Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Waivers Under Section 6(o) of the Food Stamp Act, 34701-34702 [E8-13739]
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 118 / Wednesday, June 18, 2008 / Notices
information submitted during the
comment period, we have determined
that implementation of either alternative
examined in the environmental
assessment—i.e., the barging of
municipal solid waste from Hawaii to
landfills within the States of Oregon,
Washington, and Idaho under
compliance agreements with APHIS or
taking no action (no interstate
movement of municipal solid waste
from Hawaii)—is not expected to result
in a significant impact to the human
environment, and an environmental
impact statement does not need to be
prepared.
The environmental assessment and
finding of no significant impact have
been prepared in accordance with: (1)
The National Environmental Policy Act
of 1969 (NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C.
4321 et seq.), (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 1), and (4) APHIS’ NEPA
Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part
372).
Done in Washington, DC, this 12th day of
June 2008.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E8–13735 Filed 6–17–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection
Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; Waivers Under
Section 6(o) of the Food Stamp Act
Food and Nutrition Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: In accordance with
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.
The purpose of Section 6(o) of the
Food Stamp Act of 1977, as amended by
Section 824 of the Personal
Responsibility and Work Opportunity
Reconciliation Act of 1996, is to
establish a time limit for the receipt of
food stamp benefits for certain ablebodied adults who are not working. The
provision authorizes the Secretary of
Agriculture, upon a State agency’s
request, to waive the provision for any
VerDate Aug<31>2005
18:01 Jun 17, 2008
Jkt 214001
group of individuals if the Secretary
determines ‘‘that the area in which the
individuals reside has an
unemployment rate of over 10 percent,
or does not have a sufficient number of
jobs to provide employment for the
individuals.’’ As required in the statute,
in order to receive a waiver the State
agency must submit sufficient
supporting information so that the
United States Department of Agriculture
(USDA) can make the required
determination as to the area’s
unemployment rate or sufficiency of
available jobs. This collection of
information is therefore necessary in
order to obtain waivers of the food
stamp time limit.
DATES: Written comments must be
received on or before August 18, 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 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 used;
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility,
and clarity of the information to be
collected; (d) ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information
on those who 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
Patrick Waldron, Chief, Certification
Policy Branch, Program Development
Division, Food and Nutrition Service,
U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101
Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA
22302. Comments may also be faxed to
the attention of Mr. Waldron at (703)
305–2486. The e-mail address is:
Patrick.Waldron@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 812.
All responses to this notice will be
summarized and included in the request
for OMB approval. All comments will
be a matter of public record.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests for additional information
should be directed to Mr. Waldron at
(703) 305–2495.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Waiver Guidance for Food
Stamp Time Limits.
OMB Number: 0584–0479.
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
34701
Expiration Date: August 31, 2008.
Type of Request: Revision of a
currently approved collection.
Abstract: Section 824 of the Personal
Responsibility and Work Opportunity
Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA),
Public Law 104–193, 110 Stat. 2323
amended Section 6(o) of the Food
Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2015(o)) to
establish a time limit for the receipt of
food stamp benefits for certain ablebodied adults who are not working. The
provision authorizes the Secretary of
Agriculture, upon a State agency’s
request, to waive the provision for any
group of individuals if the Secretary
determines ‘‘that the area in which the
individuals reside has an
unemployment rate of over 10 percent,
or does not have a sufficient number of
jobs to provide employment for the
individuals.’’ As required in the statute,
in order to receive a waiver the State
agency must submit sufficient
supporting information so that USDA
can make the required determination as
to the area’s unemployment rate or
sufficiency of available jobs. This
collection of information is therefore
necessary in order to obtain waivers of
the food stamp time limit. During the
last three years, the Food and Nutrition
Service (FNS) has received on average
48 requests for waivers from an average
of 48 State agencies. We wish to note
that FNS has granted a limited number
of 2-year waivers and that the estimated
average of 48 submissions a year is
based on multiple annual submissions
from some State agencies and less
biannual submissions from other State
agencies. Each request submitted by a
State agency to exempt individuals
residing in specified areas is considered
by FNS to be a separate request, since
the requested exemptions may be based
on different criteria, are submitted at
different times, and require separate
analysis. Although State agencies have
submitted significantly fewer multiple
requests since the last time that this
reporting burden was extended, in order
to ensure that all areas that potentially
qualify for exemptions are included in
their waiver requests, State agencies are
employing a more sophisticated analysis
covering multiple timeframes and multicounty geographical and labor market
areas, requiring more time for the
preparation and evaluation of each
request.
Affected Public: State and Local
governments.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
48.
Estimated Number of Responses: 48.
Estimated Number of Responses per
Respondent: 1.
E:\FR\FM\18JNN1.SGM
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34702
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 118 / Wednesday, June 18, 2008 / Notices
Estimated Time per Response: 35
hours.
Estimated Total Burden: 1680 hours.
Dated: June 12, 2008.
Roberto Salazar,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. E8–13739 Filed 6–17–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–30–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection
Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request—Evaluation of the
Birth Month Breastfeeding Changes to
the WIC Food Packages
Food and Nutrition Service
(FNS), USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 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
this proposed information collection.
On December 6, 2007, FNS published
an interim regulation in the Federal
Register: Special Supplemental
Nutrition Program for Women, Infants
and Children (WIC): Revisions in the
WIC Food Packages; Interim Rule [72 FR
68966]. This current notice announces
FNS’ intent to request from the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB)
approval to collect information for the
evaluation of impacts of the Interim
Rule on the food package choices and
breastfeeding outcomes of postpartum
women who participate in WIC.
DATES: Written comments must be
received on or before August 18, 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 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: Ted
Macaluso, Food and Nutrition Service,
U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101
Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA
VerDate Aug<31>2005
18:01 Jun 17, 2008
Jkt 214001
22302. Comments may also be
submitted via fax to the attention of Ted
Macaluso at 703–305–2576 or via e-mail
to Ted.Macaluso@fns.usda.gov.
All responses to this notice will be
summarized and included in the request
for 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 Ted Macaluso at
703–305–2121.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Evaluation of the Birth Month
Breastfeeding Changes to the WIC Food
Packages.
OMB Number: Not Yet Assigned.
Expiration Date: Not Yet Determined.
Type of Request: New collection of
information.
Abstract: The Special Supplemental
Nutrition Program for Woman, Infants
and Children (WIC), (42 U.S.C. 1786)
provides low-income pregnant,
breastfeeding, and postpartum women,
infants, and children up to age five with
nutritious supplemental foods. The
program also provides nutrition
education and referrals to health and
social services. An Interim Rule
published on December 6, 2007 (72 FR
68966) revises the WIC food packages to
align them with the 2005 Dietary
Guidelines for Americans and infant
feeding practice guidelines of the
American Academy of Pediatrics. The
Interim Rule revisions largely reflect
recommendations made by the Institute
of Medicine (IOM) of the United States
National Academies, in its 2005 report,
‘‘WIC Food Packages: Time for a
Change,’’ with certain cost containment
and administrative modifications found
necessary by the Department to ensure
cost neutrality. The Interim Rule’s
comment period ends on February 1,
2010.
The revised food packages for infants
and women were designed to strengthen
WIC’s breastfeeding promotion efforts
and provide additional incentives to
assist mothers in making the decision to
start and continue breastfeeding. Under
the interim regulation, there are three
infant feeding options available in the
first month after birth—either (1) fully
formula feeding; (2) fully breastfeeding;
or (3) partially breastfeeding. Under the
partial breastfeeding food package, the
amount of infant formula available
during the first month postpartum is
limited. Thereafter, in months two
through six, partially breastfed infants
may only receive one half of the
maximum amount of infant formula
available to a fully formula fed infant.
These changes are designed to promote
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
the initiation, intensity, and duration of
breastfeeding. The underlying theory is
that by greatly reducing the amount of
formula available for the partial
breastfeeding option in the first month
postpartum: (a) more mothers will
initiate breastfeeding; and (b) mothers
who have difficulty breastfeeding
during the first month will be less likely
to stop breastfeeding if formula is not so
readily available. In addition, if less
formula is available to partial
breastfeeding mothers in months two
through five postpartum, there is a
greater likelihood that: (a) mothers will
feed their infants relatively more
breastmilk than formula each month;
and (b) they will do so for longer than
they would if formula were more
plentiful.
These regulatory changes may have
intended or unintended consequences
for WIC mothers and infants. To identify
potential positive impacts of the
regulatory change, to address concerns
about unintended consequences, and in
response to recommendations from the
IOM to study the effects of the rule
change, FNS has funded this study to
examine the effects of the changes in
packages for postpartum women and
infants on the initiation, intensity, and
duration of breastfeeding.
To study the effects of the changes in
food packages for postpartum women
and infants, FNS is conducting a study
in 16 Local WIC Agencies (LWAs). The
study will gather data from
administrative records; local WIC
administrators; and WIC participants in
16 LWAs, selected as a sample with
probability proportional to size; as well
as officials from those States where the
16 LWAs are located. Data will be
gathered prior to and after the interim
regulation is implemented. The study
will measure the impact of changes on
food package choices and on
breastfeeding initiation, intensity and
duration. The study also will describe
the implementation of these changes in
these LWAs.
Affected Public: Respondent groups
identified include: (1) WIC participants
who are postpartum women with
infants newborn through six months of
age; (2) local WIC administrators from
16 LWAs selected as a sample with
probability proportional to size; and (3)
State WIC officials from, at most, 16
States (if the 16 sampled Local WIC
Agencies are from different States).
Estimated Number of Respondents:
The total estimated number of
respondents is 2,144. This includes:
2,000 WIC participants (80% of whom
will complete interviews); 16 Local WIC
Agency directors; 16 Local WIC Agency
outreach coordinators; 16 Local WIC
E:\FR\FM\18JNN1.SGM
18JNN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 118 (Wednesday, June 18, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34701-34702]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-13739]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; Waivers Under Section 6(o) of the Food Stamp Act
AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with 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.
The purpose of Section 6(o) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977, as
amended by Section 824 of the Personal Responsibility and Work
Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, is to establish a time limit
for the receipt of food stamp benefits for certain able-bodied adults
who are not working. The provision authorizes the Secretary of
Agriculture, upon a State agency's request, to waive the provision for
any group of individuals if the Secretary determines ``that the area in
which the individuals reside has an unemployment rate of over 10
percent, or does not have a sufficient number of jobs to provide
employment for the individuals.'' As required in the statute, in order
to receive a waiver the State agency must submit sufficient supporting
information so that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
can make the required determination as to the area's unemployment rate
or sufficiency of available jobs. This collection of information is
therefore necessary in order to obtain waivers of the food stamp time
limit.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before August 18, 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 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 used; (c) ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who
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 Patrick
Waldron, Chief, Certification Policy Branch, Program Development
Division, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may also be
faxed to the attention of Mr. Waldron at (703) 305-2486. The e-mail
address is: Patrick.Waldron@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 812.
All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the
request for OMB approval. All comments will be a matter of public
record.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information
should be directed to Mr. Waldron at (703) 305-2495.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Waiver Guidance for Food Stamp Time Limits.
OMB Number: 0584-0479.
Expiration Date: August 31, 2008.
Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Abstract: Section 824 of the Personal Responsibility and Work
Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA), Public Law 104-193,
110 Stat. 2323 amended Section 6(o) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 2015(o)) to establish a time limit for the receipt of food stamp
benefits for certain able-bodied adults who are not working. The
provision authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture, upon a State
agency's request, to waive the provision for any group of individuals
if the Secretary determines ``that the area in which the individuals
reside has an unemployment rate of over 10 percent, or does not have a
sufficient number of jobs to provide employment for the individuals.''
As required in the statute, in order to receive a waiver the State
agency must submit sufficient supporting information so that USDA can
make the required determination as to the area's unemployment rate or
sufficiency of available jobs. This collection of information is
therefore necessary in order to obtain waivers of the food stamp time
limit. During the last three years, the Food and Nutrition Service
(FNS) has received on average 48 requests for waivers from an average
of 48 State agencies. We wish to note that FNS has granted a limited
number of 2-year waivers and that the estimated average of 48
submissions a year is based on multiple annual submissions from some
State agencies and less biannual submissions from other State agencies.
Each request submitted by a State agency to exempt individuals residing
in specified areas is considered by FNS to be a separate request, since
the requested exemptions may be based on different criteria, are
submitted at different times, and require separate analysis. Although
State agencies have submitted significantly fewer multiple requests
since the last time that this reporting burden was extended, in order
to ensure that all areas that potentially qualify for exemptions are
included in their waiver requests, State agencies are employing a more
sophisticated analysis covering multiple timeframes and multi-county
geographical and labor market areas, requiring more time for the
preparation and evaluation of each request.
Affected Public: State and Local governments.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 48.
Estimated Number of Responses: 48.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
[[Page 34702]]
Estimated Time per Response: 35 hours.
Estimated Total Burden: 1680 hours.
Dated: June 12, 2008.
Roberto Salazar,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. E8-13739 Filed 6-17-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P
