[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 51 (Wednesday, March 16, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14081-14084]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-05895]


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 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request--Successful Approaches To Reduce Sodium in School Meals

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, United States Department of 
Agriculture (USDA).

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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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 to study Successful Approaches to Reduce Sodium in School 
Meals.

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

ADDRESSES: Comments are invited on the following topics: (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, and/or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments may be sent to Alice Ann Gola, Social Science Research 
Analyst, Special Nutrition Evaluation Branch, Office of Policy Support, 
USDA Food and Nutrition Service, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 1014, 
Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may also be submitted 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 Alice Ann 
Gola at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Successful Approaches to Reduce Sodium in School Meals.
    Form Number: N/A.
    OMB Number: Not yet assigned.
    Expiration Date: Not yet determined.
    Type of Request: New collection.
    Abstract: The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the School 
Breakfast Program (SBP) are federally

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assisted meal programs operating in almost 100,000 public schools, non-
profit private schools, and residential child-care institutions. Any 
child enrolled in a participating school may purchase a meal through 
the SBP and NSLP. Children from families with incomes at or below 130 
percent of the poverty level are eligible for free meals. Children from 
families with incomes between 130 percent and 185 percent of poverty 
are eligible for reduced-price meals. School districts that participate 
in NSLP receive cash subsidies and commodities (USDA foods) from the 
USDA for each meal they serve. In return, they must serve meals that 
meet Federal requirements.
    Federal regulations (7 CFR part 210.10) set nutritional and other 
meal requirements for school lunches, including targets for sodium 
levels. The purpose of this study is to identify, among schools that 
are successfully meeting the sodium targets, ``best practices'' that 
could be used to provide technical assistance to School Food 
Authorities (SFAs) for developing lower sodium menus. This study relies 
on qualitative data from four sources: SFA directors, school 
administrators, community-based stakeholders, and local food suppliers 
to SFAs. The study activities subject to this notice include online 
prescreening surveys, brief telephone interviews, in-depth telephone 
interviews, and in-depth on-site interviews. The online prescreening 
survey will verify which SFAs are currently meeting sodium targets. The 
brief site visit selection telephone interview will provide additional 
information used to determine which of the eligible sites will 
experience in-depth interviews, either on-site or by telephone.
    Affected Public: This study includes four respondent groups: (1) 
State, Local, and Tribal Government (SFA directors and school 
administrators), (2) Business or Other For-Profit (local food 
suppliers), (3) Individuals or Households (community-based 
stakeholders), and (4) Not-For-Profit Institutions (community-based 
stakeholders).
    Estimated Number of Respondents: The total estimated number of 
respondents is 753. This figure includes 608 respondents and 145 non-
respondents. The initial sample will consist of 625 SFA directors. 
Assuming that 80 percent respond to the pre-screening survey, the 
resulting respondent sample will include approximately 500 SFA 
directors. Of the SFA directors identified as eligible from the pre-
screening survey results, 45 will be contacted with an expected 
response rate of 80 percent (36 SFA director respondents and 9 non-
respondents). In-depth interviews will be conducted with the 36 SFA 
directors (with an expected 100 percent response rate). The following 
respondent types will be recruited within each of the SFAs, resulting 
in 36 responses per respondent type: 40 school administrators (with an 
expected response rate of 90 percent); 46 local food suppliers (with an 
expected response rate of 78 percent); and 42 community-based 
stakeholders (32 individuals with an expected response rate of 87.5 
percent and 10 not-for-profit institutions with an expected response 
rate of 80 percent). The 145 non-respondents include 125 SFA directors, 
4 school administrators, 10 local food suppliers, 4 individual 
community-based stakeholders, and 2 not-for-profit community-based 
stakeholders.
    Estimated Frequency of Responses per Respondent: FNS estimates that 
the frequency of responses per respondent will average 1.11 responses 
per respondent across the entire collection. SFA directors may provide 
responses on three occasions (prescreening survey, brief site visit 
selection telephone interview, and in-depth interview), although most 
will provide responses on the prescreening survey only. School 
administrators, community-based stakeholders, and local food suppliers 
to SFAs will be expected to provide a one-time response during the in-
depth interview.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: The total number of responses 
expected across all respondent categories is 834.
    Estimated Time per Response: The estimated time will vary depending 
on the respondent category and will range from three minutes (0.05 
hours) to one hour. The table that follows outlines the estimated total 
annual burden for each type of respondent. Across all study respondents 
and non-respondents, the average estimated time per response is 0.47 
hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours on Respondents: 391.22 hours 
(see table below for estimated total annual burden hours by type of 
respondent).

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    Dated: March 7, 2016.
Audrey Rowe,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-05895 Filed 3-15-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-C