37848 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 134 /Tuesday, July 14, 1998 / Notices

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service

Agency Information Collection

Activities: Proposed Collection;

Comment Request Form FNS–227 and

FNS–227A, WIC Program Annual

Closeout Report With Addendum

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service,

USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: In accordance with the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this

notice announces the Food and

Nutrition Service’s (FNS) intention to

request an extension for a currently

approved information collection, the

WIC Program Annual Closeout Report

with Addendum.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be

received by September 14, 1998.

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: Ronald J.

Vogel, Acting Director, Supplemental

Food Programs Division, Food and

Nutrition 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 OMB approval, and will become a

matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or

copies of the information collection

form and instructions should be

directed to: Ronald J. Vogel, (703) 305–

2749.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: WIC Program Annual Closeout

Report with Addendum.

OMB Number: 0584–0427.

Expiration Date: 10–31–98.

Type of Request: Extension of a

Currently Approved Collection Form.

Abstract: Nonentitlement programs

such as the WIC Program require an

annual closeout and reconciliation of

grants. Departmental regulations at 7

CFR 3016.23(b) require that ‘‘a grantee

must liquidate all obligations incurred

under the award not later than 90 days

after the end of the funding period (or

as specified in a program regulation) to

coincide with the submission of the

annual Financial Status Report (SF–

269).’’ WIC Program regulations at 7

CFR 246.17(b)(2) instruct WIC State

agencies to ‘‘submit to FCS, within 150

days after the end of the fiscal year, final

fiscal year closeout reports.’’ The WIC

Program Annual Closeout Report (FNS–

227) with addendum (FNS–227A) is

substituted for the SF–269, because a

closeout form which maintains the

integrity of WIC’s two grant components

(food and nutrition services and

administration) and captures State

agencies’ decisions to shift WIC grant

funds between Federal fiscal years is

needed.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting

burden for this collection of information

is estimated to average 5.7 hours per

response, including the time for

reviewing instructions, searching

existing data sources, gathering and

maintaining the data needed, and

completing and reviewing the collection

of information.

Respondents: Directors or

Administrators of WIC State agencies.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 88

respondents.

Estimated Number of Responses per

Respondent: One.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on

Respondents: 501.6 hours.

Dated: July 1, 1998.

George A. Braley,

Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition

Service.

[FR Doc. 98–18661 Filed 7–13–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–30–P

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service

Agency Information Collection

Activities: Proposed Collection;

Comment Request Form FNS–648, WIC

Local Agency Directory Report

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service,

USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: In accordance with the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this

notice announces the Food and

Nutrition Service’s (FNS) intention to

request an extension for a currently

approved information collection, the

WIC Local Agency Directory Report.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be

received by September 14, 1998.

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:

Ronald J. Vogel, Acting Director,

Supplemental Food Programs Division,

Food and Nutrition 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 OMB approval, and will become a

matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or

copies of the information collection

form and instructions should be

directed to: Ronald J. Vogel, (703) 305–

2749.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: WIC Local Agency Directory

Report.

OMB Number: 0584–0431.

Expiration Date: 10–31–98.

Type of Request: Extension of a

Currently Approved Collection Form.

Abstract: FNS administers the Special

Supplemental Nutrition Program for

Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) by

awarding cash grants to State agencies

(generally State health departments).

The State agencies award subgrants to

local agencies (generally local health

departments and nonprofit

organizations) to deliver program

benefits and services to eligible

participants. FNS maintains a WIC

Local Agency Directory which lists the

names and addresses of all WIC local

agencies. WIC State and local agencies

and FNS use the directory to refer

individuals to the nearest source of WIC

Program services and to maintain

continuity of program services to

migrant and other transient participants.

It is also used as a mailing list to

provide local agencies with technical

assistance manuals and other

information. State agencies complete the

WIC Local Agency Directory Form to