[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 232 (Tuesday, December 5, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 84297-84300]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-26659]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 232 / Tuesday, December 5, 2023 / 
Notices  

[[Page 84297]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Special Supplemental 
Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Farmers' 
Market Nutrition Program (FMNP)--Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), Department of Agriculture 
(USDA).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 
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 for the reporting and 
recordkeeping burden associated with the Special Supplemental Nutrition 
Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Farmers' Market 
Nutrition Program (FMNP) regulations.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before February 5, 2024.

ADDRESSES: The Food and Nutrition Service, USDA, invites interested 
persons to submit written comment.
     Preferred Method: Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments electronically.
     Mail: Allison Post, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, 1320 Braddock Place, Room 328, Alexandria, 
VA 22302.
     Email: Send email to [email protected].
    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 or 
copies of this information collection should be directed to Allison 
Post at 703-457-7708.

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: Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, 
and Children (WIC) Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP)--Reporting 
and Recordkeeping Burden.
    Form Number: FNS-683B (under OMB Control Number 0584-0594) is 
associated with this collection.
    OMB Number: 0584-0447.
    Expiration Date: August 31, 2024.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: The WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) is 
associated with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, 
Infants, and Children, also known as WIC. WIC provides supplemental 
foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education at no cost to 
low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding post-partum 
individuals, infants, and children up to 5 years of age at nutritional 
risk. The purpose of FMNP is to provide fresh, nutritious, unprepared, 
locally grown fruits and vegetables through farmers' markets and 
roadside stands to WIC participants, and to expand awareness and use 
of, and sales at, farmers' markets and roadside stands. Currently, FMNP 
operates through State health departments in 41 States, 7 Indian Tribal 
Organizations, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin 
Islands.
    Section 17(m)(8) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
1786(m)(8)), and FMNP regulations at 7 CFR part 248 require that 
certain program-related information be collected and that full and 
complete records concerning FMNP operations are maintained. The 
information reporting and recordkeeping burdens are necessary to ensure 
appropriate and efficient management of FMNP. The burden activities 
that are covered by this Information Collection Request (ICR) include 
requirements that involve the authorization and monitoring of State 
agencies; the certification of FMNP participants; the nutrition 
education that is provided to participants; farmer and market 
authorization, monitoring, and management; and financial and 
participation data.
    State Plans are the principal source of information about how each 
State agency operates FMNP. Information from participants and local 
agencies is collected through State agency-developed forms or 
Management Information Systems (MIS). The information collected is used 
by the Department of Agriculture/Food and Nutrition Service to manage, 
plan, evaluate, make decisions and report on FMNP operations. Along 
with State Plans, State agencies also submit the Federal-State 
Supplemental Nutrition Programs Agreements (FNS-339), for which the 
associated reporting and recordkeeping burden is approved under OMB 
Control Number: 0584-0332, Expiration Date: 06/30/2025. Additionally, 
FMNP financial and participation data are collected using the WIC 
Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) Annual Financial and Program 
Data Report (FNS 683B), for which the form and its associated reporting 
burden are approved under OMB Control Number: 0584-0594 Food Programs 
Reporting System (FPRS), Expiration Date: 09/30/2026. Recordkeeping 
burden associated with form FNS 683B 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-
0447.
    This information collection is requesting a revision in the burden 
hours due to program changes resulting from FMNP State agencies 
transitioning from paper coupon systems to electronic benefit systems, 
as well as one existing requirement that has been in use

[[Page 84298]]

without PRA approval. The requested revisions in this information 
collection also reflect program adjustments to account for changes in 
the number of FMNP participants, FMNP authorized outlets, and FMNP 
State and local agencies.
    The currently approved burden for this collection is 1,640,906 
hours. FNS estimates the new burden at 1,175,580 burden hours, which is 
a decrease of 465,326 hours. The currently approved total annual 
responses are 4,909,194. FNS estimates the new number of responses at 
4,148,625, which is a decrease of 760,569 total annual responses.
    Affected Public: Individuals/Households, Business or Other For 
Profit; Not For Profit; State, Local, and Tribal Government. Respondent 
groups identified include: (1) FMNP participants who are women, 
infants, and children participating in the WIC Program; (2) authorized 
FMNP outlets which are farmers, farmers' markets, and roadside stands; 
(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 FMNP.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: The total estimated number of 
respondents is 1,351,492. This includes 51 State agencies, 769 local 
agencies, 1,330,746 individuals/households (FMNP participants), 329 
nonprofit businesses, and 19,597 authorized FMNP outlets (farmers, 
farmers' markets, roadside stands).
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: The total estimated 
number of responses per respondent for this collection is 3.07.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 4,148,625. The estimated total 
for reporting is 2,814,962 while the estimate total for recordkeeping 
is 1,333,663.
    Estimated Time per Response: The estimated time per response 
averages approximately 17 minutes (0.28 hours) for all respondents. For 
the reporting burden, the estimated time per response varies from 3 
minutes to 40 hours, while the estimated time per response for the 
recordkeeping burden varies from 10 minutes to 40 hours, depending on 
the requirement.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,175,580 hours. The 
estimated total reporting burden is 839,123 hours while the estimated 
total recordkeeping burden is 336,457 hours.
    See the table below for the estimated total annual burden for each 
type of respondent.

                                                 Estimate of the Collection of Information Burden Table
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             Estimated        Annual
         Regulatory section           Information collected    Form(s)       number of     responses per   Total annual      Hours per     Total annual
                                                                            respondents     respondent       responses       response      burden hours
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               REPORTING BURDEN ESTIMATES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          Affected Public: STATE & LOCAL AGENCIES (Including Indian Tribal Organizations and U.S. Territories)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
248.3(e), 246.5....................  Local Agency            ...........          768.60            0.50          384.30            2.00          768.60
                                      Applications.
248.4..............................  State Plan............  ...........           51.00            1.00           51.00           40.00        2,040.00
248.6, 248.10(i)...................  Certification Data for  ...........           51.00       26,093.06    1,330,746.00            0.25      332,686.50
                                      Participants.
248.10(a)(2),(3),(b),(c)...........  Authorization--Review   ...........           51.00          192.13        9,798.50            0.25        2,449.63
                                      of Outlet
                                      Applications
                                      (Farmers, Farmers'
                                      Market, Roadside
                                      Stand).
248.10(a)(4)(d)....................  Face-to-Face Training   ...........           51.00            1.00           51.00            8.00          408.00
                                      Development.
248.10(a)(4)(d)....................  Face-to-Face Training.  ...........           51.00           15.00          765.00            2.00        1,530.00
248.10(b)(5).......................  Disqualification of     ...........            5.00            1.00            5.00            0.08            0.42
                                      Authorized Outlets.
248.10(d)..........................  Annual Training for     ...........           51.00            1.00           51.00            8.00          408.00
                                      Authorized Outlets
                                      Development.
248.10(d)..........................  Annual Training for     ...........           51.00           15.00          765.00            2.00        1,530.00
                                      Authorized Outlets.
248.10(e)(2),(3); 248.17(c)(1)(i)..  Monitoring/Review of    ...........           51.00           38.43        1,959.70            1.50        2,939.55
                                      Authorized Outlets.
248.10(e)(4); 248.17(c)(1)(ii).....  Monitoring/Review of    ...........           51.00           10.76          549.00            2.00        1,098.00
                                      Local Agencies.
248.10(f)..........................  Coupon Management       ...........           51.00            1.00           51.00            5.00          255.00
                                      System.
248.10(h)..........................  Coupon Reconciliation.  ...........  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............          115.50
248.10(h)..........................  Paper Coupon            ...........           26.00            1.00           26.00            3.00           78.00
                                      Reconciliation.
248.10(h)..........................  Electronic Benefit      ...........           25.00            1.00           25.00            1.50           37.50
                                      Reconciliation.
248.10(j)..........................  Recipients and          ...........           51.00            9.67          493.00            1.00          493.00
                                      Authorized Outlet
                                      Complaints.
248.10(k)..........................  Farmer/farmers' market  ...........           51.00            7.69          391.94            0.08           32.73
                                      sanctions.
248.11(a)..........................  Disclosure of           ...........           51.00            1.00           51.00           10.00          510.00
                                      Financial
                                      Expenditures.
248.12(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.
248.17(a)..........................  Establishment of ME     ...........            1.00            1.00            1.00           24.00           24.00
                                      System.
248.17(b)(2)(ii)...................  State Agency            ...........            7.00            1.00            7.00           10.00           70.00
                                      Corrective Action
                                      Plan.
248.17(c)(2).......................  Special Reports.......  ...........            2.00            1.00            2.00           10.00           20.00
248.18(b)..........................  Audit Responses.......  ...........            1.00            1.00            1.00           15.00           15.00
                                                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 84299]]

 
  Subtotal Reporting: State and      ......................  ...........          819.60        1,642.48    1,346,179.44            0.26      347,593.92
   Local Agencies (Including Indian
   Tribal Organizations and U.S.
   Territories).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Affected Public: INDIVIDUALS/HOUSEHOLDS (Applicants for Program Benefits)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
248.6, 248.10(i)...................  Certification Data for  ...........    1,330,746.00            1.00    1,330,746.00            0.05       66,670.37
                                      Participants.
                                                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Subtotal Reporting: Individuals/   ......................  ...........      330,746.00            1.00      330,746.00            0.05       66,670.37
   Households.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Affected Public: Authorized Outlets (Farmers/Markets/Roadside Stands) and Businesses
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
248.3(e), 246.5....................  Non-profit businesses   ...........          329.40            0.50          164.70            2.00          329.40
                                      Applications.
248.10(a)(4)(d)....................  Face-to-Face Training.  ...........        1,959.70            1.00        1,959.70            2.00        3,919.40
248.10(b)(1)(xi)...................  Farmer/farmers' market  ...........          493.00            1.00          493.00            0.50          246.50
                                      complaints.
248.10(b),(c)......................  Authorized Outlet       ...........           9,799            1.00        9,798.50            0.08          818.17
                                      Agreements.
248.10(b)(5).......................  Appeal of Denial......  ...........            7.84            1.00            7.84            2.00           15.68
248.10(d)..........................  Annual Training for     ...........       17,637.30            1.00       17,637.30            2.00       35,274.60
                                      Authorized Outlets.
248.10(e)(1).......................  Coupon Reimbursement..  ...........  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............      384,254.90
248.10(e)(1).......................  Paper Coupon            ...........          10,375            9.00       93,373.94            4.00      373,495.76
                                      Reimbursement &
                                      Electronic Benefit
                                      Mail-In.
248.10(e)(1).......................  Electronic Benefit      ...........             769            9.00        6,916.59            1.00        6,916.59
                                      Reimbursement via
                                      Hybrid Processing.
248.10(e)(1).......................  Electronic Benefit      ...........           7,685            1.00        7,685.10            0.50        3,842.55
                                      Reimbursement via
                                      Electronic Processing.
                                                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Subtotal Reporting: Authorized     ......................  ...........       19,926.40            6.93      138,036.67            3.08      424,858.65
   outlets.
                                                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    GRAND SUBTOTAL: REPORTING......  ......................  ...........    1,351,492.00            2.08    2,814,962.11            0.30      839,122.95
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             RECORDKEEPING BURDEN ESTIMATES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          Affected Public: STATE & LOCAL AGENCIES (Including Indian Tribal Organizations and U.S. Territories)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
248.4(c)...........................  State Plan Record       ...........           51.00            1.00           51.00            0.17            8.52
                                      Maintenance.
248.9..............................  Nutrition Education...  ...........           51.00       26,093.06    1,330,746.00            0.25      332,686.50
248.10(a)(4),(d)...................  Authorized Outlet       ...........           51.00            1.00           51.00            2.00          102.00
                                      Training Content.
248.10(b),(c)......................  Authorized Outlet       ...........           51.00            1.00           51.00            2.00          102.00
                                      Agreements.
248.10(b)(5).......................  Maintenance of          ...........           51.00            1.00           51.00            0.17            8.52
                                      Disqualification and
                                      Sanction Records.
248.10(e)(2),(3); 248.17(c)(1)(i)..  Monitoring and Review   ...........           51.00           38.43        1,959.70            0.50          979.85
                                      of Authorized Outlets.
248.10(e)(4); 248.17(c)(1)(ii).....  Monitoring/Review of    ...........           51.00           10.76          549.00            0.50          274.50
                                      Local Agencies.
248.11(c)..........................  Record of Financial        FNS-683B           51.00            1.00           51.00            2.00          102.00
                                      Expenditures.
248.16(a)..........................  Fair Hearings.........  ...........           51.00            1.00           51.00            1.00           51.00
248.17(a)..........................  Maintenance of          ...........           51.00            1.00           51.00            2.00          102.00
                                      Management
                                      Evaluations.
248.23(a)..........................  Record of Program       ...........           51.00            1.00           51.00           40.00        2,040.00
                                      Operations.
                                                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  GRAND SUBTOTAL: RECORDKEEPING....  ......................  ...........           51.00       26,150.25    1,333,662.70            0.25      336,456.88
                                                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    GRAND TOTAL: REPORTING AND       ......................  ...........    1,351,492.00            3.07    4,148,624.81            0.28    1,175,579.83
     RECORDKEEPING.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: FNS-683B, OMB Control Number: 0584-0594 Food Programs Reporting System (FPRS), Expiration Date: 09/30/2026.


                                                                      Summary Table
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                       Estimated avg.
                                                               Estimated number    Responses per       Total annual       number of     Estimated total
                                                                 respondents         respondent         responses         hours per     hours (col. D x
                                                                                                                          response             E)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Reporting Burden......................................       1,351,492.00               2.08       2,814,962.11            0.30         839,122.95

[[Page 84300]]

 
Total Recordkeeping Burden..................................              51.00          26,150.25       1,333,662.70            0.25         336,456.88
                                                             -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    TOTAL BURDEN FOR #0584-0447.............................       1,351,492.00               3.07       4,148,624.81            0.28       1,175,579.83
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Tameka Owens,
Assistant Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-26659 Filed 12-4-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P