[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 57 (Monday, March 25, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 11046]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-05585]



[[Page 11046]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

March 20, 2019.
    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments 
are requested regarding (1) whether the collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the 
accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of 
the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    Comments regarding this information collection received by April 
24, 2019 will be considered. Written comments should be addressed to: 
Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), 
[email protected] or fax (202) 395-5806 and to Departmental 
Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-
7602. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720-
8958.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to 
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

Food and Nutrition Service

    Title: FNS Generic Clearance for Pre-Testing, Pilot, and Field 
Testing Studies.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-0606.
    Summary of Collection: The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is 
requesting approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to 
conduct pre-testing of surveys using 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 
procedures 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, pilot testing, 
exploratory interviews, experiments with questionnaire design, and 
usability testing of electronic data collection instruments. The 
authorizing statutes for data collections submitted under this generic 
clearance are: The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-
296, Sec 305), and Section 17 (7 U.S.C. 2026) (a)(1) of the Food and 
Nutrition Act of 2008.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information collected will be 
used to pre-test, evaluate and improve the quality of surveys 
instruments and provide reassessments before they are conducted. This 
generic testing clearance is a helpful vehicle for evaluating 
questionnaires/assessments and various data collection procedures. It 
will allow FNS to take advantage of a variety of methods to identify 
questionnaire/assessment and procedural problems, suggest solutions, 
and measure the relative effectiveness of alternative solutions. The 
quality and timeliness of data collections will be improved by 
conducting pre-testing in advance of full surveys.
    Description of Respondents: Individual or households; Business or 
other for-profit; Not-for-profit institutions; State, Local or Tribal 
Government.
    Number of Respondents: 6,600.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 4,500.

Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2019-05585 Filed 3-22-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-P