Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request-Evaluation of the Birth Month Breastfeeding Changes to the WIC Food Packages, 34702-34703 [E8-13742]
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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
34703
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 118 / Wednesday, June 18, 2008 / Notices
Agency senior nutrition coordinators; 32
Local WIC Agency nutritionists; and, at
most, 16 State WIC directors, 16 State
breastfeeding coordinators, and 16 State
nutrition coordinators.
Estimated Number of Responses per
Respondent: The WIC participants will
be asked to participate in one survey.
All other respondents (Local WIC
Agency directors, Local WIC Agency
outreach coordinators, Local WIC
Agency senior nutrition coordinators,
Local WIC Agency nutritionists, State
WIC directors, State breastfeeding
coordinators, and State nutrition
coordinators) will respond to one
telephone interview and two in-person
interviews for a total of three responses
each.
Estimated Total Annual Responses:
2,432.
Estimated Time per Response: 32.4
minutes (0.54 hours). The estimated
Estimated #
respondents
Respondent
time of response varies from 30 to 60
minutes depending on respondent
group, as shown in the table below, with
an average estimated time of three
minutes for non-responders to the
participant survey.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on
Respondents: 78,800 minutes (1,335.20
hours). See the table below for estimated
total annual burden for each type of
respondent.
Responses
annually per
respondent
Total annual
responses
(Col. bxc)
Estimated
avg. # of
hours per
response
Estimated
total hours
(Col. dxe)
Reporting Burden
WIC Participants—completed interviews .................................................
WIC Participants—attempted interviews .................................................
State WIC Director ...................................................................................
State Breastfeeding Coordinator .............................................................
State Nutrition Coordinator ......................................................................
Local WIC Agency Director .....................................................................
Local WIC Breastfeeding Coordinator .....................................................
Local WIC Agency Outreach Coordinator ...............................................
Local WIC Agency Nutritionists ...............................................................
Local WIC Agency Senior Nutrition Coordinator .....................................
1600
400
16
16
16
16
16
16
32
16
1
1
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
1,600.00
400
48
48
48
48
48
48
96
48
0.58450
0.1
1
0.5
0.5
1
1
0.5
1
1
935.2
40.0
48
24
24
48
48
24
96
48
Total Reporting Burden ....................................................................
2,144
....................
2,432.00
....................
1,335.20
Dated: June 12, 2008.
Roberto Salazar,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. E8–13742 Filed 6–17–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–30–P
AAQTF Purpose
Natural Resources Conservation
Service
Agricultural Air Quality Task Force
Natural Resources
Conservation Service, USDA.
AGENCY:
Notice of Request for
Nominations for the Agricultural Air
Quality Task Force.
ACTION:
SUMMARY: The Secretary of Agriculture
intends to reestablish the Agricultural
Air Quality Task Force (AAQTF) and
requests nominations for qualified
persons to serve as members.
Nominations must be received in
writing (see SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION section) by August 4, 2008.
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
DATES:
Send written nominations
to: Michele Laur, Designated Federal
Official, USDA/Natural Resources
Conservation Service, Post Office Box
2890, Room 6165–South, Washington,
DC 20013.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
18:01 Jun 17, 2008
Jkt 214001
Questions or comments should be
directed to Michele Laur, Designated
Federal Official, telephone: (202) 720–
1858; fax: (202) 720–2646; or e-mail:
michele.laur@wdc.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
ADDRESSES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
As required by Section 391 of the
Federal Agriculture Improvement and
Reform Act of 1996, the Chief of the
Natural Resources Conservation Service
(NRCS) shall establish a task force to
review research that addresses air
quality issues related to agriculture or
the agriculture infrastructure. The task
force will provide recommendations to
the Secretary of Agriculture on the
development and implementation of air
quality policy and air quality research
needs. The requirements of the Federal
Advisory Committee Act apply to this
task force.
The task force will:
1. Review research on agricultural air
quality supported by Federal agencies;
2. Provide recommendations to the
Secretary of Agriculture regarding air
quality and its relation to agriculture,
based upon sound scientific findings;
3. Work to ensure intergovernmental
(Federal, State, and local) coordination
in establishing policy for agricultural air
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
quality, and to avoid duplication of
efforts;
4. Assist, to the extent practical,
Federal agencies in correcting erroneous
data with respect to agricultural air
quality; and,
5. Ensure that air quality research,
related to agriculture, receives adequate
peer review and considers economic
feasibility.
AAQTF Membership
The task force will be made up of
United States citizens and be composed
of:
1. Individuals with expertise in
agricultural air quality and/or
agricultural production;
2. Representatives of institutions with
expertise in the impacts of air quality on
human health;
3. Representatives from agriculture
interest groups having expertise in
production agriculture;
4. Representatives from State or local
agencies having expertise in agriculture
and air quality; and
5. An atmospheric scientist.
Task force nominations must be in
writing, and provide the appropriate
background documents required by the
Department of Agriculture (USDA)
policy, including Form AD–755.
Previous nominees and current task
force members who wish to be
E:\FR\FM\18JNN1.SGM
18JNN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 118 (Wednesday, June 18, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34702-34703]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-13742]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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
AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), 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 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
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 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
[[Page 34703]]
Agency senior nutrition coordinators; 32 Local WIC Agency
nutritionists; and, at most, 16 State WIC directors, 16 State
breastfeeding coordinators, and 16 State nutrition coordinators.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: The WIC participants
will be asked to participate in one survey. All other respondents
(Local WIC Agency directors, Local WIC Agency outreach coordinators,
Local WIC Agency senior nutrition coordinators, Local WIC Agency
nutritionists, State WIC directors, State breastfeeding coordinators,
and State nutrition coordinators) will respond to one telephone
interview and two in-person interviews for a total of three responses
each.
Estimated Total Annual Responses: 2,432.
Estimated Time per Response: 32.4 minutes (0.54 hours). The
estimated time of response varies from 30 to 60 minutes depending on
respondent group, as shown in the table below, with an average
estimated time of three minutes for non-responders to the participant
survey.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 78,800 minutes
(1,335.20 hours). See the table below for estimated total annual burden
for each type of respondent.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated
Responses Total avg. of hours Estimated
Respondent per responses per total hours
respondents respondent (Col. bxc) response (Col. dxe)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reporting Burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WIC Participants--completed interviews......... 1600 1 1,600.00 0.58450 935.2
WIC Participants--attempted interviews......... 400 1 400 0.1 40.0
State WIC Director............................. 16 3 48 1 48
State Breastfeeding Coordinator................ 16 3 48 0.5 24
State Nutrition Coordinator.................... 16 3 48 0.5 24
Local WIC Agency Director...................... 16 3 48 1 48
Local WIC Breastfeeding Coordinator............ 16 3 48 1 48
Local WIC Agency Outreach Coordinator.......... 16 3 48 0.5 24
Local WIC Agency Nutritionists................. 32 3 96 1 96
Local WIC Agency Senior Nutrition Coordinator.. 16 3 48 1 48
----------------------------------------------------------------
Total Reporting Burden..................... 2,144 ........... 2,432.00 ........... 1,335.20
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dated: June 12, 2008.
Roberto Salazar,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. E8-13742 Filed 6-17-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P
