[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 36 (Friday, February 24, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11523-11526]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-03570]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 36 / Friday, February 24, 2017 / 
Notices  

[[Page 11523]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request--Scanner Capability Assessment of SNAP-Authorized Small 
Retailers (SCANR) Study

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), U.S. Department of 
Agriculture.

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 the proposed collection of information for the Scanner Capability 
Assessment of SNAP-Authorized Small Retailers (SCANR) Study. This is a 
NEW information collection.
    The SCANR Study will provide FNS with an understanding of the 
extent to which small retailers participating in the Supplemental 
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are able to meet Section 4002 of 
the Agricultural Act of 2014 (2014 Farm Bill) requirement that all 
authorized SNAP retailers use scanning technologies at the point of 
sale (POS) to redeem SNAP benefits. Understanding the number of small 
retailers that lack scanning systems, the costs of adopting and 
maintaining scanning systems, and the barriers small retailers face in 
adopting the technology are key to informing rulemaking for the 2014 
Farm Bill requirement.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before April 25, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Comments are invited on (a) whether the proposed data 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the agency, including whether the information has 
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 the use of 
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Comments may be sent to: Jenny Laster Genser, Office of Policy 
Support, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, 
3101 Park Center Drive, Room 1014, Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may 
also be submitted via fax to the attention of Jenny Laster Genser at 
703-305-2559 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 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday) at 3101 Park Center 
Drive, Room 1014, Alexandria, VA 22302.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments will 
also be a matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
should be directed to Jenny Laster Genser at 703-305-2559.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Scanner Capability Assessment of SNAP-Authorized Small 
Retailers (SCANR) Study.
    OMB Number: 0584--NEW.
    Expiration Date of Approval: Not yet determined.
    Type of Request: New collection.
    Abstract: The Scanner Capability Assessment of SNAP-Authorized 
Small Retailers Study will provide FNS with information to inform 
rulemaking for the 2014 Farm Bill requirement that all authorized SNAP 
retailers use scanning technologies at the POS to redeem SNAP benefits. 
This study will result in a comprehensive description of the scanner 
capability of small SNAP-authorized retailers that will provide FNS 
with information to inform rulemaking for the 2014 Farm Bill 
requirement. Cost estimates from the industry interviews and follow-up 
interviews with retailers and data from secondary sources will be used 
to estimate store-level costs for adopting scanning systems with 
different levels of functionality. The cost estimates will account for 
all costs associated with the purchase, installation, and maintenance 
of scanning systems. Using the store-level costs and data from the 
SCANR Survey on the number of small SNAP-authorized retailers without 
scanning systems, the study will also include the total cost estimate 
for all small SNAP-authorized retailers to comply with the 2014 Farm 
Bill requirements. Finally, the study will include a descriptive 
assessment of the technological and economic barriers small SNAP 
retailers face in adopting and using scanning systems.
    Specifically, this study will employ a mixed-methods approach in 
which both quantitative and qualitative data will be collected, 
analyzed, and synthesized to assess the economic and technological 
barriers of adopting scanning technologies by small SNAP-authorized 
retailers and possible inducements. The study design will include 
industry interviews, a national survey of small SNAP-authorized 
retailers, and follow-up interviews with a subset of survey respondents 
to provide qualitative information on the barriers and inducements to 
adopting scanning systems.
    The study design comprises three data collection components to 
address four study objectives:
     Objective 1: Determine and describe the requirements for 
installing and operating electronic scanning systems at small SNAP-
authorized retailers.
     Objective 2: Provide a store-level and industry-wide cost 
analysis of installing and maintaining electronic scanning systems at 
small SNAP-authorized retailers in order to be in full compliance with 
the 2014 Farm Bill.
     Objective 3: Provide reliable national estimates of the 
extent to which scanning systems are in place at small SNAP-authorized 
retailers.
     Objective 4: Determine barriers and inducements to using 
scanning technologies by small SNAP-authorized retailers.
    The data collection components are as follows:
    Structured interviews with nine vendors of POS scanning systems to

[[Page 11524]]

provide information on the requirements and costs for two options of 
functionality for scanning systems. The structured interviews will be 
used to address Objectives 1 and 2.
    FNS is interested in the requirements and costs for two options of 
functionality for scanning systems: (1) Scanning systems that can 
identify which items are eligible to be purchased with SNAP and are 
integrated with the store inventory to scan the item's price and (2) 
scanning systems that can identify which items are eligible to be 
purchased with SNAP and are integrated with the store inventory to scan 
the item's price and are integrated with the EBT terminal. The first 
option will allow a retailer to meet the minimum requirements as 
outlined in the 2014 Farm Bill. The cost data will be combined with the 
survey data and data from secondary sources (e.g., labor rates) to 
conduct a cost analysis to estimate store-level and industry-level 
costs for complying with the 2014 Farm Bill requirements.
    Nationally representative survey of small SNAP-authorized retailers 
to provide information on the number of retailers that lack scanning 
systems and the number that may not comply with this provision and 
choose to leave SNAP instead. Data will be collected through a 
nationally representative survey of small SNAP-authorized retailers to 
provide information to address Objectives 2 and 3.
    The target population for the survey is small SNAP-authorized 
retailers defined as small grocery stores, medium grocery stores, 
convenience stores, and specialty stores excluding chains that have 10 
or more outlets under the same owner. The sample design for the survey 
will be sufficiently powered to provide national and subgroup estimates 
by store type and urbanicity. The survey approach will use multiple 
modes to facilitate response (hard copy or web-based) and telephone 
reminders to nonrespondents to maximize the response rate.
    Follow-up interviews with a subset of survey respondents to provide 
qualitative information on the barriers and inducements to adopting 
scanning systems. Data will be collected through follow-up interviews 
with a subset of the retailers that responded to the structured survey 
to address Objectives 2 and 4.
    Approximately half of the retailers selected for the interviews 
will be stores that reported on the survey that they currently are 
using scanning systems (via in-person interviews) and half will be 
stores that do not use scanning systems (via phone interviews). The 
interviews will provide the opportunity to learn about costs, benefits, 
and challenges associated with implementing and operating scanning 
systems from a group of retailers that currently use them and about 
costs and other concerns of retailers that do not use scanning systems. 
Interview questions will also provide insight regarding the level of 
knowledge about scanning technology among small retailers and the 
information gaps, particularly among nonusers.
    Affected Public: Business for profit.
    There are a total of 1,389. The respondent groups that were 
identified include 12 POS vendors and 1,377 SNAP-authorized small 
retailers.

Industry Interviews

     POS vendors that supply retailers with scanning systems. 
We estimate that nine vendors will participate in the interviews.

SCANR Survey

     SNAP-authorized small retailers: Store owner, store 
manager, or regional manager. Out of 1,377 respondents, we estimate 
that 936 of the small retailers sampled will go on to participate in 
the survey.

Follow-Up Interviews

     SNAP-authorized small retailers: Store owner, store 
manager, or regional manager. Out of 936 small retailers who 
participated in the SCANR survey, we estimate that 50 of them will take 
part in a follow-up interview.
    Estimated Total Number of Respondents: 1,389.
    For the industry interviews, it is estimated that 12 of the 
industry interview respondents will be contacted and, of these, 9 will 
complete the interview, 3 will be non-respondents.
    For the SCANR Survey, a multimode, two-phase approach will be used. 
For phase I (survey), respondents can choose to participate by hard 
copy (mail survey) or web, and for phase II (interview), all non-
respondents will be re-contacted by phone and asked to complete the 
survey (by phone or reminded to complete the survey by mail or web). 
Out of 123,000 small retailers, a sample of 1,377 will be selected. It 
is estimated that, of these, 207 will not be eligible for the survey 
(e.g., no longer in operation), 585 will complete phase I (50% response 
rate after adjusting for eligibility), and 351 will complete phase II 
(60% response rate), yielding 936 completed surveys. Adjusting for 
eligibility, we are targeting an 80% response rate (936/(1,377-207)).
    For the follow-up interviews, a sample of 71 respondents that 
completed the SCANR Survey will be selected for either telephone or on-
site interviews. It is estimated that 50 of the selected respondents 
will take part in the interview (70% response rate).
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.545.
    For the industry interviews with vendors, there is one response per 
respondent. For retailers, there is one response for 886 of the 
respondents (SCANR Survey only) and two responses for 50 of the 
respondents who participate in follow-up interviews.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 1,925.
    For the industry interviews, this total includes 9 completed 
interviews with vendors and 3 attempted interviews. For the SCANR 
Survey, this total includes 936 responses from small retailers and 441 
attempted, but non-completed or non-responses. For the follow-up 
interviews, this total includes 50 completed interviews and 21 
attempted interviews.
    Estimated Time per Response: 0.21.
    For the telephone interviews with vendors: Vendors will take up to 
1 hour to participate in the telephone interviews. Vendors who choose 
not to participate will spend 5 minutes (0.08 hours) reading the 
recruitment materials.
    For the SCANR Survey: Small retailers will take 15 minutes (0.25 
hours) to respond to the survey (via mail, web, or phone). Small 
retailers who choose not to participate will spend 5 minutes (0.08 
hours) reading the recruitment materials.
    For the follow-up interviews: Small retailers will take 30 minutes 
(0.5 hours) to respond to the in-depth telephone or on-site interviews. 
Small retailers selected for a follow-up interview who choose not to 
participate will spend 5 minutes (0.08 hours) reading the recruitment 
materials.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: FNS estimates the 
total burden is 345.57 hours. See Table 1 below:

BILLING CODE 3410-30-P

[[Page 11525]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN24FE17.003



[[Page 11526]]


    Dated: February 8, 2017.
Jessica Shahin,
Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-03570 Filed 2-23-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-C