[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 159 (Wednesday, August 17, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 50993]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-20945]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request--Generic Clearance to Conduct Methodological Testing, 
Surveys, Focus Groups, and Related Tools To Improve the Management of 
Federal Nutrition Assistance Programs

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 information collection 
will conduct research by methodological testing, surveys, focus groups, 
and related tools to assess program performance, respond to the needs 
of policymakers, and develop innovative approaches that bear on the 
practical operations, management, and impact of Federal nutrition 
assistance programs.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before October 17, 2011.

ADDRESSES: 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.
    Comments may be sent to: Kevin Kwon, Food and Nutrition Service, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 1020, 
Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may also be submitted via fax to the 
attention of Kevin Kwon at 703-605-0800 or via e-mail to 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d398b6a5babdfd98a4bcbd93b5bda0fda6a0b7b2fdb4bca5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="450e20332c2b6b0e322a2b05232b366b303621246b222a33">[email protected]</span></a>. 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 written comments will be open for public inspection at the 
office of the Food and Nutrition Service during regular business hours 
(8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday) at 3101 Park Center Drive, 
Room 500, Alexandria, Virginia 22302.
    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 Kevin Kwon 
at 703-605-0800.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Generic Clearance to Conduct Methodological Testing, 
Surveys, Focus Groups, and Related Tools to Improve the Management of 
Federal Nutrition Assistance Programs.
    OMB Number: 0584-New.
    Expiration Date: Not Yet Determined.
    Type of Request: New Collection.
    Abstract: This generic clearance for information collection is 
necessary to obtain input from recipients and those persons eligible 
for FNS nutrition assistance programs, State and local staff 
administering FNS programs, FNS stakeholders and consumers, and other 
interested parties in order to assess program performance in the 
administration of FNS nutrition assistance programs, respond to the 
needs of policymakers making decisions on policy issues, and develop 
innovative approaches that bear on the practical operations, 
management, and impact of Federal nutrition assistance programs.
    The methodological testing will include data collections for 
pretesting activities and methods (e.g., cognitive interviews, 
exploratory interviews, respondent debriefing, pilot surveys) to 
quickly test and implement new questions for research studies that 
often arise to address FNS policy issues or emerging programmatic 
needs. The generic clearance will also be used for collections for 
formative research for FNS programs using tools and methods such as: 
focus groups, interviews, surveys, and web-based collection tools.
    Respondents: Recipients and those persons eligible for FNS 
nutrition assistance programs, State and local staff administering FNS 
programs, FNS stakeholders and consumers, and other interested parties.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 80,000.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: One.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 80,000.
    Estimated Time per Response: 45 minutes (0.75 hours).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 60,000 hours.

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                                                                        Estimated        Responses     Estimated total   Estimated avg.
                             Respondent                                 Number of       annually per        annual      Number of hours  Estimated total
                                                                       respondents       respondent       responses      per  response        hours
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Total reporting burden.............................................          80,000                1           80,000             0.75           60,000
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    Dated: July 29, 2011.
Audrey Rowe,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-20945 Filed 8-16-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P


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