70432 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 233 / Monday, December 6, 2004 / Notices 

Pennsylvania: Robin E. Heard, Suite 

340, 1 Credit Union Place, Harrisburg, 

PA 17110–2993; phone: (717) 237–

2200; fax: (717) 237–2238; 

robin.heard@pa.usda.gov.

Puerto Rico: Juan A. Martinez, Director, 

Caribbean Area, IBM Building, Suite 

604, 654 Munoz Rivera Avenue, Hato 

Rey, PR 00918–4123; phone: (787) 

766–5206; fax: (787) 766–6563; 

juan.martinez@pr.usda.gov. Rhode 

Island: Judith Doerner, Suite 46, 60 

Quaker Lane, Warwick, RI 02886–

0111; phone: (401) 828–1300; fax: 

(401) 828–0433; 

judith.doerner@ri.usda.gov.

South Carolina: Walter W. Douglas, 

Strom Thurmond Federal Building, 

Room 950, 1835 Assembly Street, 

Columbia, SC 29201–2489; phone: 

(803) 253–3935; fax: (803) 253–3670; 

walt.douglas@sc.usda.gov.

South Dakota: Janet L. Oertly, Federal 

Building, Room 203, 200 Fourth 

Street, SW., Huron, SD 57350–2475; 

phone: (605) 352–1200; fax: (605) 

352–1288; 

janet.oertly@sd.nrcs.usda.gov.

Tennessee: James W. Ford, 675 U.S. 

Courthouse, 801 Broadway, Nashville, 

TN 37203–3878; phone: (615) 277–

2531; fax: (615) 277–2578; 

jford@tn.nrcs.usda.gov.

Texas: Lawrence Butler, W.R. Poage 

Building, 101 South Main Street, 

Temple, TX 76501–7682; phone: (254) 

742–9800; fax: (254) 742–9819; 

larry.butler@tx.usda.gov.

Utah: Sylvia Gillen, W.F. Bennett 

Federal Building, Room 4402, 125 

South State Street, Salt Lake City, UT 

84111, phone: (801) 524–4550, fax: 

(801) 524–4403, 

sylvia.gillen@ut.usda.gov.

Vermont: Francis M. Keeler, 356 

Mountain View Drive, Suite 105, 

Colchester, VT 05446; phone: (802) 

951–6795; fax: (802) 951–6327; 

fran.keeler@vt.usda.gov.

Virginia: M. Denise Doetzer, Culpeper 

Building, Suite 209, 1606 Santa Rosa 

Road, Richmond, VA 23229–5014; 

phone: (804) 287–1691; fax: (804) 

287–1737; 

denise.doetzer@va.usda.gov.

Washington: Raymond L. ‘‘Gus’’

Hughbanks, Rock Pointe Tower II, 

Suite 450, W. 316 Boone Avenue, 

Spokane, WA 99201–2348; phone: 

(509) 323–2900; fax: (509) 323–2909; 

raymond.hughbanks@wa.usda.gov.

West Virginia: Lillian Woods, Room 

301, 75 High Street, Morgantown, WV 

26505; phone: (304) 284–7540; fax: 

(304) 284–4839; 

lillian.woods@wv.usda.gov.

Wisconsin: Patricia S. Leavenworth, 

8030 Excelsior Drive, Suite 200, 

Madison, WI 53717; phone: (608) 

662–4422; fax: (608) 662–4430; 

pat.leavenworth@wi.usda.gov.

Wyoming: Lincoln E. Burton, Federal 

Building, Room 3124, 100 East B 

Street, Casper, WY 82601–1911; 

phone: (307) 233–6750; fax: (307) 

233–6753; ed.burton@wy.usda.gov.

[FR Doc. 04–26738 Filed 12–3–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–16–P

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service 

Agency Information Collection 

Activities: Proposed Collection; 

Comment Request Food Stamp 

Program Form FNS–521, Food Coupon 

Deposit Document

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, 

USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 

Food and Nutrition Service is 

publishing for public comment a 

summary of a proposed information 

collection. The proposed collection is 

an extension of a currently approved 

collection of the Food Stamp Program 

for which approval expires on December 

31, 2004. The Food Stamp Act of 1977, 

as amended, requires that all verified 

and encoded redemption certificates 

accepted by insured financial 

institutions from authorized retail food 

stores shall be forwarded with the 

corresponding coupon deposits to the 

Federal Reserve Bank along with the 

accompanying Food Coupon Deposit 

Document (Form FNS–521). 

Requirements in the Food Stamp 

Program regulations are the basis for the 

information collected on Form FNS–

521. 

The Food and Nutrition Service is 

rapidly phasing out the use of paper 

food coupons. Currently, 99.9 percent of 

all food stamp benefits are issued 

electronically. Forty-eight States, the 

District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, 

Guam, and Puerto Rico have online 

operating Electronic Benefit Transfer 

(EBT) systems. Two States operate 

offline food stamp EBT systems and 

issue paper food coupons to recipients 

who move out of State and have 

remaining food stamp benefits. Many 

States have already closed out their 

coupon inventory completely and more 

will be doing the same in the upcoming 

year. Approximately 18,140 Food 

Coupon Deposit Documents were 

processed by financial institutions in 

Fiscal Year 2004 and the number 

continues to decline due to 100 percent 

EBT implementation. Until all of the 

paper food coupons issued are 

redeemed, the Food Coupon Deposit 

Document will remain an essential 

document to the food stamp redemption 

process.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be 

received by February 4, 2005, to be 

assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Send comments and 

requests for copies of this information 

collection to: Andrea Gordon, Chief, 

Redemption Management Branch, 

Benefit Redemption Division, Food and 

Nutrition Service, U. S. Department of 

Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, 

Room 404, Alexandria, VA 22302. 

Comments may also be faxed to (703) 

305–1863 or e-mailed to: brdhqweb@fns.usda.gov

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 will 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 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 

the use of appropriate automated, 

electronic, mechanical, or other 

technological collection techniques or 

other forms of information technology. 

All comments will be summarized 

and included in the request for Office of 

Management and Budget approval of the 

information collection. All comments 

will also become a matter of public 

record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Andrea Gordon, (703) 305–2456.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Title: Food Coupon Deposit 

Document. 

OMB Number: 0584–0314. 

Expiration Date: December 31, 2004. 

Type of Request: Extension of a 

currently approved collection. 

Abstract: The Food and Nutrition 

Service (FNS) of the U.S. Department of 

Agriculture is the Federal Agency 

responsible for the Food Stamp 

Program. The Food Stamp Act of 1977, 

as amended, (the Act) requires that FNS 

provide for the redemption, through 

financial institutions, of food coupons 

accepted by retail food stores from 

program participants. Section 278.5 of 

the Food Stamp Program regulations 

governs financial institution and 

Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 233 / Monday, December 6, 2004 / Notices 70433

Federal Reserve participation in the 

food coupon redemption process. 

Form FNS–521, Food Coupon Deposit 

Document (FCDD) is required to be used 

by all financial institutions when they 

deposit food coupons at Federal Reserve 

Banks. Without the FCDD, no vehicle 

would exist for financial institutions, 

Federal Reserve Banks, and the FNS to 

track deposits of food coupons. 

Respondents: Financial institutions 

and Federal Reserve Banks. 

Number of Respondents: 10,000. 

Estimated Annual Number of 

Responses per Respondent: The number 

of responses is estimated to be 1.814 

responses per financial institution or 

Federal Reserve Bank per year. 

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting 

burden for this collection of information 

is estimated to average .0097222 hours 

per response. 

Estimated Total Annual Burden: 176 

hours.

Dated: November 30, 2004. 

Jerome A. Lindsay, 

Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition 

Service.

[FR Doc. 04–26680 Filed 12–3–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–30–P

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service 

Agency Information Collection 

Activities: Proposed Collection; 

Comment Request; Child and Adult 

Care Food Program: Increasing the 

Duration of Tiering Determinations for 

Day Care Homes

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, 

USDA/FNS.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 

notice announces the Food and 

Nutrition Service (FNS) intention to 

request Office of Management and 

Budget (OMB) review of the information 

collection related to the Child and Adult 

Care Food Program, including 

adjustments to be made as a result of the 

final rule, Child and Adult Care Food 

Program: Increasing the Duration of 

Tiering Determinations for Day Care 

Homes.

DATES: To be assured of consideration, 

comments must be received by February 

4, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Send comments and 

requests for copies of this information 

collection to: Mr. Keith Churchill, 

Policy and Program Development 

Branch, Child Nutrition Division, Food 

and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department 

of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, 

Room 636, Alexandria, Virginia 22302. 

Comments will also be accepted via EMail submission if sent to 

CNDPROPOSAL@FNS.USDA.GOV. 

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 will 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 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 

through the use of appropriate 

automated, electronic, mechanical, or 

other technological collection 

techniques or other forms of information 

technology. 

All responses to this Notice will be 

summarized and included in the request 

for OMB approval, and will become a 

matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact Mr. 

Keith Churchill, (703) 305–2590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Title: Child and Adult Care Food 

Program Regulations. 

OMB Number: 0584–0055. 

Expiration Date: June 30, 2007. 

Type of Request: Revision of a 

currently approved collection. 

Abstract: The Rule amends the Child 

and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) 

regulations to implement Section 199(b) 

of the Child Nutrition and WIC 

Reauthorization Act of 2004, Public Law 

108–265, which amended Section 

17(f)(3)(E)(iii) of the Richard B. Russell 

National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 

1766(f)(3)(E)(iii) to increase the duration 

of the tiering status determinations from 

three to five years for family or group 

day care homes participating in CACFP. 

This change, which was effective on 

June 30, 2004, applies to tiering status 

determinations for day care homes 

located in the attendance areas of 

elementary schools in which at least 

half of the enrolled children are 

certified eligible to receive free or 

reduced price school meals. The change 

also applies to tiering determinations for 

day care homes operated by providers 

whose households meet the eligibility 

guidelines for free or reduced price 

school meals. Day care home providers 

receive higher reimbursement rates (tier 

1) for CACFP meals served to children 

in care in those homes. 

Estimate of Burden: This change 

reduces the number of respondents per 

year by 768. 

Estimated Number of Respondents:

2,929,699 respondents. 

Average Number of Responses per 

Respondent: 2.25 responses/respondent. 

Estimated Total Annual Burden on 

Respondents: 5,781,262 burden hours.

Dated: November 24, 2004. 

Roberto Salazar, 

Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.

[FR Doc. 04–26691 Filed 12–3–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–30–P

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Foreign Agricultural Service 

Notice of Request for Extension of a 

Currently Approved Information 

Collection

AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service, 

USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 

notice announces that the Foreign 

Agricultural Service (FAS) intends to 

request an extension for a currently 

approved information collection 

procedure for entry of specialty sugars 

into the United States as described in 7 

CFR part 2011.

DATES: Comments should be received on 

or before February 4, 2005 to be assured 

of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver comments to 

Ron Lord, Deputy Director, Import 

Policies and Programs Division, Foreign 

Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, Stop 1021, 1400 

Independence Ave. SW., Washington, 

DC 20250–1021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ron 

Lord, at the address above, or telephone 

at (202) 720–2916 or e-mail at 

Ronald.Lord@fas.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Title: Specialty Sugar Import 

Certificates. 

OMB Number: 0551–0025. 

Expiration Date of Approval: February 

28, 2005. 

Type of Request: Extension of a 

currently approved information 

collection. 

Abstract: The quota system 

established by Presidential 

Proclamation 4941 of May 5, 1982, 

prevented the importation of certain 

sugars used for specialized purposes 

which originated in countries which did 

not have quota allocations. Therefore, 

the regulation at 15 CFR part 2011 

(Allocation of Tariff-Rate Quota on 

Imported Sugars, Syrups and Molasses,