[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 21 (Friday, January 31, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5368-5372]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-02094]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request--WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) Form and 
Regulations

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 consolidation of forms FNS-683 (WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition 
Annual Financial and Program Report) and FNS-203 (WIC Farmers' Market 
Nutrition Program Report). The proposed consolidation with this renewal 
will be used to collected information related to WIC Farmers' Market 
Nutrition Program Financial and Program Data per WIC Farmers' Market 
Nutrition Program Regulations (7 CFR part 248).

DATES: Written comments must be received by April 1, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Written 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.

[[Page 5369]]

    Comments may be sent to: Donna Hines, Chief, Policy Branch, 
Supplemental Food Programs Division, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 528, 
Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may also be submitted via fax to the 
attention of Donna Hines at 703-305-2196 or 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, please label your comments as ``Proposed Collection of 
Information: WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program.''
    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, 
Room 520, Alexandria, Virginia 22302.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for Office of Management and Budget approval, and will become a 
matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection forms and instructions should be 
directed to Donna Hines, Chief, Policy Branch, Supplemental Food 
Programs Division at 703-305-3746 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) Form and 
Regulations
    OMB Number: 0584-0447.
    Form Number: Form FNS-683.
    Expiration Date: September 30, 2014.
    Type of Request: Approval of the newly consolidated FNS 683 
Information Collection.
    Abstract: Section 17(m)(8) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, 42 
U.S.C. 1786(m)(8), and the WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) 
regulations at 7 CFR part 248 require that certain Program-related 
information and financial data be compiled and submitted to FNS and 
that full and complete records concerning the FMNP operations are 
maintained. With this renewal, FNS proposes to consolidate forms FNS-
683 (WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Annual Financial and Program Report) 
and FNS-203 (WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program Report). Each State 
agency administering the FMNP will be required to use the newly 
consolidated FNS-683 to report financial and participation data. The 
information gathered is used for funding and program management 
decisions.
    The currently approved reporting and recordkeeping requirements for 
the FMNP are based on 45 State agencies administering the program. The 
most recent annual report shows that 46 State agencies administer the 
FMNP, including the authorization of 3,392 farmers' markets, 18,246 
farmers, and 2,969 roadside stands authorized to accept FMNP coupons 
(for a total of 24,607 authorized entities). However, FNS estimates 
that one third of authorized farmers or farmers' markets complete an 
agreement every year, thereby estimating the number of agreements 
submitted per year at 8,120. This represents an increase in the number 
of authorized entities from the currently approved reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements for the FMNP. The increase is due to the 
addition of one new FMNP State Agency. Therefore, FNS is requesting a 
revision and the approval of the newly consolidated FNS-683 information 
collection burden due to an increase in the number of authorized 
entities submitting farmer's market agreements and authorizations. The 
total burden is being increased from 23,917 to 24,460 hours.
    Affected Public: 46 State Agencies; 8,120 Farmers (Farmers' Market 
and Roadside Stand).
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 8,166.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 2.34.
    Estimated Number of Total Annual Responses: 19,091.
    Estimated Time (burden hours) per Respondent: 1.28.
    Estimated Total Reporting Burden Hours: 24,138.
    Estimated Total Recordkeeping Burden Hours: 322.
    Estimated Total Burden for Reporting and Recordkeeping: 24,460.

[[Page 5370]]



                                                                                  Information Collection Burden
                                                                [WIC Farmer's Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) OMB No. 0584-0447]
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                                                                                               Avg. No.                                                       Previously
             Regulation section                       Requirement            Estimated No.   responses per   Total annual      Hours per     Annual burden     approved     Reason to adjustment
                                                                              respondents     respondent       responses       response          hours       burden hours      to burden hours
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Reporting
                                               Affected Public: STATE & LOCAL AGENCIES (Including Indian Tribal Organizations and US Territories)
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248.4......................................  State Plan...................              46            1.00           46.00           40.00        1,840.00        1,800.00     Increase in State
                                                                                                                                                                             Agencies from 45 to
                                                                                                                                                                                              46
248.10(a)(2) &(3)..........................  Authorization................              46          176.53        8,120.31            1.00        8,120.31        7,947.00  ....................
248.10(e)..................................  Monitoring/Review............              46           53.49        2,460.70            2.00        4,921.40        4,768.00       Increase due to
                                                                                                                                                                                authorization of
                                                                                                                                                                            more farmers/markets/
                                                                                                                                                                                     farm stands
248.10(f)..................................  Coupon Management System.....              46            1.00           46.00            5.00          230.00          225.00     Increase in State
                                                                                                                                                                             Agencies from 45 to
                                                                                                                                                                                              46
248.11.....................................  Financial Management System..              46            1.00           46.00           10.00          460.00          450.00     Increase in State
                                                                                                                                                                             Agencies from 45 to
                                                                                                                                                                                              46
248.17(b)(2)(ii)...........................  State Agency Corrective                     9            1.00            9.00           10.00           90.00           90.00  ....................
                                              Action Plan.
248.18(b)..................................  Audit Responses..............              13            1.00           13.00           15.00          195.00          195.00  ....................
248.23(b)..................................  Annual Financial Report FNS-               46            1.00           46.00            3.50          161.00          135.00     Increase in State
                                              683.                                                                                                                           Agencies from 45 to
                                                                                                                                                                            46 and consolidation
                                                                                                                                                                             of FNS-683 and FNS-
                                                                                                                                                                                             203
                                             Annual Report on Recipients,                0            0.00            0.00            0.00            0.00           46.00       Decrease due to
                                              Farmers, Farmer's Markets,                                                                                                    consolidation of FNS-
                                              Roadside Stands FNS 203.                                                                                                           683 and FNS 203
                                                                           ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal (Reporting Requirement).......  46...........................          236.02       10,787.01  ..............       16,017.71       15,656.00  ..............
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                                                                    Affected Public: Farms (Farmers/Markets/Roadside stands)
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248.10(a)(2)(3)&(b)........................  Farmer's Market Agreement and           8,120               1        8,120.31               1        8,120.31        7,947.00  ....................
                                              Authorization (1/3 of 24,607
                                              authorized entities per year
                                              for 3 year periods).
                                                                           ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal (Reporting Requirement).......  .............................           8,120  ..............        8,120.31  ..............        8,120.31  ..............  ....................
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        Total Reporting Requirement........  8,166........................  ..............       18,907.32  ..............       24,138.02  ..............  ..............
                                               Affected Public: STATE & LOCAL AGENCIES (Including Indian Tribal Organizations and US Territories)
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Recordkeeping:

[[Page 5371]]

 
248.9......................................  Nutrition Education..........              46            1.00           46.00            1.00           46.00           45.00     Increase in State
                                                                                                                                                                             Agencies from 45 to
                                                                                                                                                                                              46
248.10(b)..................................  Farmer/Farmers Market/                     46            1.00           46.00            2.00           92.00           90.00     Increase in State
                                              Roadside Stand Agreement &                                                                                                     Agencies from 45 to
                                              Authorization.                                                                                                                                  46
248.10(e)..................................  Summary of Farmer/Farmers'                 46            1.00           46.00            2.00           92.00           90.00     Increase in State
                                              Market/Roadside Stand                                                                                                          Agencies from 45 to
                                              Monitoring.                                                                                                                                     46
248.11(c)..................................  Record of Financial                        46            1.00           46.00            2.00           92.00           90.00     Increase in State
                                              Expenditures.                                                                                                                  Agencies from 45 to
                                                                                                                                                                                              46
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    Subtotal (Recordkeeping Requirement)...  46...........................            4.00          184.00            1.75          322.00          315.00     Increase in
                                                                                                                                                            State Agencies
                                                                                                                                                             from 45 to 46
                                                                           ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        TOTAL BURDEN.......................  8,166........................            2.33       19,091.32            1.28       24,460.02  ..............  ..............
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[[Page 5372]]

    Dated: January 24, 2014.
Audrey Rowe,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-02094 Filed 1-30-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P