[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 188 (Friday, September 29, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67226-67228]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-21415]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Supplemental Nutrition 
Assistance Program (SNAP) Retailer Applications

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 a revision 
of a currently approved collection. FNS seeks OMB approval for the 
burden associated with SNAP application forms and other document 
requests that are necessary to effectively administer a large 
population of retailers, varied in type and scope, and ensure that 
these retailers remain in compliance with program requirements.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before November 28, 
2023.

ADDRESSES: The Food and Nutrition Service, USDA, invites interested 
persons to submit written comments on this information collection. 
Comments may be submitted in writing by one of the following methods:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments electronically.
    Mail: Comments should be addressed to Marga Ortiz, Chief, Retailer 
Policy Branch, Retailer Policy Division, Supplemental Nutrition 
Assistance Program, 1320 Braddock Place, Alexandria, Virginia 22314.
    FNS will summarize all responses to this notice and include them 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 Marga Ortiz 
at 703-305-2546.

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

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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: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Store 
Applications.
    Form Numbers: FNS-252; FNS-252-E; FNS-252-FE; FNS-252-R; FNS-252-2; 
and FNS-252-C.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-0008.
    Expiration Date: 1/31/2024.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract:
    Section 9(a) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended (7 
U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) (the Act), requires that FNS determine the 
eligibility of retail food stores and certain food service 
organizations to accept SNAP benefits, and to monitor them for 
compliance purposes and continued eligibility. FNS is also responsible 
for requiring updates to application information and reviewing retail 
food store applications at least once every five years to ensure that 
each firm is under the same ownership and continues to meet eligibility 
requirements. FNS relies on the information obtained from applicants to 
ensure that each retailer continues to meet SNAP eligibility 
requirements and effectuate the purposes of the program. The forms and 
other instruments in this information collection are voluntary; 
however, a retailer may not participate in SNAP without completing an 
application for FNS approval.
    There are six forms associated with this approved Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) information collection number 0584-0008--
the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Application for Stores, 
Forms FNS-252 (English and Spanish) and FNS-252-E (paper and online 
version respectively); Farmer's Market Application, Form FNS-252-FE; 
Meal Service Application, Form FNS-252-2;Reauthorization Application, 
Form FNS-252-R (form mailed or available electronically); and the 
Corporation Supplemental Application, Form FNS-252-C used for 
individual (chain) stores under a corporation. For new authorizations, 
the majority of applicants use form FNS-252 or FNS-252-E (paper or 
online, respectively). FNS-252-E and FNS-252-FE are true online forms 
with a different format than the paper version. For reauthorization, 
form FNS-252-R is used. It is available as a paper form and online in 
the exact same format as the paper form.
    In addition to these forms, during new authorization or 
reauthorization, FNS may conduct an on-site store visit of the firm. 
The store visit of the firm helps FNS confirm that the information 
provided on an application is correct. An FNS representative or store 
visit contractor obtains permission to complete the store visit 
checklist, photograph the store and asks the store owner or manager 
about the continued ownership of the store. Previous submissions 
estimated that the retailer spent one minute interacting with the FNS 
representative or contractor during the store visit. Under this 
proposed revision, FNS is increasing the estimate to 10 minutes, which 
we believe is a more accurate estimate of the time the retailer must 
spend with the FNS representative or contractor.
    Applicants using form FNS-252-E, FNS-252-FE, or electronically 
accessing FNS-252-R must self-register for a Level 1 access account 
through the USDA eAuthentication system prior to starting an online 
application. USDA eAuthentication facilitates the electronic 
authentication of an individual. Previous submissions included 
authorization applicants using FNS-252-E and FNS-252-FE but did not 
include burden estimates for electronic reauthorization applicants 
registering for eAuthentication access to complete FNS-252-R. 
Respondents using the electronic version of FNS-252-R are included 
under the proposed revision, in Table A below.
    We are also taking this opportunity to more accurately reflect the 
burden hours for FNS-252-E and FNS-252-FE by accounting in this notice 
for time to gather documents. During the preparation of the last 
submission under Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control Number 
0584-0008, FNS consulted with stakeholders who commented that the 
burden for gathering information and completing the previous paper form 
FNS-252 was between 60 to 90 minutes. The Agency used this information 
to adjust the burden estimate for the paper version, FNS-252, but 
inadvertently failed to apply it to the electronic forms, FNS-252-E and 
FNS-252-FE, in the last submission. In Table A, below, we estimate 60 
minutes per response for the FNS-252-E and FNS-252-FE and 90 minutes 
per response for the paper FNS-252, to account for time gathering 
documents.
    We estimate that the average hours per response across all 
applications for this revised information collection will be 0.54, 
which is 32.1 minutes. This is an increase of .38 hours compared to the 
Agency's previous notice under OMB Control Number 0584-0008. The 
increase is due to our revision of estimated response times to more 
accurately reflect the burden on respondents, especially the increased 
estimated response time for the FNS-252-E.
    FNS used Fiscal Year 2022 data in our calculations of burden 
estimates associated with this information collection as this was the 
most complete data available to us at this time. Table A below 
clarifies the burden of this information collection. The hours per 
response vary by the type of application used from 8 minutes to 1.5 
hours. There are no recordkeeping, third-party or public disclosure 
burdens associated with the information collection.

Reporting

    Affected Public: For-profit businesses; retail food stores; 
farmers' markets; military commissaries; and meal services.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 55,708.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.7.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 95,038.3.
    Estimated Time per Response: 0.54 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 50,857.1 hours.
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P

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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN29SE23.002


Tameka Owens,
Assistant Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-21415 Filed 9-28-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-C