Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

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Federal RegisterMay 25, 2012
77 Fed. Reg. 31291 (May. 25, 2012)
May 22, 2012.

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 regarding (a) 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; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) 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 should be addressed to: Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), OIRA_Submission@OMB.EOP.GOV or fax (202) 395-5806 and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-7602. Comments regarding these information collections are best assured of having their full effect if received within 30 days of this notification. 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: 7 CFR Part 215—Special Milk Program for Children.

OMB Control Number: 0584-0005.

Summary of Collection: Section 3 of the Child Nutrition Act (CNA) of 1966 (Pub. L. 89-642, as amended; 42 U.S.C. 1772) authorizes the Special Milk Program (SMP) for Children. It provides for appropriation of such sums as may be necessary to enable the Secretary of Agriculture under such rules and regulations as the Secretary may deem in the public interest, to encourage consumption of fluid milk by children in the United States in (1) nonprofit schools of high school grades and under, and (2) nonprofit nursery schools, child care centers, settlement houses, summer camps, and similar nonprofit institutions devoted to the care and training of children, which do not participate in a food service program authorized under the CNA or the National School Lunch Act.

Need and Use of the Information: The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) will collect information to compute the amount of Federal SMP funds due the SA under the performance-funding formula; analyze and evaluate the results of program operation within each state and nationwide; respond to data requests from the Congress, OMB, and advocacy groups and the general public; develop budget projections of the amount of Federal funds needed to pay SMP program benefits; and regulate the flow of Federal funds to SA. Without this information FNS would not be able to evaluate program operations.

Description of Respondents: State, Local, and Tribal Government; Business or other for-profit; Not-for-profit institutions;

Number of Respondents: 5,569.

Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Monthly.

Total Burden Hours: 21,246.

Food and Nutrition Service

Title: National School Lunch Program.

OMB Control Number: 0584-0006.

Summary of Collection: The Richard B. Russell School Lunch Act (NSLA), as amended, authorizes the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) to safeguard the health and well-being of the nation's children and provide low cost or free school lunch meals to qualified students through subsidies to schools. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides States with general and special cash assistance and donations of foods to assist schools in serving nutritious lunches to children each school day. Participating schools must serve lunches that are nutritionally adequate, and maintain menu and production records to demonstrate compliance with the meal requirements. Section 10 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1779) requires the Secretary of Agriculture to prescribe such regulations as deemed necessary to carry out this Act and the NSLA (42 U.S.C. et seq.).

Need and Use of the Information: The information collection is required to administer and operate the program in accordance with the NSLA. The Program is administered at the Sate and school food authority levels and the operations include the submission and approval of applications, execution of agreements, submission of claims, payment of claims, providing monitoring and technical assistance.

If the data is not collected, FNS would not be able to properly monitor program funding and program trends.

Description of Respondents: State, Local, or Tribal Government, Individuals or household, Business or other for-profit, Not-for-profit institutions, Federal Government.

Number of Respondents: 122,661.

Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion; Quarterly; Monthly; Annually.

Total Burden Hours: 12,205,890.

Food and Nutrition Service

Title: 7 CFR Part 220, School Breakfast Program.

OMB Control Number: 0584-0012.

Summary of Collection: Section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act (CNA) of 1966, as amended, authorizes the School Breakfast Program (SBP). It provides for the appropriation of “such sums as are necessary to enable the Secretary to carry out a program to assist the States and the Department of Defense through grants-in-aid and other means to initiate, maintain, or expand nonprofit breakfast programs in all schools which make application for assistance and agree to carry out a nonprofit breakfast program in accordance with the Act.” The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) administers the School Breakfast Program on behalf of the Secretary of Agriculture so that needy children may receive their breakfasts free or at a reduced price.

Need and Use of the Information: School food authorities provide information to State agencies. The State agencies report to FNS. FNS uses the information submitted to determine the amount of funds to be reimbursed, evaluate and adjust program operations, and to develop projections for future program operations.

Description of Respondents: State, Local, or Tribal Government.

Number of Respondents: 109,522.

Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion; Quarterly; Monthly; Semi-annually; Annually.

Total Burden Hours: 3,924,902.

Food and Nutrition Service

Title: Civil Rights Title VI—Collection Reports—FNS-191 and FNS-101.

OMB Control Number: 0584-0025.

Summary of Collection: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin in programs receiving federal financial assistance. The Department of Justice regulations, cited at Title 28 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Section 42.106(b), require all Federal Departments to provide for the collection of racial/ethnic data and information from applicants for and recipients of Federal assistance sufficient to permit effective enforcement of Title VI. In order to comply with the Civil Rights Act, Department of Justice regulations and the Department's nondiscrimination policy and regulations (7 CFR part 15), the Department's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) requires State agencies to submit data on the racial/ethnic categories of person receiving benefits from FNS food assistance programs. FNS will collect information using forms FNS 191 and FNS 101.

Need and Use of the Information: FNS will collect the names, address, telephone number, to compile a local agency directory which serves as the primary source of data on number and location for local agencies and number of sites operating Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). FNS will also collect information on the number of CFSP individuals (women, infant, children, and elderly) in each racial/ethnic category for one month of the year. The information will be used in the Department's annual USDA Equal Opportunity Report. If the information is not collected FNS could not track racial/ethnic data for program evaluation.

Description of Respondents: State, Local or Tribal Government.

Number of Respondents: 2,927.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.

Total Burden Hours: 5,854.

Ruth Brown,

Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.

[FR Doc. 2012-12814 Filed 5-24-12; 8:45 am]

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