[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 244 (Thursday, December 20, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65339-65340]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-27443]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request--Generic Clearance To Conduct Formative Research or 
Development of Nutrition Education and Promotion Materials and Related 
Tools and Grants for FNS Population Groups

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 interested parties to 
comment on a proposed information collection. This collection is an 
extension of a currently approved collection. This information 
collection will conduct research in support of FNS' goal of delivering 
science-based nutrition education to targeted audiences. This 
information collection will also conduct research that will assist FNS 
in identifying effective design and implementation approaches to use to 
develop and assess grants. From development through testing of 
materials and tools with the target audience, FNS plans to conduct data 
collections that involve formative research including focus groups, 
interviews (dyad, triad, telephone, etc.), surveys and Web-based 
collection tools.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before February 19, 
2019.

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 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 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 Rachelle Ragland-Greene, 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, 
Alexandria, Virginia 22302, Room 1014.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval. All 
comments will be a matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
should be directed to Rachelle Ragland-Greene at 703-305-2586.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Generic Clearance to Conduct Formative Research for 
Development of Nutrition Education, Promotion Materials and Related 
Tools, and Grants for FNS Population Groups.
    OMB Number: 0584-0524.
    Expiration Date: September 30, 2019.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: This information collection is based on Section 19 of the 
Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1787), Section 5 of the Richard 
B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1754) and Section 11(f) 
of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2020). This request for 
approval of information collection is necessary to obtain input into 
the development of nutrition education interventions for population 
groups served by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition 
Service (USDA-FNS). FNS also uses this collection to obtain input that 
can be used to develop and assess grants. Interventions need to be 
designed so that they can be delivered through different types of media 
and in a variety of formats for diverse audiences.
    FNS develops a variety of resources to support nutrition education 
and promotion activities. These resources are designed to convey 
science-based, behavior-focused nutrition messages about healthy eating 
and physical activity to children and adults eligible to participate in 
FNS nutrition assistance programs and to motivate them to consume more 
healthful foods as defined by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 
(DGA). This includes education materials, messages, promotion tools and 
interventions for the diverse population served by the Federal 
nutrition programs as well as WIC, Team Nutrition, Food Distribution 
and other programs.
    Obtaining formative input and feedback is fundamental to FNS' 
success in delivering science-based nutrition messages and reaching 
diverse segments of the population in ways that are meaningful and 
relevant. This includes conferring with the target audience, 
individuals who serve the target audience, and key stakeholders on the 
communication strategies and interventions that will be developed and 
on the delivery approaches that will be used to reach consumers. The 
formative research and testing activities described will help in the 
development of effective education and promotion tools and 
communication strategies. Collection of this information will increase 
FNS' ability to formulate nutrition education interventions that 
resonate with the intended target population, particularly low-income 
families.
    FNS also uses formative input and feedback to determine how best to 
develop and assess grants so that grant recipients can successfully 
meet their goals under these grants. To do this, FNS confers with grant 
recipients to obtain input regarding their experiences, expectations, 
challenges, and lessons learned while implementing the grant.
    Formative research methods and information collection will include 
focus groups, interviews (dyad, triad, telephone, etc.), surveys and 
Web-based data collection. The data obtained will provide input 
regarding the potential use of materials and products during both the 
developmental and testing stages, in addition to the development of 
grants. Key informant interviews will be conducted in order to 
determine future nutrition education and grant needs, tools and 
dissemination strategies. This task involves collecting a diverse array 
of information from a variety of groups including: People familiar with 
the target audiences; individuals delivering nutrition

[[Page 65340]]

education intervention materials and projects; program providers at 
State and local levels; program participants; grant recipients, and 
other relevant informants associated with FNS programs.
    Findings from all data collection will be included in summary 
reports submitted to USDA-FNS. The reports will describe the data 
collection methods, findings, conclusions, implications, and 
recommendations for the development and effective dissemination of 
nutrition education materials and related tools for FNS population 
groups. There will be no specific quantitative analysis of data. No 
attempt will be made to generalize the findings to be nationally 
representative or statistically valid. There are no recordkeeping or 
third party disclosure burden requirements.

Reporting Burden

    FNS estimates the total annual burden hours are 16,003 x 3 year 
approval for a total of 48,010 burden hours for 3 years. Additionally, 
the total annual responses are 34,166.66 x 3 year approval for a total 
of 102,500 total responses for 3 year approval. See the 3 year approval 
estimates below.
    Affected Public: State, Local and Tribal Government; Individuals 
and Households; and Business or Other for Profit.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 102,500 respondents.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1 response.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 102,500.
    Estimate of Time per Respondent: .46839024 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Reporting Burden Hours: 48,010 hours.

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                                                                                     Estimated
                                     Estimated       Responses     Total annual   average number     Estimated
     Collection instruments           number       annually per      responses     of hours per     total hours
                                    respondents     respondent                       response
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Focus Group Screeners...........          10,000               1          10,000           0.167           1,670
Interview Screeners/Surveys.....           5,000               1           5,000           0.167             835
Focus Groups....................           5,500               1           5,500            2.00       11,000.00
Intercept Interviews............           5,000               1           5,000            0.50        2,500.00
Dyad/Triad Interviews...........           2,000               1           2,000            1.00        2,000.00
Telephone Interviews............          10,000               1          10,000            0.25        2,500.00
Surveys.........................          10,000               1          10,000            0.50        5,000.00
Web-based Collections...........          40,000               1          40,000            0.50       20,000.00
Confidentiality Agreements......          15,000               1          15,000           0.167        2,505.00
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    Total Reporting Burden......         102,500               1         102,500            .468          48,010
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    Dated: December 11, 2018.
Brandon Lipps,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-27443 Filed 12-19-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-30-P