[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 20 (Monday, February 1, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5094-5096]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-01728]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request--SNAP Performance Reporting System, Management 
Evaluation

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 an 
extension of a currently approved collection under OMB No. 0584-0010 
which is due to expire May 31, 2016.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before April 1, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection 
of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions 
of the

[[Page 5095]]

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: Sarah Goldberg, Food and Nutrition 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 
8-42, Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may also be submitted via fax to 
the attention of Sarah Goldberg at 703-305-4397 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 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 Sarah 
Goldberg at 703-305-4397.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Performance Reporting System, Management Evaluation.
    OMB Number: 0584-0010.
    Expiration Date: 5/31/2016.
    Type of Request: Extension, without change, of a currently approved 
collection.
    Abstract: The purpose of the Performance Reporting System (PRS) is 
to ensure that each State agency and project area is operating the 
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in accordance with the 
requirements of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (the Act) (7 U.S.C. 
2011, et seq.), as amended, and corresponding program regulations. 
Under Section 11 of the Act (7 U.S.C. 2020), State agencies must 
maintain necessary records to ascertain that SNAP is operating in 
compliance with the Act and regulations and must make these records 
available to the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) for inspection and 
audit.
    Per Title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 275, each State 
agency is required to submit one Management Evaluation (ME) review 
schedule every one, two, or three years, depending on the project area 
make-up of the State, unless the State receives approval for an 
alternative Management Evaluation review schedule.
    Under 7 CFR part 275, each State must establish a system for 
analysis and evaluation of all data available to the State. Data 
analysis and evaluation is an ongoing process that facilitates the 
development of effective and prompt corrective action.
    Under 7 CFR part 275, State agencies must prepare a corrective 
action plan (CAP) addressing identified deficiencies. The State 
agencies must develop a system for monitoring and evaluating corrective 
action and submit CAP updates, as necessary.
    Affected Public: State, Local and Tribal Government; Respondent 
Type: SNAP State and local agencies.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 53 State agencies.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: State agencies will 
submit one review schedule and one ME review plan per year, and will 
conduct and document ME reviews for an average total of 27 project 
areas, totaling 29 responses per State agency.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 1,537 (53 State agencies * 29 
estimated responses per State Agency).
    Estimated Time per Response: FNS estimates that it takes 4 hours to 
prepare a review schedule, and that each of the 53 State agencies will 
submit one review schedule per year resulting in a total burden of 212 
hours (53 State agencies * 1 review schedule * 4 hours). FNS estimates 
that it takes on average approximately 80 hours to develop a 
comprehensive State review plan, resulting in a total of 4,240 hours 
(80 hours * 53 State plans). FNS estimates that it takes an average of 
340 hours to conduct a review. FNS estimates that ME reviews are 
conducted for one-half of the total number of project areas (1,430). 
Therefore, FNS estimates that it takes approximately 486,200 hours 
annually for State agencies to conduct their reviews (340 hours x 1,430 
ME reviews). FNS also estimates that the time necessary for 
recordkeeping, that is, the time required for State agencies to 
document and maintain the findings of an ME review for internal 
purposes is 0.1169 hours, or 7 minutes, per State record. If State 
agencies each maintain approximately 29 records, then the total amount 
of time for record keeping required is 180 hours (1,537 records * 
0.1169 hours).
    See the table below for estimated total annual burden for each type 
of respondent.

[[Page 5096]]



 
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Respondent                             Estimated       Responses    Total annual       Estimated       Estimated
                                          number    annually per       responses         average     total hours
                                      respondent     respondent/      (col. bxc)          number      (col. dxe)
                                                         reviews                        of hours
                                                                                    per response
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                                                Reporting Burden
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State and local agencies review               53               1              53               4             212
 schedule.......................
State and Local review plan                   53               1              53              80           4,240
 development....................
State and Local agencies                      53              27           1,430             340         486,200
 conducting reviews.............
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    Total Reporting Burden......              53              29           1,537  ..............         490,652
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Respondent                             Estimated       Responses    Total annual       Estimated       Estimated
                                          number    annually per       responses         average     total hours
                                      respondent      respondent      (col. bxc)          number      (col. dxe)
                                                                                        of hours
                                                                                    per response
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                                              Recordkeeping Burden
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State and local agencies........              53              29           1,537           .1169          179.68
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    Total Recordkeeping Burden..              53  ..............           1,537  ..............             180
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    The total estimated annual reporting burden is as follows:
    Prepare Review Schedules: 4 x 53 = 212 hours.
    Prepare Review Plans: 80 x 53 = 4,240 hours.
    Conduct ME Reviews: 340 x 1,430 = 486,200 hours.
    Recordkeeping: .1169 x 1,537 = 180 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden: 490,832 
hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 29,449,920 minutes 
(490,832 hours).

    Dated: January 19, 2016.
Audrey Rowe,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-01728 Filed 1-29-16; 8:45 am]
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