[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 179 (Friday, September 14, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46698-46699]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-19910]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request--Generic Clearance To Conduct Pre-Testing of Surveys

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, without change, of a currently approved collection to 
conduct various procedures to test questionnaires and survey procedures 
to improve the quality and usability of information collection 
instruments.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before November 13, 
2018.

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: Planning and Regulatory Affairs Office, 
Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park 
Center Drive, Room 1014, Alexandria, VA 22302. 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 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 either 
Rachelle Ragland-Greene at 703-305-2586, or the Planning and Regulatory 
Affairs Office at 703-305-2017.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Generic Clearance to Conduct Pre-Testing of Surveys.
    OMB Number: 0584-0606.
    Expiration Date: March 31, 2019.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection request, without change.
    Abstract: The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) intends to request 
approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a generic 
clearance that will allow FNS to conduct a variety of data-gathering 
activities aimed at improving the quality and usability of information 
collection instruments associated with research and analysis 
activities.
    The data-gathering activities utilized to this effect include but 
are not limited to experiments with levels of incentives for study 
participants, tests of various types of survey operations, focus 
groups, cognitive laboratory activities, pilot testing, exploratory 
interviews, experiments with questionnaire design, and usability 
testing of electronic data collection instruments. FNS envisions using 
a variety of techniques including field tests, respondent debriefing 
questionnaires, cognitive interviews,

[[Page 46699]]

and focus groups in order to identify questionnaire and procedural 
problems, suggest solutions, and measure the relative effectiveness of 
alternative solutions.
    Following standard OMB requirements, FNS will submit a change 
request to OMB for each data collection activity undertaken under this 
generic clearance. FNS will provide OMB with the instruments and 
supporting materials describing the research project and specific pre-
testing activities.
    Affected Public: The respondents will be identified at the time 
that each change request is submitted to OMB. Respondents will include 
State, Local and Tribal Government; Individual/Households; and/or 
Businesses.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,200.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 2,200.
    Estimated Time per Response: 0.682.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2,200.

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                                                                                     Estimated
                                     Estimated       Responses     Total annual   average number     Estimated
           Respondent                number of     annually per      responses     of hours per     total hours
                                    respondents     respondent      (col. bxc)       response       (col. dxe)
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Reporting Burden:
    Pretesting Respondents              2,200.00            1.00        2,200.00           0.682        1,500.00
     (State, Local and Tribal
     Government; Individual/
     Households; and/or
     Businesses)................
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        Grand Total Burden        ..............  ..............        6,600.00  ..............        4,500.00
         Estimates for 3 years..
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    Dated: September 6, 2018.
Brandon Lipps,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-19910 Filed 9-13-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-30-P