14110 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 57 / Tuesday, March 25, 1997 / Notices

Organism Title of environmental assessment

Date of finding of no

significant

impact

Psylliodes chalcomera (Illiger) ................................. ‘‘Field Release of Psylliodes chalcomera (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a

Nonindigenous Leaf Beetle for Biological Control of Musk Thistle, Carduus

nutans (Asteraceae)’’ (March 1997).

3/7/97

The environmental assessment and

finding of no significant impact have

been prepared in accordance with: (1)

NEPA, (2) Regulations of the Council on

Environmental Quality for

implementing the procedural provisions

of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500–1508), (3)

USDA regulations implementing NEPA

(7 CFR part 1b), and (4) APHIS’ NEPA

Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part

372).

Done in Washington, DC, this 18th day of

March 1997.

Terry L. Medley,

Administrator, Animal and Plant Health

Inspection Service.

[FR Doc. 97–7382 Filed 3–24–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–34–P

Food and Consumer Service

Agency Information Collection

Activities: Proposed Collection;

Comment Request—Study of the

Implementation of the School Meals

Initiative for Healthy Children

AGENCY: Food and Consumer Service,

USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: In accordance with the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this

notice announces the Food and

Consumer Service’s intention to request

Office of Management and Budget

approval of the Study of the

Implementation of the School Meals

Initiative for Healthy Children.

DATES: Written comments on this notice

must be received by May 27, 1997.

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 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. Comments may be sent to:

Michael E. Fishman, Acting Director,

Office of Analysis and Evaluation, Food

and Consumer Service, U.S. Department

of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive,

Alexandria, VA 22302.

All responses to this notice will be

summarized and included in the request

for Office of Management and Budget

(OMB) approval. All comments will also

become a matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or

copies of the proposed information

collection forms should be directed to

Michael E. Fishman, (703) 305–2117.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: The Study of the

Implementation of the School Meals

Initiative for Healthy Children.

OMB Number: Not yet assigned.

Expiration Date: N/A.

Type of Request: New collection of

information.

Abstract: The Study of the

Implementation of the School Meals

Initiative (SMI) for Healthy Children is

a three-year study designed to collect

information needed to address current

policy issues including those associated

with the School Meals Initiative for

Healthy Children and Team Nutrition. A

major part of this study is intended to

provide the Food and Consumer Service

(FCS) with descriptive data on the status

of School Food Authorities’’ (SFAs)

implementation of the School Meals

Initiative for Healthy Children and the

changes that have occurred in the food

service operations as a result of

implementing this new regulation. FCS

will examine trends in SMI

implementation and characteristics of

SFAs implementing certain elements of

SMI and Team Nutrition.

A nationally representative sample of

approximately 1,750 public school

districts will be selected to participate

in a three-year longitudinal survey

beginning in School Year 1997–98. Data

will be collected from the SFA directors

using a mixed mode approach of mail/

telephone surveys. The study combines

elements of longitudinal research and

cross-sectional surveys. A brief

telephone survey of all State Child

Nutrition Directors will be included

each year. On-site data collection

activities to supplement the primary

data collection efforts have been

included as contract options in the

second and third years should an issue

need to be examined that requires direct

observation or in-depth interviewing at

the SFA or school level. However, this

request for OMB approval is for the first

year data collection instrumentation

only. Separate OMB packages will be

submitted for data collection

instruments in the second and third

years.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting

burden is estimated to range between 45

and 60 minutes for School Food Service

Authority directors; and range between

20 and 30 minutes for State Child

Nutrition directors;

Respondents: State Child Nutrition

directors will be asked to confirm

contact names, addresses and telephone

numbers of selected SFAs and respond

to a brief telephone survey. SFA

directors will be asked to respond to a

self-administered mail survey with

telephone follow-up.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 50

State Child Nutrition directors, 1,750

SFA directors.

Estimated Number of Responses per

Respondent: One.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on

Respondents: 1,775 hours.

Dated: March 19, 1997.

William E. Ludwig,

Administrator, Food and Consumer Service.

[FR Doc. 97–7516 Filed 3–24–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–30–P

Food Stamp Program, Regulatory

Review: Food Stamp Electronic Benefit

Transfer (EBT) Systems—

Interoperability

AGENCY: Food and Consumer Service,

USDA.

ACTION: Notice: Request for Information.

SUMMARY: The Department is reviewing

policy and seeking information related

to interoperable food stamp EBT

systems. In particular, the Department is

asking for information on the costs and

transaction fees that are now or may in

the future be associated with food stamp

EBT interoperability, as well as any
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 57 / Tuesday, March 25, 1997 / Notices 14111

additional information that should be

considered within the scope of this

review.

DATES: Comments must be received on

or before May 27, 1997 to be assured of

consideration.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be

submitted to Jeffrey N. Cohen, Chief,

Electronic Benefit Transfer Branch,

Benefit Redemption Division, Food and

Consumer Service, USDA, Room 718,

3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria,

Virginia 22302. Comments may also be

datafaxed to the attention of Mr. Cohen

at (703) 605–0232. All written

comments will be open for public

inspection at the office of the Food and

Consumer Service during regular

business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.,

Monday through Friday) at the above

indicated address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Questions regarding this solicitation for

comments should be addressed to Mr.

Cohen at the above address or by

telephone at (703) 305–2517.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Executive Order 12866

This Notice has been reviewed under

Executive Order 12866 and has been

classified not major. This Notice will

not have an annual effect of $100

million or more, nor will it cause a

major increase in costs or prices for

consumer, individual industries,

Federal, State or local government

agencies, or geographic regions. This

notice will not have significant adverse

effects on competition, employment,

investment, productivity, innovation, or

on the ability of U.S.-based enterprise to

compete with foreign-based enterprises

in domestic or export markets.

Executive Order 12372

The Food Stamp Program is listed in

the Catalog of Federal Domestic

Assistance under No. 10.551. For the

reasons set forth in the final rule in 7

CFR 3015, Subpart V and related Notice

(48 FR 29115), this Program is excluded

from the scope of Executive Order

12372 which requires intergovernmental

consultation with State and local

officials.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

This action is not a rule as defined by

the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (5

U.S.C. 601–612) and thus is exempt

from the provisions of the Act.

Paperwork Reduction Act

This Notice does not contain

reporting or recordkeeping requirements

subject to approval by the Office of

Management and Budget (OMB) under

the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980

(44 U.S.C. 3507).

Executive Order 12988

This Notice has been reviewed under

Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice

Reform and found to be exempt from its

provisions.

Background

The Food and Consumer Service has

actively supported the implementation

of Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT)

systems by State agencies to issue and

redeem food stamp benefits. To date, 18

State agencies operate food stamp EBT

systems (along with other cash

programs), eight of which are statewide

operations. During the next two years, it

is estimated that more than half the

States will be operating food stamp EBT

systems. Recently passed legislation

mandates implementation of EBT

systems for the Food Stamp Program by

the year 2002.

As defined in the Food Stamp EBT

regulations at 7 CFR 274.12, State

agencies are required to provide the

necessary point-of-sale (POS)

equipment, telecommunications and

other support to each authorized food

stamp retailer at no cost. This Stateprovided POS equipment may be used

solely for the Food Stamp Program and

other welfare programs. When a retailer

chooses to use its own commercial POS

equipment, the State agency (or their

EBT contractor) must be prepared to

interface with that store’s equipment.

Any costs associated with the interface

may be negotiated between the State

and the retailers.

The Food Stamp EBT regulations also

require State agencies to assess food

stamp household access needs and

equip those food retailers across project

borders that are necessary for household

access to their food stamp benefits. The

State agencies have the flexibility to

determine the access criteria. For other

non-State retailers who desire access,

the State agencies are encouraged to

negotiate with these retailers to allow

them to participate in their system. The

specific terms for participation have

differed across States and may involve

leasing any necessary POS equipment,

equipment purchases, and/or payment

of transaction fees. All terms are

negotiated with each retailer. These

current retailer interoperability policies

are designed to strike a balance between

ensuring adequate retailer and recipient

access, on one hand, and maximizing

state flexibility and minimizing EBT

costs on the other.

Extending access beyond the

immediate borders of the States where

current systems operate is only

beginning to be addressed by States. The

States of Texas and New Mexico, for

example, have developed the capability

to exchange transactions with one

another. As more State agencies

implement EBT systems, access to

benefits beyond the immediate borders

of a State is becoming an important

issue. Food retailers that operate stores

in several States have expressed a desire

to have interoperability much like the

coupon system. They argue that such

interoperability would provide greater

access to their goods.

In part to facilitate interoperability

and address retailer concerns regarding

standardization of EBT systems, EBT

Operating Rules have been developed

by State agencies, food retailers,

financial institutions, networks and

others under the auspices of the

National Automated Clearing House

Association (NACHA). NACHA

established an EBT Council to complete

these national Operating Rules and have

adopted them under the QUEST service

mark. The QUEST Operating Rules

define the responsibilities of retailers,

financial institutions, networks and

commercial third party providers in an

interoperable EBT environment. By

definition, these rules require retailers

participating in the QUEST system to

provide access to all QUEST cards and

require States to arrange for their cards

to be accessible at any POS or ATM

terminal that displays the QUEST

service mark. Several State agencies

have elected to require use of the

QUEST Operating Rules by their EBT

contractor.

Recent proposals by EBT contractors

have offered to meet the State agencies’

requirements for QUEST

interoperability through an EBT gateway

or switch. The gateway would have the

capability of switching a food stamp

purchase or credit transaction to the

correct EBT processor for authorization.

Third party processors servicing food

retailers for commercial debit or credit

could connect to this single point, the

gateway, and thus provide

interoperability to their retailer

customers for any food stamp card

presented at the checkout lane. Any

store, regardless of its location or the

State card being presented, would

thereby be able to accept any QUEST

transaction. However, the providers of

this service argue that this capability

comes at a cost and have proposed to

charge a gateway fee to retailers or their

service providers for this switching

service. The precise fee amount or who

will pay this fee is still being discussed

by the affected parties. The

appropriateness of these fees is still

being questioned as well. The
14112 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 57 / Tuesday, March 25, 1997 / Notices

Department has been requested by both

State agencies and retailers to establish

policy in this area.

Requested Information

In light of the discussions that

continue to take place, the Department

is interested in obtaining information.

Interoperability is recognized as being

good for recipients and good for

retailers, but it would appear to raise

costs. We want to learn more about

these costs: the nature of these costs and

to what degree they will appear.

Towards that end, the Department

wishes to obtain input regarding the

anticipated frequency of interoperable

food stamp transactions, the relative

costs to provide interoperability, and

who might best bear the costs. More

formally stated:

(1) How many interstate transactions

are expected to occur and how often

will they occur?

(2) Should interoperability between

State EBT systems be required?

(3) What are the interstate costs and

the factors that make up those costs?

Comments are encouraged on these

specific issues proposed for

consideration as well as any additional

issues that should be considered within

the scope of this review. Comments will

assist the Department in determining

whether policy changes are appropriate.

Dated: March 11, 1997.

William E. Ludwig,

Administrator, Food and Consumer Service.

[FR Doc. 97–7453 Filed 3–24–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–30–U

Foreign Agricultural Service

Notice of a Request for Extension and

Revision 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 the Department’s

intention to request an extension for,

and amendment to, a currently

approved information collection in

support of the Dairy Tariff-Rate Import

Quota Licensing program.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be

received on or before April 21, 1997 to

be assured of consideration.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS:

Contact Richard P. Warsack, Dairy

Import Quota Manager, STOP 1021, U.S.

Department of Agriculture, 1400

Independence Avenue, SW,

Washington, D.C. 20250–1021, or

telephone (202) 720–2916. All

comments received will be available for

public inspection in room 5541–S at the

above address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Dairy Import Tariff-Rate Quota

Import Licensing Program.

OMB Number: 0551–0001.

Expiration Date of Approval: June 30,

1997.

Type of Request: Extension and

revision of a currently approved

information collection.

Abstract: The currently approved

information collection supports Import

Regulation 1, Revision 8 (Revision 8) (7

CFR 6.20–6.36) which was published in

the Federal Register on October 9, 1996

(61 FR 53002), and governs the

administration of the import licensing

system for certain dairy products subject

to tariff-rate quotas (TRQs). The TRQs

were established in the Harmonized

Tariff Schedule of the United States

(HTS) as a result of entry into force of

certain provisions in the Uruguay

Round Agreement. Imports of nearly all

cheese made from cow’s milk (except

soft-ripened cheeses such as Brie) and

certain noncheese dairy products are

subject to TRQs and the licensing

provisions of Revision 8. Import

licenses are issued each quota year to

eligible licensees and are valid for 12

months (January 1 through December

31). Holders of such licenses may enter

dairy articles at the lower in-quota tariff

rates. Importers who do not hold

licenses may enter dairy articles at the

higher over-quota tariff rates. Under

Revision 8, there are three types of

licenses: (1) historical licenses (listed in

Appendix 1); (2) nonhistorical licenses

(listed in Appendix 2); and (3)

designated licenses under which U.S.

importers are designated by the

government of a foreign country to

import certain cheese articles from that

country (listed in Appendix 3).

For each quota year, all applicants

must submit form FAS 923 (Rev. 7–96).

This form requests applicants to: (1)

identify whether they are applying for a

license as an importer, designated

importer, manufacturer, or exporter of

certain dairy products; and (2) certify

they meet the eligibility requirements of

§ 6.23 of the Import Regulation (7 CFR

6.23). Importers or exporters must attach

documentation required by § 6.23 and

§ 6.24 as proof of eligibility for import

licenses. Applicants for nonhistorical

licenses for cheese and/or noncheese

dairy products must also submit form

FAS–923A and/or FAS–923B (Rev. 7–

96). This form requires applicants

identify requests for licenses listed on

the form in descending rank-order.

After licenses are issued, § 6.26

requires licensees to surrender by

October 1 any license amount that a

licensee does not intend to enter that

year. To the extent practicable, the

Licensing Authority reallocates these

amounts to existing licensees for the

remainder of that year. The information

collection is being amended to include:

(1) form FAS–924A, License Surrender

Form, and (2) form FAS–924B,

Application for Additional License

Amounts. Form FAS–924A will require

licensees to complete a table listing the

license number and surrender amount

for each license being surrendered.

Form FAS–924B will accompany a

Notice to Importers which identifies

license amounts available for

reallocation. Form FAS–924B will

require licensees to complete a table

listing (1) the additional amounts being

requested for specific dairy articles and

the supplying country, and (2) the

existing license to which the additional

amount should be added, if applicable.

The Department is currently developing

an automated scanning system to

expedite the surrender and reallocation

process which will require uniform

submission of such information.

The estimated total annual burden in

the OMB inventory for the currently

approved information collection is 375

hours. The estimated burden will be

reduced by 105 hours to 270 hours. The

estimated reduction is based on a

reduction in the number of respondents

which has mainly resulted from the

strengthened eligibility requirements

and increased disciplines of Revision 8,

and recent widespread consolidation of

firms among licensees. The estimated

public reporting burden for the 1997

quota year and each quota year

thereafter is set forth in the table below.

Estimates

FAS–923,

923A, 923B

(Rev. 7–96)

(one form)

FAS–924A,

924B

(one form)

Est. number of

respondents ... 340.00 100.00

Est. responses

per respondent .................. 1.00 1.00

Est. hours per

response ........ 0.75 0.15

Est. total annual

burden in

hours .............. 255.00 15.00

Aggregate total .. 270.00 estimated annual

burden in hours

Copies of this information collection

can be obtain from Valerie Countiss, the

Agency Information Collection

Coordinator, at (202) 720–6713.

The Department requests comments

regarding the accuracy of the burden