Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request Form FNS-798 and FNS-798A, WIC Financial Management and Participation Report With Addendum, 21900-21901 [E8-8792]
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21900
Notices
Federal Register
Vol. 73, No. 79
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER
contains documents other than rules or
proposed rules that are applicable to the
public. Notices of hearings and investigations,
committee meetings, agency decisions and
rulings, delegations of authority, filing of
petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are
examples of documents appearing in this
section.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection
Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request Form FNS–798 and
FNS–798A, WIC Financial Management
and Participation Report With
Addendum
Food and Nutrition Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice invites the general public and
other public agencies to comment on
proposed information collections.
DATES: Written comments on this notice
must be received on or before June 23,
2008.
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:
Patricia N. Daniels, Director,
Supplemental Food Programs Division,
Food and Nutrition Service, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park
Center Drive, Room 520, Alexandria, VA
22302. Comments may also be
submitted via fax to the attention of Joan
Carroll at 703–305–2196 or via e-mail to
Joan.Carroll@fns.usda.gov.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:58 Apr 22, 2008
Jkt 214001
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, Alexandria, Virginia
22302, Room 518.
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: Patricia N. Daniels, (703)
305–2749.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: WIC Financial Management and
Participation Report with Addendum.
OMB Number: 0584–0045.
Form Number: FNS 798 and FNS
798A.
Expiration Date: 07–31–2008.
Type of Request: Revision of a
Currently Approved Collection Form.
Abstract: Section 17(f)(4) of the Child
Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C.
1786(f)(4)) provides that ‘‘State agencies
shall submit monthly financial reports
and participation data to the Secretary’’
(See also 7 CFR 246.25(b)(1)). The WIC
Financial Management and
Participation Report with Addendum
(FNS–798 and FNS–798A) are the forms
State agencies complete to comply with
this requirement. FNS and State
agencies use the reported information
for program monitoring, funds
management, budget projections,
monitoring caseload, policy
development, and responding to
requests from Congress and interested
parties.
In addition, nonentitlement programs,
such as the WIC Program, are required
to conduct 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 State agencies to ‘‘submit to
FNS, within 120 days after the end of
the fiscal year, final fiscal year closeout
reports.’’ The final WIC Financial
Management and Participation Report
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
(FNS–798) submitted for the year with
its addendum (FNS–798A) are used as
a substitute for the SF–269, because
they maintain the integrity of WIC’s two
grant components (food and nutrition
services and administration (NSA)) as
well as the four NSA grant components
(program management, client services,
nutrition education, and breastfeeding
promotion and support).
The proposed revision of the WIC
Financial Management and
Participation Report (FNS–798) and its
addendum (FNS–798A) will: (1) identify
breastfeeding women and infant
participants as either fully breastfeeding
or partially breastfeeding, (2) add
columns corresponding to the 12
months of the fiscal year for the NSA
cost section of the report, (3) delete the
requirement to separately report funds
spent forward to the following year
attributable to vendor and participant
collections, and (4) delete the
requirement to report indirect cost rates
and bases and the types of indirect cost
rates. The revision to the participation
categories is proposed so participation
will correspond with revisions in
participant food packages (See Special
Supplemental Nutrition Program for
Women, Infants and Children (WIC):
Revisions in the WIC Food Packages;
Interim Rule, December 6, 2007). The
proposed columns in the NSA cost
section will: (1) Provide a computergenerated cumulative total of NSA costs
rather than having the State agency
compute and report this amount, (2)
make the NSA cost section consistent
with the food cost and participation
sections which already have columns
for the 12 months, and (3) make it easier
for State agencies to correct reporting
errors made in prior periods. State
agencies do not need to separately
report the amount of funds spent
forward attributable to vendor,
participant and local agency collections
as this amount is evident based on other
data elements. State agencies will
continue to report the total amount
charged to the grant for indirect costs.
However, it is not necessary for them to
report the factors used to calculate this
amount. Instead, indirect cost
calculations should be validated during
an audit or financial management
technical assistance review. Due to the
increase in the number of WIC State
agencies reporting and a decrease in the
number of responses per respondent,
E:\FR\FM\23APN1.SGM
23APN1
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 79 / Wednesday, April 23, 2008 / Notices
this revision is also an adjustment in the
number of respondents from 89 to 90
and the number of responses per
respondent from 17 to 15.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting
burden for this collection of information
is estimated to average 3.35 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. The total annual burden
on respondents was previously 4,713
hours. This revision decreases the total
annual burden by 190 hours.
Respondents: Directors or
Administrators of WIC State agencies.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 90
respondents.
Estimated Number of Responses per
Respondent: 15.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on
Respondents: 4,523 hours.
Dated: April 16, 2008.
Roberto Salazar,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. E8–8792 Filed 4–22–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–30–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection
Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; Food Stamp
Program Redemption Certificate, Form
FNS–278B and Food Stamp Program
Wholesaler Redemption Certificate,
Form FNS–278–4
Food and Nutrition Service
(FNS), USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice invites the general public and
other public agencies to comment on
proposed information collections. The
proposed collection is a revision of a
currently approved collection.
DATES: Written comments must be
received on or before June 23, 2008 to
be assured of consideration.
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
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:58 Apr 22, 2008
Jkt 214001
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.
Comments may be sent to Lindy
Haffey, Acting Chief, Retailer
Operations Branch, Benefit Redemption
Division, Food and Nutrition Service, U.
S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park
Center Drive, Room 403, Alexandria, VA
22302. Comments may also be
submitted via fax to the attention of
Lindy Haffey at (703) 305–2523 or via email to: brdhq-web@fns.usda.gov.
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, Alexandria, Virginia
22302, Room 403.
All responses to this notice will be
summarized and included in the request
for Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) 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 Lindy Haffey,
(703) 305–2523.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Food Stamp Redemption
Certificate.
OMB Number: 0584–0085.
Form Number: FNS–278B and FNS–
278–4.
Expiration Date: July 31, 2008.
Type of Request: Revision of a
currently approved collection of
information.
Abstract: The Food Stamp Act of
1977, as amended, Section 10, (7 U.S.C.
2019) states that regulations issued
pursuant to the Act shall provide for the
redemption of coupons accepted by
retail food stores and wholesale food
concerns or through selected financial
institutions.
FNS provides for this redemption in
7 CFR 278.2 through 278.5. Section
278.4 outlines the procedure for
redeeming coupons for wholesale food
concerns retail stores. Form FNS–278B,
Food Stamp Redemption Certificate,
and Form FNS–278–4, Wholesaler
Redemption Certificates, collectively
called RCs, are required to be used by
all authorized wholesalers or retailers,
and are processed by financial
institutions when they are presented for
cash or credit. Requirements in the Food
Stamp Program regulations are the basis
for the information collected on Form
FNS–278B, Food Stamp Redemption
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
21901
Certificate, and Form FNS–278–4,
Wholesaler Redemption Certificate.
The proposed revision to the
information collection burden
associated with this form is derived
from a reduction in the number of RCs
submitted by program respondents. The
number of responses also declined as
FNS phased-out the issuance of paper
food coupons; and as the number of
States with Electronic Benefit Transfer
(EBT) systems increased nationwide.
Currently, 100 percent of all food stamp
benefits are issued electronically. Some
paper food coupons remain in
circulation, however, as they were
issued before EBT was fully
implemented in each of the States.
Because there is not an expiration date
on food coupons, recipients who were
previously issued paper food coupons
can use the benefits they have until they
are spent. Likewise, retailers must also
continue to accept paper food coupons
as a form of payment, and the Federal
government must continue to honor
them as legal tender. Currently, there is
a legislative proposal to de-obligate the
paper food coupon but until legislation
is passed, paper food coupons do not
expire.
FNS is seeking approval not to
display the expiration date of the
information collection because it is
impractical and not cost efficient to
incur expenses for a form that hasn’t
been used since our last submission to
OMB (Form FNS–278–4), or for one
thats use is rapidly declining (Form
FNS–278B). There are no sensitive
questions of private or personal nature
involved in this information collection.
All data collected concerns food stamp
deposits within the banking system.
For this information collection
package, the estimated reduction of
respondents is based on a projected
decrease in the number of RCs
submitted as a result of fewer paper
food coupons remaining in circulation.
The estimated burden hours are
28.60442 hours.
Respondents: Businesses, wholesale
food concerns, or other not-for-profit
financial institutions.
Estimated Average Number of
Respondents: 385.95723.
Estimated Annual Number of
Responses per Respondent: 4.3033369.
Estimated Total Average Annual
Responses: 1,660.904.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting
burden for this collection of information
is estimated to average .0172222 hours
per response.
Estimated Total Average Annual
Burden: 28.660442 hours.
E:\FR\FM\23APN1.SGM
23APN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 79 (Wednesday, April 23, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21900-21901]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-8792]
========================================================================
Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
========================================================================
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 79 / Wednesday, April 23, 2008 /
Notices
[[Page 21900]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request Form FNS-798 and FNS-798A, WIC Financial Management and
Participation Report With Addendum
AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment
on proposed information collections.
DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received on or before
June 23, 2008.
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:
Patricia N. Daniels, Director, Supplemental Food Programs Division,
Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park
Center Drive, Room 520, Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may also be
submitted via fax to the attention of Joan Carroll at 703-305-2196 or
via e-mail to Joan.Carroll@fns.usda.gov.
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,
Alexandria, Virginia 22302, Room 518.
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: Patricia N. Daniels, (703) 305-2749.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: WIC Financial Management and Participation Report with
Addendum.
OMB Number: 0584-0045.
Form Number: FNS 798 and FNS 798A.
Expiration Date: 07-31-2008.
Type of Request: Revision of a Currently Approved Collection Form.
Abstract: Section 17(f)(4) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42
U.S.C. 1786(f)(4)) provides that ``State agencies shall submit monthly
financial reports and participation data to the Secretary'' (See also 7
CFR 246.25(b)(1)). The WIC Financial Management and Participation
Report with Addendum (FNS-798 and FNS-798A) are the forms State
agencies complete to comply with this requirement. FNS and State
agencies use the reported information for program monitoring, funds
management, budget projections, monitoring caseload, policy
development, and responding to requests from Congress and interested
parties.
In addition, nonentitlement programs, such as the WIC Program, are
required to conduct 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 State agencies to ``submit to FNS, within 120
days after the end of the fiscal year, final fiscal year closeout
reports.'' The final WIC Financial Management and Participation Report
(FNS-798) submitted for the year with its addendum (FNS-798A) are used
as a substitute for the SF-269, because they maintain the integrity of
WIC's two grant components (food and nutrition services and
administration (NSA)) as well as the four NSA grant components (program
management, client services, nutrition education, and breastfeeding
promotion and support).
The proposed revision of the WIC Financial Management and
Participation Report (FNS-798) and its addendum (FNS-798A) will: (1)
identify breastfeeding women and infant participants as either fully
breastfeeding or partially breastfeeding, (2) add columns corresponding
to the 12 months of the fiscal year for the NSA cost section of the
report, (3) delete the requirement to separately report funds spent
forward to the following year attributable to vendor and participant
collections, and (4) delete the requirement to report indirect cost
rates and bases and the types of indirect cost rates. The revision to
the participation categories is proposed so participation will
correspond with revisions in participant food packages (See Special
Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC):
Revisions in the WIC Food Packages; Interim Rule, December 6, 2007).
The proposed columns in the NSA cost section will: (1) Provide a
computer-generated cumulative total of NSA costs rather than having the
State agency compute and report this amount, (2) make the NSA cost
section consistent with the food cost and participation sections which
already have columns for the 12 months, and (3) make it easier for
State agencies to correct reporting errors made in prior periods. State
agencies do not need to separately report the amount of funds spent
forward attributable to vendor, participant and local agency
collections as this amount is evident based on other data elements.
State agencies will continue to report the total amount charged to the
grant for indirect costs. However, it is not necessary for them to
report the factors used to calculate this amount. Instead, indirect
cost calculations should be validated during an audit or financial
management technical assistance review. Due to the increase in the
number of WIC State agencies reporting and a decrease in the number of
responses per respondent,
[[Page 21901]]
this revision is also an adjustment in the number of respondents from
89 to 90 and the number of responses per respondent from 17 to 15.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average 3.35 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. The total annual burden on respondents
was previously 4,713 hours. This revision decreases the total annual
burden by 190 hours.
Respondents: Directors or Administrators of WIC State agencies.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 90 respondents.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 15.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 4,523 hours.
Dated: April 16, 2008.
Roberto Salazar,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. E8-8792 Filed 4-22-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P
