[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 131 (Wednesday, July 9, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 38852]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-16050]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

July 2, 2014.
    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: School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study.
    OMB Control Number: 0584--NEW.
    Summary Of Collection: The school meal programs administered by the 
Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
are a cornerstone of the nation's nutrition safety net for low-income 
children. FNS has long been committed to ensuring that the meals 
provided in schools are healthful and contribute to children's dietary 
requirements. The School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study (SNMCS) will 
continue the long-standing commitment of FNS to periodically assess the 
school meal programs. The SNMCS comes at a time of unprecedented change 
for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast 
Program (SBP). In the 2012-2013 school year, the school meal programs 
began to undergo far-reaching changes, mainly stemming from the 
Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act (HHFKA, Public Law 111-296). Key reforms 
stemming from this legislation include new, more stringent meal pattern 
and nutrient requirements for school meals, new offer-versus-serve 
rules, gradually increased price for paid meals, and the introduction 
of nutrition standards for competitive foods. With the implementation 
of the new meal patters, nutrition requirements, and other changes, FNS 
has to determine the success of school meals in meeting the program 
goals set by the new standards, the cost of serving healthful meals 
that are acceptable to children, and the relationship of the school 
meals and competitive foods to children's participation in the programs 
and dietary quality.
    Need and Use of the Information: The SNMCS will collect a broad 
range of data from nationally representative samples of public school 
food authorities, school, students, and parents during SY 2014-2015. 
These data will provide needed information about how federally 
sponsored school meal programs are operating after implementation of 
the new nutrition standards and other changes in regulations. Without 
this information FNS will not be able to assess progress toward key 
strategic goals for the NSLP and SBP or identify related training and 
technical assistance needs of SFAs and schools.
    Description of Respondents: Individual or households; Not-for-
profit institutions; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 40,509.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 52,594.

Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-16050 Filed 7-8-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P