[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 103 (Friday, May 27, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32116-32118]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-11479]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Senior Farmers' Market 
Nutrition Program (SFMNP)

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (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 a revision 
of a currently approved collection of information relating to the 
reporting and recordkeeping burden associated with the Senior Farmers' 
Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP).

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before July 26, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to: Allison Post, Acting Chief, Policy 
Branch, Supplemental Food Programs Division, Food and Nutrition 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Braddock Metro Center II, 1320 
Braddock Place, 3rd Floor, Alexandria, VA 22314. Comments may also be 
submitted via fax to the attention of Allison Post at 703-305-2086 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 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 Allison 
Post at 703-457-7708 or via email to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    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.
    Title: Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP).
    Form Number: FNS-683A (under OMB Control Number 0584-0594) is 
associated with this collection.
    OMB Number: 0584-0541.
    Expiration Date: December 31, 2022.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and 
Nutrition Service (FNS), created the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition 
Program (SFMNP) in 2000 as a pilot program awarding grants to State 
agencies (including geographic States, U.S. Territories, and federally 
recognized Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs)) on a competitive basis. 
The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (2002 Farm Bill), 
Public Law 107-171, authorized the SFMNP, beginning Fiscal Year (FY) 
2003, and gave USDA the authority to develop regulations for the SFMNP. 
These regulations are published at 7 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 
part 249. The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill), 
Public Law 115-334, reauthorized the SFMNP through fiscal year 2023.
    The purpose of the SFMNP is to provide resources in the form of 
fresh, nutritious, unprepared, locally grown fruits, vegetables, herbs, 
and honey from farmers' markets, roadside stands, and community 
supported agriculture (CSA) programs to low income seniors; to increase 
the domestic consumption of agricultural commodities by expanding or 
aiding in the expansion of domestic farmers' markets, roadside stands, 
and CSA programs; and to develop or aid in the development of new and 
additional farmers' markets, roadside stands, and CSA programs.
    The 2018 Farm Bill and SFMNP regulations at 7 CFR part 249 require 
that certain program-related information be collected and that full and 
complete records concerning SFMNP operations are maintained. The 
information reporting and recordkeeping requirements are necessary to 
ensure appropriate and efficient management of the SFMNP program. These 
burden activities are covered by this Information Collection Request 
(ICR) which include requirements that involve the authorization and 
monitoring of State agencies; the certification of SFMNP participants; 
the nutrition education that is provided to participants; farmer, 
farmers' market,

[[Page 32117]]

roadside stand, and CSA program authorization, training, monitoring, 
and management; and financial and participation data (using Senior 
Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) Annual Financial and Program 
Data Report (FNS 683A), which is approved (both the form and its 
associated reporting burden) under OMB Control Number: 0584-0594 Food 
Programs Reporting System (FPRS), Expiration Date: 07/31/2023). The 
recordkeeping burden associated with this form is not approved under 
OMB Control Number 0584-0594. State agencies must maintain records in 
order to support data reported in FPRS, and the recordkeeping burden 
for such record maintenance is captured in this ICR, OMB Control 
Number: 0584-0541. State plans are the principal source of information 
about how each State agency operates its SFMNP. Information from 
participants and local agencies is collected through State-developed 
forms or Management Information Systems. The information collected is 
used by the Department of Agriculture/Food and Nutrition Service to 
manage, plan, evaluate, make decisions and report on SFMNP program 
operations. Along with the State Plans, State agencies also submit the 
Federal-State Supplemental Nutrition Programs Agreements (FNS-339) 
whose reporting and recordkeeping burden is associated and approved 
under OMB Control Number: 0584-0332, Expiration Date: 04/30/2022.
    This information collection is requesting a revision in the burden 
hours due to program changes and adjustments that primarily reflect the 
inclusion of existing requirements that have been in use without PRA 
approval and are being added into this collection to correct this 
oversight, such as requirements related to the activities that 
authorized outlets need to perform in order to participate in the 
Program and the maintenance of records and systems by State and local 
agencies. This information collection is requesting a revision in the 
burden hours due to program changes and adjustments that also reflects 
expected decreases in the number of SFMNP participants; SFMNP 
authorized farmers, farmers' markets, roadside stands, and CSA programs 
(authorized outlets); and SFMNP local agencies.
    The currently approved burden for this collection is 449,090. FNS 
estimates the new burden at 1,143,986 burden hours, which is an 
increase of 694,896. The currently approved total annual responses are 
2,549,454; we are requesting 2,400,726, which is a decrease of 148,728 
total annual responses.
    Affected Public: Individual/Households; Business or Other For 
Profit; Not For Profit Organizations; State, Local and Tribal 
Government: Respondent groups identified include: (1) SFMNP 
participants who are low-income seniors; (2) authorized farmers, 
farmers' markets, roadside stands and CSA programs; (3) nonprofit 
businesses operating as local agencies; and (4) local and State 
agencies (including geographic States, U.S. Territories, and Indian 
Tribal Organizations (ITOs)) administering the Program).
    Estimated Number of Respondents: The total estimated number of 
respondents is 746,264. This includes: 55 State agencies, 678 local 
agencies, 725,686 individuals/households (program recipients), 290 
nonprofit business, and 19,555 authorized outlets.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: The total estimated 
number of responses per respondent for this collection is 3.22.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 2,400,726. The estimated total 
for reporting is 1,671,921 while the estimated total for recordkeeping 
is 728,805.
    Estimated Time per Response: The estimated time per response 
averages .48 hours for all participants. For the reporting and 
recordkeeping burden, the estimated time of response varies from 
approximately 1 minute to 40 hours depending on the respondent group.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,143,986 hours. The 
estimated total for reporting burden is 958,511 while the estimated 
total for recordkeeping is 185,474 burden hours.
    See the table below for estimated total annual burden for each type 
of respondent.

                                                 Estimate of the Collection of Information Burden Table
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                                                                                              Annual
        Regulatory section               Information          Form(s)     Est. number of   responses per   Total annual      Hours per     Total annual
                                          collected                         respondents     respondent       responses       response      burden hours
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                                                               REPORTING BURDEN ESTIMATES
                          Affected Public: State & Local Agencies (Including U.S. Territories and Indian Tribal Organizations)
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249.3(d)..........................  Local agency          ..............          677.60            0.50          338.80            2.00          677.60
                                     applications.
249.4.............................  State Plan of         ..............           55.00            1.00           55.00           40.00        2,200.00
                                     Operations.
249.6(a)(3).......................  Certification data    ..............           55.00       13,194.29      725,686.00            0.25       181,421.5
                                     for seniors.
249.10(a)(2), (b), (c)............  Authorization--Revie  ..............           55.00          177.77        9,777.50            1.00        9,777.50
                                     w of Outlet
                                     Applications
                                     (Farmers, Farmers'
                                     Market, Roadside
                                     Stand, CSA Program).
249.10(a)(7), (d).................  Annual Training for   ..............           55.00            1.00           55.00            8.00          440.00
                                     Authorized Outlets
                                     Development.
249.10(a)(7), (d).................  Annual Training for   ..............           55.00           15.00          825.00            2.00        1,650.00
                                     Authorized Outlets.
249.10(b)(8)......................  Disqualification of   ..............            5.00            1.00            5.00            0.08            0.42
                                     Authorized Outlets.
249.10(e)(2)(3), 249.17(c)(1)(i)..  Monitoring and        ..............           55.00           35.55        1,955.50            1.50        2,933.25
                                     review of at least
                                     10 percent of
                                     authorized farmers,
                                     farmers' markets,
                                     roadside stands,
                                     and CSA programs.
249.10(e)(4),                       Monitoring/Review of  ..............           55.00            8.80          484.00            2.00          968.00
 249.17(c)(1)(ii)(iii).              Local Agencies.
249.10(f).........................  Coupon/CSA            ..............           55.00            1.00           55.00            5.00          275.00
                                     management system.
249.10(h).........................  Coupon                ..............           55.00            1.00           55.00            3.00          165.00
                                     reconciliation.
249.10(j).........................  Recipients and        ..............           55.00            9.09          500.00            1.00          500.00
                                     Authorized Outlet
                                     Complaints.
249.10(k).........................  Recipients and        ..............           55.00            7.11          391.10            0.08           32.66
                                     Authorized Outlet
                                     Sanctions.
249.11............................  Financial management  ..............           55.00            1.00           55.00           10.00          550.00
                                     system.
249.12(a)(2)......................  Prior approval for    ..............            5.00            1.00            5.00           40.00          200.00
                                     cost items per 2
                                     CFR part 200,
                                     subpart E, and 2
                                     CFR parts 400 and
                                     415.
249.17(a).........................  Establishment of ME   ..............            1.00            1.00            1.00           24.00           24.00
                                     System.
249.17(b)(2)......................  State agency          ..............            8.00            1.00            8.00           10.00           80.00
                                     corrective action
                                     plans.

[[Page 32118]]

 
249.17(c)(2)......................  Special Reports.....  ..............            2.00            1.00            2.00           10.00           20.00
249.18(b).........................  Audit responses.....  ..............            1.00            1.00            1.00           15.00           15.00
249.23(b).........................  Financial/recipient         FNS-683A  ..............  ..............            0.00  ..............            0.00
                                     reports.
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    Subtotal Reporting: State and Local Agencies........  ..............          732.60         1010.45      740,254.90            0.27      201,929.92
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                                        Affected Public: Individuals/Households (Applicants for Program Benefits)
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249.6.............................  Certification data    ..............         725,686               1         725,686          0.0167     12,118.9562
                                     for seniors.
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal Reporting: Individuals/Households..........  ..............         725,686               1         725,686          0.0167     12,118.9562
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                                  Affected Public: Authorized Farmers, Farmers' Markets, Roadside Stands, CSA Programs
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249.3(d)..........................  Non-profit            ..............           290.4             0.5           145.2               2           290.4
                                     businesses
                                     Applications.
249.10(b), (c)....................  Authorized Outlet     ..............         9,777.5               1         9,777.5          0.0835       816.42125
                                     Agreements.
249.10(b)(1)(xi)..................  Farmer/farmers'       ..............             500               1             500             0.5             250
                                     market complaints.
249.10(b)(8)......................  Appeal of Denial....  ..............           7.822               1           7.822               2          15.644
249.10(d).........................  Annual Training for   ..............          19,555               1          19,555               2           39110
                                     Authorized Outlets.
249.10(e)(1)......................  Coupon Reimbursement  ..............          19,555               9         175,995               4         703,980
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    Subtotal Reporting: Authorized farmers, farmers'      ..............       19,845.40           10.38      205,980.52            3.61      744,462.47
     markets, roadside stands and CSA programs.
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        GRAND SUBTOTAL: REPORTING.......................  ..............      746,264.00     2.240388686     167,1921.42     0.573299279      958,511.35
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                                                             RECORDKEEPING BURDEN ESTIMATES
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                          Affected Public: State & Local Agencies (Including U.S. Territories and Indian Tribal Organizations)
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249.4(c)..........................  State Plan Record     ..............              55               1              55           0.167           9.185
                                     Maintenance.
249.9.............................  Nutrition education.  ..............              55     13194.29091         725,686            0.25       181,421.5
249.10(a)(4), (d).................  Authorized Outlet     ..............              55               1              55               2             110
                                     Training Content.
249.10(b).........................  Authorized farmers,   ..............              55               1              55               2             110
                                     farmers' markets,
                                     roadside stands and
                                     CSA program
                                     agreements.
248.10(b)(8)......................  Maintenance of        ..............              55               1              55           0.167           9.185
                                     Disqualification
                                     and Sanction
                                     Records.
249.10(e )(2)(3), 249.17(c)(1)(i).  Monitoring and        ..............              55     39.90816327     2,194.94898             0.5     1,097.47449
                                     review of at least
                                     10 percent of
                                     authorized farmers,
                                     farmers' markets,
                                     roadside stands,
                                     and CSA programs.
249.10(e)(4); 249.17(c)(1)(ii)....  Monitoring/Review of  ..............              55             8.8             484             0.5             242
                                     Local Agencies.
249.11(c).........................  Record of financial         FNS-683A              55               1              55               2             110
                                     expenditures.
249.16(a).........................  Fair hearings.......  ..............              55               1              55               1              55
249.17(a).........................  Maintenance of        ..............              55               1              55               2             110
                                     Management
                                     Evaluations.
249.23(a).........................  Record of Program     ..............              55               1              55              40           2,200
                                     operations.
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        GRAND SUBTOTAL: RECORDKEEPING...................  ..............           55.00        13251.00      728,804.95            0.25      185,474.34
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        GRAND SUBTOTAL REPORTING AND RECORDKEEPING......  ..............      746,264.00            3.22    2,400,726.37            0.48    1,143,985.69
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                                                                                  Estimated avg.
                                     Estimated     Responses per   Total annual      number of       Estimated
                                     number of      respondent       responses       hours per      total hours
                                    respondents                    (Col. B x C)      response      (Col. D x E)
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Total Reporting Burden..........       746,264.0            2.24    1,671,921.42            0.57      958,511.35
Total Recordkeeping Burden......           55.00        13251.00      728,804.95            0.25      185,474.34
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    TOTAL BURDEN FOR #0584-0541.       746,264.0            3.22    2,400,726.37            0.48    1,143,985.69
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Cynthia Long,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-11479 Filed 5-26-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P