Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request-Farm to School Census and Comprehensive Review, 11955-11959 [2018-05440]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 53 / Monday, March 19, 2018 / Notices Each issue listed will be fully described in documents distributed, or to be distributed, by the Secretariat before to the Committee Meeting. Members of the public may access or request copies of these documents (see ADDRESSES). Public Meeting At the April 6, 2018, public meeting, draft U.S. positions on the agenda items will be described and discussed, and attendees will have the opportunity to pose questions and offer comments. Written comments may be offered at the meeting or sent to the U.S. Delegate for the 39th Session of the CCMAS, Gregory Noonan (see ADDRESSES). Written comments should state that they relate to activities of the 39th Session of the CCMAS. sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES Additional Public Notification Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy development is important. 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[FR Doc. 2018–05514 Filed 3–16–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Food and Nutrition Service Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request—Farm to School Census and Comprehensive Review Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). ACTION: Notice and request for comments. AGENCY: 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. This collection is a new collection to study farm to school efforts being conducted for the Farm to School Census and Comprehensive Review. The final report will comprehensively examine farm to school and its progress since the passage of the 2010 Child Nutrition Reauthorization, including the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm to School Grant Program and general growth of farm to school efforts across the country documented by the Farm to School Census and other data sources. This collection includes a structured web survey with School Food Authority (SFA) Directors as well as semi-structured interviews to be conducted by telephone with distributors of school food. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Written comments must be received on or before May 18, 2018. ADDRESSES: Address all comments concerning this notice to Ashley Chaifetz, Ph.D., Social Science Research Analyst, Special Nutrition Evaluation Branch, Office of Policy Support, USDA Food and Nutrition Service, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may be submitted via email to Ashley.Chaifetz@fns.usda.gov. Comments will also be accepted through the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for submitting comments electronically. 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: To request more information on this proposed research, contact Ashley Chaifetz, Ph.D., Social Science Research Analyst, Special Nutrition Evaluation Branch, Food and Nutrition Service, USDA, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302; Fax: 703–305– 2576; Email: Ashley.Chaifetz@ fns.usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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. Title: Farm to School Census and Comprehensive Review. OMB Number: 0584—NEW. Expiration Date: Not yet determined. Type of Request: New collection. Abstract: Section 18 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act authorized and funded USDA to establish a farm to school program in order to assist eligible entities through grants and technical assistance, in implementing farm to school programs that improve access to local foods in schools. This work is housed within the FNS Office of Community Food Systems (OCFS). The Farm to School Census and DATES: To file a complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, which may be accessed online at https:// www.ocio.usda.gov/sites/default/files/ docs/2012/Complain_combined_6_8_ 12.pdf, or write a letter signed by you or your authorized representative. Send your completed complaint form or letter to USDA by mail, fax, or email: Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250–9410. Fax: (202) 690–7442. Email: program.intake@usda.gov. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD). 11955 E:\FR\FM\19MRN1.SGM 19MRN1 sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES 11956 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 53 / Monday, March 19, 2018 / Notices Comprehensive Review is a 3-year study that will review and describe the multiple facets of farm to school, including the USDA Farm to School Grant Program and expansion of farm to school efforts across the country documented by the Farm to School Census and other data sources. The final report will comprehensively examine farm to school efforts and their progression since the passage of the 2010 Child Nutrition Reauthorization. The study will include a literature review to identify current data sources for analysis, complete a gap analysis of current farm to school-focused publications and data, develop recommendations for improving evaluation-related reporting of the USDA Farm to School Grant program, and design, conduct, and report on the 2019 Farm to School Census, which will be supplemented with additional data sources. The results of this study aim to improve the methods and tools used by FNS to describe the impact and benefits of formal and informal farm to school activities administered by grantees, schools, SFAs, and other stakeholders. Ultimately, the study will produce a first-of-its-kind report—a comprehensive assessment of farm to school from 2010 to 2020. This study will collect and synthesize data collected through a national census of SFAs with extant data regarding farm to school activities, local sourcing practices, and economic activity associated with these practices. To accomplish study objectives, two data collections are planned: (1) Distributor Survey will obtain the perspectives of large-scale food distributors on the processes and challenges to local food purchasing and procurement. The respondents for this survey will be purposively sampled based on their substantive contributions and likelihood of participating. The 60 minute survey will be conducted via a phone interview. The survey will contain quantitative questions surrounding the volume and cost of local foods purchased and procured and qualitative questions about the procurement process. The interview will be completed with 20 school food distributors. This survey will be exploratory, and will help address whether a larger survey is feasible and desirable. Currently, there are no available data on farm to school efforts from the standpoint of school food distributors. (2) Farm to School Census (2019 Census) will collect data on local food purchasing for school meals, school food gardens, other farm to school activities and policies, and evidence of VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:43 Mar 16, 2018 Jkt 244001 the economic and nutritional impacts of farm to school activities. The 2019 Census Survey will be distributed to all (public 1 and private) SFA Directors in all 50 states, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and Washington, DC that participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), as part of an invitation to participate from the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Child Nutrition Division. The online survey is expected to take 30 minutes to complete. State Child Nutrition Directors will be asked to provide a list of public school district SFAs in the State or territory for the purpose of constructing the most upto-date list frame possible. Available data on SFAs from FNS are only available for SFAs that submit income verification reports and thus do not provide a complete list of SFAs. State Child Nutrition Directors will also be asked to forward a pre-Census notification email and two email reminders about the Census Survey to SFAs. The Census will be emailed to all known SFA Directors that participate in NSLP. Census Survey questions will be based on prior Farm to School Census Survey iterations in 2013 (OMB Control No. 0536–0069) and 2015 (OMB Control No. 0584–0593), with additional questions to address new research questions. The primary mode of data collection will be an online survey, with a back-up phone version to those who prefer to complete by phone. Nonrespondents will receive up to two reminder phone calls and up to eight emails. Back-up phone interviews and phone reminders will be conducted by trained interviewers, and helpdesk staff will be available for technical and completion assistance. The Census will be completed once in 2019 with approximately 16,000 SFA Directors. Affected Public: This study includes two respondent groups: (1) Business or Other For Profit (Representatives from national distributors that distribute foods to SFA and SFA Directors for private schools; and (2) State, Local, and Tribal Government (SFA Directors for public schools and State Child Nutrition Directors). Estimated Total Number of Respondents: The total estimated number of respondents is 20,080 (16,075 respondents and 4,005 nonrespondents). The estimated number of respondents for each of the planned data collections are as follows: (1) Distributor Survey: The initial sample for the Distributor Survey will 1 Public includes charter schools that operate NSLP. PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 consist of 25 representatives of school food distributors (20 respondents and 5 non-respondents at a response rate of 80 percent). These 25 distributors will be purposively sampled and approached based on a list developed with FNS and this study’s Advisory Panel. (2) Farm to School Census (2019 Census): The total estimated number of respondents is the universe of 20,000 SFAs (16,000 respondents and 4,000 non-respondents). SFAs will receive up to ten reminder emails to complete the survey (eight from the study team and two from State Child Nutrition Directors). Up to two reminder call attempts will be made to a subsample of non-responding SFAs, during which time the respondent will be encouraged to complete the survey over the phone. As part of the Census Survey, the universe of 55 State Child Nutrition Directors will be asked to provide a list of public school district SFAs and private schools that administer the NSLP in the State or territory for the purpose of constructing the most up-todate list frame possible, and to send three emails to SFAs (one pre-Census notification email and two email reminders). Estimated Total Annual Responses: The estimated total annual responses is 163,685. This includes 94,564 for all respondents and 69,121 for nonrespondents. Estimated Frequency of Responses per Respondent: The estimated frequency across the entire collection is 8.15. Respondents to the Distributor Survey and the Census will be asked to complete each data collection instrument one time. FNS estimates that respondents will average 5.88 responses (94,564 responses/16,075 respondents) across the entire collection, with nonrespondents averaging 17.26 responses (69,121 responses/4,005 nonrespondents). For State Child Nutrition Directors, FNS estimates that respondents will average 4 responses (220 responses/55 respondents) across the entire collection, with no nonrespondents. Estimated Time per Response per Respondent: The average estimated time is .09 hours for all participants in this collection. Respondents will complete each data collection instrument only one time. The estimated time of response varies from 0.03 hours to one hour, depending on the respondent group, as shown in the table below. The average response times for the various respondent groups are listed below. For the distributor survey, 25 school food distributor representatives will receive a ‘‘request to participate’’ email. All 20 respondents will complete a 60 E:\FR\FM\19MRN1.SGM 19MRN1 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 53 / Monday, March 19, 2018 / Notices sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES minute phone interview and will be sent a thank you email at the conclusion of the study. For the distributors, the estimated time of response is 0.37 hours per response, with non-respondents averaging 0.03 hours per response. For the Census, the average estimated time is 0.36 hours per response for responding State Child Nutrition Directors with zero non-respondents; 0.13 hours per response for public SFA director respondents with 0.03 hours per response for public SFA director non-respondents; and, 0.13 per response for private SFA director respondents and 0.03 per response for private SFA director non-respondents. To create the sample frame for the Census, 55 State Child Nutrition Directors will receive an email VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:43 Mar 16, 2018 Jkt 244001 requesting a list of SFA names and contact information. The same State Child Nutrition Directors will send a pre-Census notification email and two email reminders to the SFAs in their State throughout the data collection period to all 20,000 potential respondents (public and private). These materials will explain the Census, and encourage and remind the respondent to complete the survey. During the data collection period, the study team will send up to eight reminder emails to the respondents who have not yet taken the survey. These emails are estimated to take respondents 3 minutes (.05 hours) to review, with non-respondents estimated to take 2 minutes (.03 hours) to review. Two PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 11957 phone calls will follow to those potential respondents that remain, which are estimated to take respondents 3 minutes and non-respondents 2 minutes to complete. All respondents who complete the 30 minute survey will be thanked for their participation in the Census (which is estimated to take 2 minutes to complete). Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: The total estimated annual burden on respondents is 14,406.03 hours. See the table (Exhibit 1) for estimated total annual burden for each type of respondent. Dated: March 8, 2018. Brandon Lipps, Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service. BILLING CODE 3410–30–P E:\FR\FM\19MRN1.SGM 19MRN1 sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES 11958 VerDate Sep<11>2014 Jkt 244001 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 53 / Monday, March 19, 2018 / Notices 16:43 Mar 16, 2018 Exhibit 1. Estimated annual burden hours on respondents PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\19MRN1.SGM 19MRN1 Note: For the totals in the column labeled "Estimated number of non-respondents," onlY those who will never respond are included in the total. EN19MR18.000</GPH> Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 53 / Monday, March 19, 2018 / Notices [FR Doc. 2018–05440 Filed 3–16–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–30–C DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Census Bureau Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Boundary and Annexation Survey Correction In notice document 2018–04514, on pages 9475–9478, in the issue of Tuesday, March 6, 2018, make the following correction: On page 9475, in the first column, in the heading DATES, the entry that reads ‘‘March 7, 2018’’ should read ‘‘May 7, 2018’’. [FR Doc. C1–2018–04514 Filed 3–16–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 1301–00–D DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration [A–557–813] Polyethylene Retail Carrier Bags From Malaysia: Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2016–2017 Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce. SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that Euro SME Sdn Bhd (Euro SME), an exporter of polyethylene retail carrier bags (PRCBs) from Malaysia, did not have shipments of subject merchandise during the August 1, 2016, through July 31, 2017, period of review (POR). DATES: Applicable March 19, 2018. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alex Rosen, AD/CVD Operations, Office III, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482–7814. sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES AGENCY: Background On August 1, 2017, Commerce published a notice of opportunity to request an administrative review of the antidumping duty order on PRCBs from Malaysia for the POR.1 On October 16, 2017, in response to a timely request from the petitioners,2 and in accordance 1 See Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Order, Finding, or Suspended Investigation; Opportunity to Request Administrative Review, 82 FR 35754 (August 1, 2017). 2 See letter from Polyethylene Retail Bags Committee and its individual members Hilex Poly VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:43 Mar 16, 2018 Jkt 244001 with section 751(a) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), and 19 CFR 351.213(b), Commerce initiated an administrative review of the antidumping duty order on PRCBs from Malaysia with respect to Euro SME.3 Commerce exercised its discretion to toll deadlines affected by the closure of the Federal Government from January 20 through 22, 2018. If the new deadline falls on a non-business day, in accordance with Commerce’s practice, the deadline will become the next business day. The revised deadline for the preliminary results of this review is now May 7, 2018.4 We invite parties to comment on these preliminary results. Scope of the Order The merchandise subject to this antidumping duty order is polyethylene retail carrier bags (PRCBs), which also may be referred to as t-shirt sacks, merchandise bags, grocery bags, or checkout bags. The subject merchandise is defined as non-sealable sacks and bags with handles (including drawstrings), without zippers or integral extruded closures, with or without gussets, with or without printing, of polyethylene film having a thickness no greater than 0.035 inch (0.889 mm) and no less than 0.00035 inch (0.00889 mm), and with no length or width shorter than 6 inches (15.24 cm) or longer than 40 inches (101.6 cm). The depth of the bag may be shorter than 6 inches (15.24 cm) but not longer than 40 inches (101.6 cm). PRCBs are typically provided without any consumer packaging and free of charge by retail establishments, e.g., grocery, drug, convenience, department, specialty retail, discount stores, and restaurants to their customers to package and carry their purchased products. The scope of this antidumping duty order excludes (1) PRCBs that are not printed with logos or store names and that are closeable with drawstrings made of polyethylene film and (2) PRCBs that are packed in consumer packaging with printing that refers to specific end-uses other than packaging and carrying merchandise from retail Co., LLC and Superbag Corp. (the petitioners), ‘‘Polyethylene Retail Carrier Bags from Malaysia: Request for Administrative Review,’’ dated August 31, 2017. 3 See Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews, 82 FR 48051 (October 16, 2017). 4 See memorandum to the record from Christian Marsh, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance, performing the non-exclusive functions and duties of the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance, ‘‘Deadlines Affected by the Shutdown of the Federal Government,’’ dated January 23, 2018. All deadlines in this segment of the proceeding have been extended by 3 days. PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 11959 establishments, e.g., garbage bags, lawn bags, trash-can liners. Imports of merchandise included within the scope of this antidumping duty order are currently classifiable under statistical category 3923.21.0085 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). This subheading may also cover products that are outside the scope of this antidumping duty order. Although the HTSUS subheading is provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the scope of this antidumping duty order is dispositive. Preliminary Determination of No Shipments We received a timely submission from Euro SME certifying that it did not have sales, shipments, or exports of subject merchandise to the United States during the POR.5 On January 10, 2018, Commerce requested entry data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for subject merchandise exported by Euro SME and imported into the United States during the POR. This query returned no entries during the POR.6 Additionally, in order to examine Euro SME’s claim, we sent a ‘‘noshipments’’ inquiry to CBP requesting that any CBP officer alert Commerce if he/she had information contrary to these no-shipments claims.7 On January 11, 2018, Commerce was notified by CBP that there were no shipments of PRCBs from Malaysia during the POR.8 Consistent with our practice, we preliminarily determine that Euro SME had no shipments during the POR. Further, we find it is not appropriate to rescind the review with respect to Euro SME but, rather, to complete the review and issue appropriate instructions to CBP based on the final results of the review, consistent with our practice.9 5 See letter from Euro SME, ‘‘Polyethylene Retail Carrier Bags from Malaysia; No Shipment Certification,’’ dated November 14, 2017. 6 See Commerce’s memorandum to the file, ‘‘U.S. Customs and Border Protection Data,’’ dated January 12, 2018. 7 See CBP message 8011306, dated January 11, 2018. 8 See Commerce’s memorandum to the file, ‘‘U.S. Customs and Border Protection—No Shipment Inquiry Data,’’ dated February 6, 2018. 9 See, e.g., Certain Frozen Warmwater Shrimp from Thailand; Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, Partial Rescission of Review, Preliminary Determination of No Shipments; 2012–2013, 79 FR 15951, 15952 (March 24, 2014), unchanged in Certain Frozen Warmwater Shrimp from Thailand: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, Final Determination of No Shipments, and Partial Rescission of Review; 2012–2013, 79 FR 51306 (August 28, 2014). E:\FR\FM\19MRN1.SGM 19MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 53 (Monday, March 19, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11955-11959]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-05440]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request--Farm to School Census and Comprehensive Review

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), United States Department of 
Agriculture (USDA).

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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. This collection is a new 
collection to study farm to school efforts being conducted for the Farm 
to School Census and Comprehensive Review. The final report will 
comprehensively examine farm to school and its progress since the 
passage of the 2010 Child Nutrition Reauthorization, including the 
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm to School Grant 
Program and general growth of farm to school efforts across the country 
documented by the Farm to School Census and other data sources. This 
collection includes a structured web survey with School Food Authority 
(SFA) Directors as well as semi-structured interviews to be conducted 
by telephone with distributors of school food.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before May 18, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Address all comments concerning this notice to Ashley 
Chaifetz, Ph.D., Social Science Research Analyst, Special Nutrition 
Evaluation Branch, Office of Policy Support, USDA Food and Nutrition 
Service, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may be 
submitted via email to [email protected]. Comments will also 
be accepted through the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments electronically.
    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: To request more information on this 
proposed research, contact Ashley Chaifetz, Ph.D., Social Science 
Research Analyst, Special Nutrition Evaluation Branch, Food and 
Nutrition Service, USDA, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302; 
Fax: 703-305-2576; Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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.
    Title: Farm to School Census and Comprehensive Review.
    OMB Number: 0584--NEW.
    Expiration Date: Not yet determined.
    Type of Request: New collection.
    Abstract: Section 18 of the Richard B. Russell National School 
Lunch Act authorized and funded USDA to establish a farm to school 
program in order to assist eligible entities through grants and 
technical assistance, in implementing farm to school programs that 
improve access to local foods in schools. This work is housed within 
the FNS Office of Community Food Systems (OCFS). The Farm to School 
Census and

[[Page 11956]]

Comprehensive Review is a 3-year study that will review and describe 
the multiple facets of farm to school, including the USDA Farm to 
School Grant Program and expansion of farm to school efforts across the 
country documented by the Farm to School Census and other data sources. 
The final report will comprehensively examine farm to school efforts 
and their progression since the passage of the 2010 Child Nutrition 
Reauthorization.
    The study will include a literature review to identify current data 
sources for analysis, complete a gap analysis of current farm to 
school-focused publications and data, develop recommendations for 
improving evaluation-related reporting of the USDA Farm to School Grant 
program, and design, conduct, and report on the 2019 Farm to School 
Census, which will be supplemented with additional data sources. The 
results of this study aim to improve the methods and tools used by FNS 
to describe the impact and benefits of formal and informal farm to 
school activities administered by grantees, schools, SFAs, and other 
stakeholders. Ultimately, the study will produce a first-of-its-kind 
report--a comprehensive assessment of farm to school from 2010 to 2020. 
This study will collect and synthesize data collected through a 
national census of SFAs with extant data regarding farm to school 
activities, local sourcing practices, and economic activity associated 
with these practices.
    To accomplish study objectives, two data collections are planned:
    (1) Distributor Survey will obtain the perspectives of large-scale 
food distributors on the processes and challenges to local food 
purchasing and procurement. The respondents for this survey will be 
purposively sampled based on their substantive contributions and 
likelihood of participating. The 60 minute survey will be conducted via 
a phone interview. The survey will contain quantitative questions 
surrounding the volume and cost of local foods purchased and procured 
and qualitative questions about the procurement process. The interview 
will be completed with 20 school food distributors. This survey will be 
exploratory, and will help address whether a larger survey is feasible 
and desirable. Currently, there are no available data on farm to school 
efforts from the standpoint of school food distributors.
    (2) Farm to School Census (2019 Census) will collect data on local 
food purchasing for school meals, school food gardens, other farm to 
school activities and policies, and evidence of the economic and 
nutritional impacts of farm to school activities. The 2019 Census 
Survey will be distributed to all (public \1\ and private) SFA 
Directors in all 50 states, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, 
American Samoa, and Washington, DC that participate in the National 
School Lunch Program (NSLP), as part of an invitation to participate 
from the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Child Nutrition Division. The 
online survey is expected to take 30 minutes to complete.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Public includes charter schools that operate NSLP.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    State Child Nutrition Directors will be asked to provide a list of 
public school district SFAs in the State or territory for the purpose 
of constructing the most up-to-date list frame possible. Available data 
on SFAs from FNS are only available for SFAs that submit income 
verification reports and thus do not provide a complete list of SFAs. 
State Child Nutrition Directors will also be asked to forward a pre-
Census notification email and two email reminders about the Census 
Survey to SFAs.
    The Census will be emailed to all known SFA Directors that 
participate in NSLP. Census Survey questions will be based on prior 
Farm to School Census Survey iterations in 2013 (OMB Control No. 0536-
0069) and 2015 (OMB Control No. 0584-0593), with additional questions 
to address new research questions. The primary mode of data collection 
will be an online survey, with a back-up phone version to those who 
prefer to complete by phone. Non-respondents will receive up to two 
reminder phone calls and up to eight emails. Back-up phone interviews 
and phone reminders will be conducted by trained interviewers, and 
helpdesk staff will be available for technical and completion 
assistance. The Census will be completed once in 2019 with 
approximately 16,000 SFA Directors.
    Affected Public: This study includes two respondent groups: (1) 
Business or Other For Profit (Representatives from national 
distributors that distribute foods to SFA and SFA Directors for private 
schools; and (2) State, Local, and Tribal Government (SFA Directors for 
public schools and State Child Nutrition Directors).
    Estimated Total Number of Respondents: The total estimated number 
of respondents is 20,080 (16,075 respondents and 4,005 non-
respondents). The estimated number of respondents for each of the 
planned data collections are as follows:
    (1) Distributor Survey: The initial sample for the Distributor 
Survey will consist of 25 representatives of school food distributors 
(20 respondents and 5 non-respondents at a response rate of 80 
percent). These 25 distributors will be purposively sampled and 
approached based on a list developed with FNS and this study's Advisory 
Panel.
    (2) Farm to School Census (2019 Census): The total estimated number 
of respondents is the universe of 20,000 SFAs (16,000 respondents and 
4,000 non-respondents). SFAs will receive up to ten reminder emails to 
complete the survey (eight from the study team and two from State Child 
Nutrition Directors). Up to two reminder call attempts will be made to 
a subsample of non-responding SFAs, during which time the respondent 
will be encouraged to complete the survey over the phone. As part of 
the Census Survey, the universe of 55 State Child Nutrition Directors 
will be asked to provide a list of public school district SFAs and 
private schools that administer the NSLP in the State or territory for 
the purpose of constructing the most up-to-date list frame possible, 
and to send three emails to SFAs (one pre-Census notification email and 
two email reminders).
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: The estimated total annual 
responses is 163,685. This includes 94,564 for all respondents and 
69,121 for non-respondents.
    Estimated Frequency of Responses per Respondent: The estimated 
frequency across the entire collection is 8.15. Respondents to the 
Distributor Survey and the Census will be asked to complete each data 
collection instrument one time. FNS estimates that respondents will 
average 5.88 responses (94,564 responses/16,075 respondents) across the 
entire collection, with non-respondents averaging 17.26 responses 
(69,121 responses/4,005 non-respondents). For State Child Nutrition 
Directors, FNS estimates that respondents will average 4 responses (220 
responses/55 respondents) across the entire collection, with no non-
respondents.
    Estimated Time per Response per Respondent: The average estimated 
time is .09 hours for all participants in this collection. Respondents 
will complete each data collection instrument only one time. The 
estimated time of response varies from 0.03 hours to one hour, 
depending on the respondent group, as shown in the table below. The 
average response times for the various respondent groups are listed 
below.
    For the distributor survey, 25 school food distributor 
representatives will receive a ``request to participate'' email. All 20 
respondents will complete a 60

[[Page 11957]]

minute phone interview and will be sent a thank you email at the 
conclusion of the study. For the distributors, the estimated time of 
response is 0.37 hours per response, with non-respondents averaging 
0.03 hours per response.
    For the Census, the average estimated time is 0.36 hours per 
response for responding State Child Nutrition Directors with zero non-
respondents; 0.13 hours per response for public SFA director 
respondents with 0.03 hours per response for public SFA director non-
respondents; and, 0.13 per response for private SFA director 
respondents and 0.03 per response for private SFA director non-
respondents.
    To create the sample frame for the Census, 55 State Child Nutrition 
Directors will receive an email requesting a list of SFA names and 
contact information. The same State Child Nutrition Directors will send 
a pre-Census notification email and two email reminders to the SFAs in 
their State throughout the data collection period to all 20,000 
potential respondents (public and private). These materials will 
explain the Census, and encourage and remind the respondent to complete 
the survey.
    During the data collection period, the study team will send up to 
eight reminder emails to the respondents who have not yet taken the 
survey. These emails are estimated to take respondents 3 minutes (.05 
hours) to review, with non-respondents estimated to take 2 minutes (.03 
hours) to review. Two phone calls will follow to those potential 
respondents that remain, which are estimated to take respondents 3 
minutes and non-respondents 2 minutes to complete. All respondents who 
complete the 30 minute survey will be thanked for their participation 
in the Census (which is estimated to take 2 minutes to complete).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: The total estimated 
annual burden on respondents is 14,406.03 hours. See the table (Exhibit 
1) for estimated total annual burden for each type of respondent.

    Dated: March 8, 2018.
Brandon Lipps,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
 BILLING CODE 3410-30-P

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[FR Doc. 2018-05440 Filed 3-16-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-30-C


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