kid Act of 2010 
(Pub. L. 111-296, Sec 305) mandates programs under its authorization to 
cooperate with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) program research 
and evaluation activities. The mandate applies to Special Supplemental 
Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) agencies. The 
WIC Program regulations (7 CFR part 246) delegate administration of the 
WIC Program to the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). The 
operational component of the WIC Program is funded through the 
nutrition services and administration (NSA) portion of State Agency 
grants; however, these NSA costs have not been examined since a 
Government Accountability Office (GA)) study conducted in 2000. To 
better understand the sources that contribute to the variation in NSA 
costs, FNS seeks to ensure that all States operate the WIC Program in 
an effective and efficient manner. The National WIC NSA cost Study will 
provide an updated assessment of the types and categories of costs 
charged to WIC NSA grants, and the factors that influence the variation 
in these costs among State and local agencies.
    Need and Use of the Information: The purpose of the WIC NSA Cost 
Study is to provide FNS with an updated assessment of the amounts and 
categories of costs charged to WIC NSA grants and to increase the 
understanding of why there is such cost variation among State and local 
agencies. A better understanding of these areas will enable FNS to more 
efficiently and effectively administer the WIC Program. If the data is 
not collected it would negatively impact the ability of FNS to carry 
out its federal mandate of managing the WIC program in the most 
effective and efficient way possible.
    Description of Respondents: State, Local or Tribal Government; 
Federal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 6,236.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion; Other (1 time).

[[Page 1820]]

    Total Burden Hours: 2,580.

Charlene Parker,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-00207 Filed 1-9-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P