[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 200 (Thursday, October 16, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62092-62094]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-24573]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Notice of Emergency 
Approval of New Information Collection for Feasibility of Tribal 
Administration of Federal Nutrition Assistance Programs

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 announces FNS' intention to request emergency approval from the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and invites the general public 
and other public agencies to comment on this proposed information 
collection. This is a new collection for the purpose of determining the 
interest among Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs) in administering FNS 
programs, the capacity of ITOs to do so, and legislative and regulatory 
implications.

[[Page 62093]]


DATES: Written comments must be received on or before December 15, 
2014.

ADDRESSES: 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 shall 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 that were 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 use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    Comments may be sent to: Richard Lucas, Food and Nutrition Service, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 1014, 
Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may also be submitted via fax to the 
attention of Richard Lucas at 703-305-2576 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.
    All written comments will be available 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) located at 3101 Park Center 
Drive, Room 1014, Alexandria, Virginia 22302.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments will 
be a matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of this information collection should be directed to Richard 
Lucas at 703-305-2119.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Feasibility of Tribal Administration of Federal Nutrition 
Assistance Programs.
    Form Number: N/A.
    OMB Number: 0584--NEW.
    Expiration Date: Not Yet Determined.
    Type of Request: New Collection.
    Abstract: The Agricultural Act of 2014 (Pub. L. 113-79) calls for a 
study to determine the feasibility of Tribal administration of Federal 
nutrition assistance programs in lieu of State agencies or other 
administrative entities. Specifically, the primary objectives of the 
study are:
    [ssquf] Objective 1: Identify services, functions and activities 
associated with administering nutrition assistance programs.
    [ssquf] Objective 2: Consult with Tribes to determine the extent of 
their interest in administering the programs.
    [ssquf] Objective 3: Assess the capability of Indian Tribal 
Organizations (ITOs) to administer these programs based on the 
services, functions and activities associated with administering them 
and ITO interest in administering all or part of particular programs.
    [ssquf] Objective 4: Identify statutory or regulatory changes, 
waivers or special provisions that would be needed for ITOs to 
administer each nutrition program.
    There are 15 nutrition assistance programs that are overseen by 
Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and administered by States. While few 
of these programs are totally administered by an ITO, several are 
administered with varying levels of shared state/ITO responsibility. 
FNS requests clearance to conduct, through IMPAQ International, LLC, 
two principal research activities:

[ssquf] A multi-modal survey of key administrative staff in all ITOs
[ssquf] Interviews with Tribal leaders and administrative staff

    This information collection is being conducted by the Food and 
Nutrition Service, Office of Policy Support, and is authorized by the 
Agricultural Act of 2014 (Pub. L. 113-79).
    The Act calls for a study to determine the feasibility of Tribal 
administration of Federal nutrition assistance programs in lieu of 
State agencies or other administrative entities.
    Affected Public: State, Local and Tribal Government. Respondent 
groups identified include: (a) Tribal Leaders; (b) Tribal members who 
play an administrative role in onsite federal human services programs.
    Estimated Number of Respondents Example: The total estimated number 
of respondents is 1,228. This includes: 1,132 Tribal Leaders (two per 
Federally-recognized Tribe), 20 percent of whom will complete surveys, 
32 (n) of whom will participate in site visit interviews; and 96 
program administrators who will participate in site visit interviews. 
Table 1 shows respondent and burden information.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: Tribal Leaders will 
be asked to complete one survey. Thirty-two of those Tribal Leaders 
will also be interviewed during site visits. All other respondents (96 
Tribal program administrators) will participate in one site visit 
interview.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: The total of 354 responses 
includes 226 survey responses and 128 interview responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: The survey will take 0.5 hours. Time 
spent on surveys that are not completed is estimated to be 0.03 hours 
(2 minutes). On-site interviews will take 1.5 hours each.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 332.18 hours.

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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN16OC14.000


    Dated: October 6, 2014.
Audrey Rowe,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-24573 Filed 10-15-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P