[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 51 (Wednesday, March 16, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14080-14081]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-05893]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request--Application of Schools Applying for Recognition 
Through HealthierUS School Challenge: Smarter Lunchrooms

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 a new 
collection for reviewing and evaluating the practices of schools 
participating in both the National School Lunch and School Breakfast 
Programs as a part of their application for recognition through 
HealthierUS School Challenge: Smarter Lunchrooms. The goal is to 
highlight and recognize those schools that are achieving success above 
and beyond Federal meal pattern requirements in the areas of actively 
implementing smarter lunchroom techniques, Smart Snacks, nutrition 
education, physical education, local school wellness policies, and 
other criteria for excellence.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before May 16, 2016.

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: Ebony James, Food and Nutrition Service, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 630, 
Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may also be submitted via fax to the 
attention of Ebony James at 703-305-2549 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 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 630, 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 Ebony James 
at 703-305-2827.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: HealthierUS School Challenge: Smarter Lunchrooms 
Application.
    Form Number: FNS-779.
    OMB Number: Not Yet Assigned.
    Expiration Date: Not Yet Determined.
    Type of Request: New collection.
    Abstract: The HealthierUS School Challenge (HUSSC), begun in 2004, 
serves as a way to motivate and facilitate improvements in nutrition 
and physical activity in schools by collecting and sharing best 
practices. It also allows the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to 
showcase schools that have made positive steps in advancing 
implementation of wellness policies and the latest Dietary Guidelines 
for

[[Page 14081]]

Americans and food guidance system. Research supports the use of both 
incentives and the recognition of good work to promote positive 
behavior and performance. Therefore, the foundation of the HealthierUS 
School Challenge: Smarter Lunchrooms (HUSSC: SL) initiative is based on 
four levels of excellence in nutrition and physical activity. Team 
Nutrition schools that voluntarily submit applications for one of 
HUSSC: SL's four levels of excellence, and meet the HUSSC: SL criteria, 
receive an award plaque, banner, monetary incentive, and national and 
community recognition of their accomplishments.
    This information collection will inform how the Food and Nutrition 
Service develops policy and technical assistance regarding the school 
nutrition environment. Collective feedback from the schools submitting 
application forms will inform FNS on what is actually being implemented 
at the local level. An assessment of the information obtained from 
schools will help FNS to better target efforts to design science-based 
nutrient standards for school meals, develop training and nutrition 
education materials in support of Federal child nutrition programs, 
plan for program enhancements, and share descriptive information about 
best practices with other schools across the country; and will assist 
those schools in planning and implementing their own feasible, results-
oriented practices. Ultimately, the information on the application 
forms will help FNS better meet the needs of its customers, strengthen 
the development of policy directed toward the administration's interest 
in eliminating childhood obesity and food insecurity, and enhance the 
health and nutritional status of the US population.
    This application is currently approved under OMB Control No. 0584-
0524 Generic Clearance to Conduct Formative Research (which expires 
June 30, 2016). FNS is now seeking approval for this application in its 
own information collection.
    Affected Public: State, Local, and Tribal Government. Respondent 
groups identified include school and school district representatives.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: FNS anticipates that 1,000 school 
or school district representatives will voluntarily submit HealthierUS 
School Challenge: Smarter Lunchrooms applications over a one year 
period (see chart).
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: The school or 
district representative will be asked to participate in completing one 
application form.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 1,000.
    Estimated Time per Response: 2 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2,000 hours.
    See the table below for estimated total annual burden for the 
respondents.

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                                                                                     Estimated
                                     Estimated       Responses     Total annual       average        Estimated
           Respondent                number of     annually per      responses      number  of      total hours
                                    respondents     respondent      (Col. bxc)       hours per      (Col. dxe)
                                                                                     response
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                                                Reporting Burden
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School or School District                  1,000               1           1,000               2           2,000
 Representative.................
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    Total Reporting Burden......           1,000  ..............           1,000  ..............           2,000
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    Dated: March 8, 2016.
Audrey Rowe,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-05893 Filed 3-15-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-30-P