### 51135 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 161 / Tuesday, August 20, 2013 / Notices

the collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Rural Business-Cooperative Service

Title: Annual Survey of Farmer Cooperatives.

OMB Control Number: 0570–0007. Summary of Collection: The Rural Business Cooperative Service (RBS) was mandated the responsibility to acquire and disseminate information pertaining to agricultural cooperatives under the Cooperative Marketing Act of 1926: 7 U.S.C. 451–457 and Public Law 450. The primary objective of RBS is to promote understanding, use and development of the cooperative form of business as a viable option for enhancing the income of agricultural producers and other rural residents. The annual survey collects basic statistics on cooperative business volume, net income, members, financial status, employees, and other selected information to support RBS’ objective and role. RBS will use a variety of forms to collect information.

Need and Use of the Information: RBS uses the information collected to summarize for program planning, evaluation service work and cooperative analysis and education. The information collected and published in the annual report on farmer cooperatives supports and enhances most of the major functions of RBS. By not collecting this information, the RBS would have difficulties in carrying out its policy on farmer cooperatives.

Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 1,384. Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.

Total Burden Hours: 1,367.

Charlene Parker, Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.

[FR Doc. 2013–20239 Filed 8–19–13; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 3410–XY–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE**

**Agricultural Marketing Service**

**[Doc. No. AMS–DA–13–0047]**

**Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved**  **Information Collection**

**AGENCY :**  Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

**ACTION :**  Notice and request for
comments.

**SUMMARY :**  In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service’s (AMS) intention to request an extension for and revision to a currently approved information collection for report forms under the Federal milk marketing order program.

**DATES :**  Comments on this notice must be received by October 21, 2013.

**ADDRESSES :**  Interested persons are invited to submit written comments electronically at http:// www.regulations.gov or to the Office of the Deputy Administrator, Dairy Programs, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room 2968 South, Stop 0225, Washington, DC 20250–0225. Comments should make reference to the date and page number of this issue of the Federal Register. All comments will be posted electronically without change; including any personal information provided at http:// regulations.gov. Comments will also be available for public inspection in the above office during regular business hours.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Contact David R. Jamison, Acting Chief, Order Operations Branch, Dairy Programs, (202) 720–5752, FAX: (202)690–3410.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :** 

Title: Report Forms under Federal Milk Orders (From Milk Handlers and Milk Marketing Cooperatives).

OMB Number: 0581–0032. Expiration Date of Approval: January 31, 2014.

Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved information collection.

Abstract: Federal milk marketing order regulations (7 CFR parts 1000– 1199) authorized under the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as amended (7 U.S.C. 601–674), require milk handlers to report in detail the receipts and utilization of milk and milk products handled at each of their plants that are regulated by a Federal order. The data are needed to administer the classified pricing system and related requirements of each Federal order.

A Federal milk marketing order (hereinafter, Order) is a regulation issued by the Secretary of Agriculture that places certain requirements on the handling of milk in the area it covers. Each Order is established under the authority of the Act. The Order requires that handlers of milk for a marketing area pay not less than certain minimum class prices according to how the milk is used. These prices are established under each Order after a public hearing at which evidence is received on the supply and demand conditions for milk in the market. An Order requires that payments for milk be pooled and paid to individual farmers or cooperative associations of farmers on the basis of a uniform or average price. Thus, all eligible farmers (producers) share in the market wide use-values of milk by regulated handlers.

Milk Orders help ensure adequate supplies of milk and dairy products for consumers and adequate returns to producers.

The Orders also provide for the public dissemination of market statistics and other information for the benefit of producers, handlers, and consumers.

Formal rulemaking amendments to the Orders must be approved in referenda conducted by the Secretary.

During 2012, 40,750 dairy farmers delivered over 122 billion pounds of milk to handlers regulated under the milk orders. This volume represents 61 percent of all milk marketed in the U.S. and 62 percent of the milk of bottling quality (Grade A) sold in the country. The value of this milk delivered to Federal milk order handlers at minimum order blend prices was nearly $22.1 billion. Producer deliveries of milk used in Class I products (mainly fluid milk products) totaled 43 billion pounds—36 percent of total producer deliveries. More than 247 million Americans reside in Federal milk order marketing areas—80 percent of the total U.S. population.

Each Order is administered by a USDA market administrator. The market administrator is authorized to levy assessments on regulated handlers to carry out the market administrator’s duties and responsibilities under the Orders. Additional duties of the market administrators are to prescribe reports required of each handler, to assure that handlers properly account for milk and milk products, and to assure that such handlers pay producers and associations of producers according to the provisions of the Order. The market administrator employs a staff that verifies handlers’ reports by examining records to determine that the required payments are made to producers. Most reports required from handlers are submitted monthly to the market administrator.

The forms used by the market administrators are required by the respective Orders that are authorized by the Act. The forms are used to establish the quantity of milk received by handlers, the pooling status of the handler, the class-use of the milk used by the handler, and the butterfat content and amounts of other components of the milk.

The forms covered under this information collection require the minimum information necessary to


### 51136 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 161 / Tuesday, August 20, 2013 / Notices

effectively carry out the requirements of the Orders, and their use is necessary to fulfill the intent of the Act as expressed in the Orders and in the rules and regulations issued under the Orders.

The information collected is used only by authorized employees of the market administrator and authorized representatives of the USDA, including AMS Dairy Programs’ headquarters staff.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1.10 hours per

response.

Respondents: Milk handlers and milk marketing cooperatives.

Estimated Number of Respondents:
690.

Estimated Number of Responses: 18,774.

Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 27.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 20,691 hours.

Comments are invited on: (1) 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; (2) 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; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) 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 responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public record.

Dated: August 14, 2013. Rex A. Barnes, Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.

[FR Doc. 2013–20254 Filed 8–19–13; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 3410–02–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE**

**Food and Nutrition Service**

**Request for Information: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)**  **Enhancing Retail Food Store Eligibility**

**AGENCY :**  Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.

**ACTION :**  Notice.

**SUMMARY :**  Sections 3(k), (p) and (r), Section 7, and Section 9 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (‘‘the Act’’), and Title 7 Parts 271, 274, and 278 of the Code of Federal Regulations (‘‘the regulations’’) provide factors for determining the eligibility of retail food stores to participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (‘‘SNAP’’). This notice requests information from any and all interested parties on opportunities to enhance retailer definitions and requirements in a manner that improves access to healthy food choices for SNAP participants as well as program integrity, and ensures that only those retailers that effectuate the purpose of SNAP are authorized to accept benefits. The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) considers access to a variety of healthy foods at SNAP retailers to be fundamental to the effectiveness of this critical nutrition assistance program. FNS is requesting information to understand what policy changes and, as needed, statutory changes, should be considered for retailer authorizations. FNS will use this information in determining how to make positive progress in the available healthy choices for program participants at authorized SNAP retail stores.

**DATES :**  To be assured of consideration, written comments must be submitted on or before October 21, 2013.

**ADDRESSES :**  Comments may be submitted through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments electronically. Comments can also be mailed or delivered to: Shanta Swezy, Chief, Retailer Management and Issuance Branch, Retailer Policy and Management Division, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 426, Alexandria, Virginia, 22302.

All comments submitted in response to this notice will be included in the record and will be made available to the public at www.regulations.gov. Please be advised that the substance of the comments and the identity of the individuals or entities commenting will be subject to public disclosure.

FNS will conduct public listening sessions to receive input on this subject. These listening sessions will provide an opportunity for affected parties, key stakeholders, and the general public to provide input directly to FNS policy officials.

Timeline: Public listening sessions: 45 day period following RFI publication. Comment period for Request for Information closes: 60 days following publication.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Shanta Swezy, Chief, Retailer Management and Issuance Branch, Food and Nutrition Service, (703) 305–2238.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  At the end of fiscal year (FY) 2012, over 246,000 retailers were authorized to redeem SNAP benefits. This is an increase of almost 100,000 authorized stores since 2005. According to the most recent data available (2012), 82 percent of all benefits redeemed were redeemed at supermarkets, large grocers and superstores. Approximately 18 percent of benefits were redeemed at smaller stores, including convenience stores, small grocers and farmers’ markets. Less than one percent were redeemed by authorized treatment programs, group homes, homeless meal providers, communal dining facilities and shelters as provided for in statute. A 2009 FNS study on benefit use indicates that 96.3 percent of all SNAP beneficiaries shopped at supermarkets or superstores at least once each month.

According to Sections 3(k), (p) and (r), and Section 9 of the Act, and Title 7 Parts 271, and 278 of the regulations, to be eligible to participate in SNAP, stores must sell food for home preparation and consumption and meet one of the criteria below:

(A) Offer for sale, on a continuous basis (any given day of operation), at least three varieties of qualifying foods in each of the following four staple food groups, with perishable foods in at least two of the categories:

• Meat, poultry or fish

• Bread or cereal

• Vegetables or fruits

• Dairy products
OR

(B) More than one-half (50 percent) of the total dollar amount of all things (food, nonfood, gas and services) sold in the store must be from the sale of eligible staple foods.

The last major changes to the store eligibility requirements took place in the early 1990’s as a result of congressional action. Today, a store that consistently stocks as few as 12 total food items from the required staple foods categories could technically be licensed to participate in SNAP. Store authorization data collected from retailers by USDA indicates that over 90,000 currently authorized SNAP retailers have substantial (over 50 percent) sales that stem from ineligible items.

In addition to providing minimal access to healthy food, retailers that do