Agency Information Collection Activities: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Emergency Allotments (COVID-19), 52945-52946 [2020-18859]

Download as PDF 52945 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 167 / Thursday, August 27, 2020 / Notices TABLE 1—RESPONDENT BURDEN TABLE—Continued Respondent category Local Government .......... Respondent Total ... Type of respondents Instruments Food Dist. State Program. WIC Local Agency Program Staff. Form: FNS292A ............ 60 52 3,120 0.25 780 Report to State .............. 1,808 1 1,808 1 1,808 ....................................... 2,066 6.817 0 14,084 0.25 1.873 0 26,386 ....................................... Number of respondents Frequency of response 703–305–2435 or Kelly.stewart@ usda.gov. [FR Doc. 2020–18860 Filed 8–26–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–30–P 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. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Food and Nutrition Service Agency Information Collection Activities: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Emergency Allotments (COVID–19) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), Agriculture (USDA). ACTION: Notice. 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. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020, enacted March 18, 2020, includes a general provision that allows the Department of Agriculture to issue emergency allotments (EA) based on a public health emergency declaration by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act related to an outbreak of COVID–19 when a State has also issued an emergency or disaster declaration. This is a new collection for activities associated with administering emergency allotments. DATES: Written comments must be received on or before October 26, 2020. ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to: Kelly Stewart, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, via email to Kelly.stewart@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 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 Kelly Stewart at khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:09 Aug 26, 2020 Jkt 250001 Abstract The Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 (Pub. L. 116–127), enacted March 18, 2020, includes a general provision that allows the Department of Agriculture to issue emergency allotments (EA) based on a public health emergency declaration by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act related to an outbreak of COVID–19 when a State has also issued an emergency or disaster declaration. The Department obtained approval through an emergency clearance to collect the information as described in this Notice (OMB Control Number 0854–0652; expiration 9/30/ 2020). USDA anticipates the need to collect the data beyond the expiration date and is seeking approval of this Information Collection Request in order to meet the continuing information collection and reporting requirements detailed in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020. As authorized by Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020, State agencies impacted by COVID–19 may submit a waiver request to their FNS Regional Office for approval to provide a EA to households to bring all PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Total annual responses Hours per response Annual burden (hours) households up to the maximum benefit due to pandemic related economic conditions. State agency waivers will generally be approved under one or more the following conditions as it relates to COVID–19: • Residents of the State are confirmed to have contracted COVID–19. • Some or all areas of the State are containment or quarantine zones. • Businesses have closed or significantly reduced their hours. • The State’s residents have experienced economic impacts due to job suspensions or losses. • The State’s residents have been directed to practice social distancing. Once the State’s waiver has been approved by FNS, the State may provide the EA without contacting the household. Following waiver approval, FNS will require State Agencies to attest to FNS on a monthly basis the EA waiver is still needed. Both the initial waiver and the monthly attestation are conducted via email. FNS expects 53 State agencies will submit one initial EA waiver to FNS. Currently 51 State agencies are operating under an EA waiver. It is possible that States may have more than one declared public health emergency over the next year as COVID–19 rates ebb and flow, therefore we are including hours for these initial waiver requests in this IC as a precautionary measure. Each initial EA waiver submission should take approximately one hour to complete. Each monthly email attesting to the continued need for the EA waiver is expected to take 15 minutes to complete. Section 18(b) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended, requires that, ‘‘In any fiscal year, the Secretary shall limit the value of those allotments issued to an amount not in excess of the appropriation for such fiscal year.’’ Because the EA waiver increases the monthly benefit of participants above the amount originally anticipated for this fiscal year, the amount of benefits issued and redeemed must be carefully tracked to ensure FNS does not exceed its appropriation. As such, it is necessary for FNS to collect information from State agencies E:\FR\FM\27AUN1.SGM 27AUN1 52946 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 167 / Thursday, August 27, 2020 / Notices operating EA on a more frequent basis than would be reported normally. Generally, States report disaster-related SNAP participation and issuance data to FNS on the FNS–292B, Report of Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Benefit Issuance, within 45 days of terminating disaster assistance. Respondent category State Agencies. Total ....... Frequency of response Total annual responses Responses per respondent Hours per response Annual burden (hours) Form Bi-weekly EA Reporting to FNS. Initial Waiver Request— Emergency Allotment. Monthly EA Attestation ........ FNS–292B .... 53 26 1,378 26 0.4 551.20 N/A ............... 53 1 53 1 1 53 N/A ............... 53 12 636 12 0.25 159 ............................................. ....................... 53 39 2,067 39 0.369230769 763 Pamilyn Miller, Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service. [FR Doc. 2020–18859 Filed 8–26–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–30–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Information Collection; Advertised Timber for Sale Forest Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice; request for comment. AGENCY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations on the revision with changes of the currently approved information collection 0596–0066, Advertised Timber for Sale. DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before October 26, 2020 to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date will be considered to the extent practicable. ADDRESSES: Comments concerning this notice should be addressed to Director, Forest Management, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Mail Stop 1103, Washington DC 20250–0003. Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to (202) 205–1045 or by email to: SM.FS.bidform_comment@usda.gov. SUMMARY: khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES Number of respondents OMB Control Number 0584–0594 (expiration date 7/31/2023). However, FNS is including the burden for submitting this form more frequently under this information collection. • FNS–292B—.4 hours per response × 53 State Agencies × 26 weeks = 551 hours. Instruments Affected Public: State, Local and Tribal Governments. Estimated Number of Respondents: 53. Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 39. Estimated Total Annual Responses: 2,067. Estimated Time per Response: .37 hours. Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 763. VerDate Sep<11>2014 While a State is operating under an EA waiver, FNS requires the State to submit bi-weekly FNS–292B reports. The burden for a State agency to submit FNS–292B reports during normal operations is currently captured under the information collection for the Food Programs Reporting System (FPRS), 17:09 Aug 26, 2020 Jkt 250001 All comments, including names and addresses when provided, are placed in the record and are available for public inspection and copying. The public may view comments received on the World Wide Web/internet site at: https:// www.fs.fed.us/forestmanagement. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carl Maass, Forest Management Staff, at (970) 295–5961, or email, carl.maass@ usda.gov. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339, 24 hours a day, every day of the year, including holidays. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Advertised Timber for Sale. OMB Number: 0596–0066. Expiration Date of Approval: December 31, 2020. Type of Request: Extension with Revision. Abstract: Pursuant to statutory requirements at 16 U.S.C. 472a, unless extraordinary conditions exist as defined by regulation, the Secretary of Agriculture must: (1) Advertise sales of all National Forest System timber or forest products exceeding $10,000 in appraised value; (2) select bidding methods that ensure open and fair competition; (3) select bidding methods that ensure that the Federal Government receives not less than appraised value of the timber or forest product; and (4) monitor bidding patterns for evidence of unlawful bidding practices. Pursuant to the Forest Service Small Business Timber Sale Set-Aside Program, developed in cooperation with the Small Business Administration, Forest Service regulations at Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations, § 223.84 require that the Forest Service bid form used by potential timber sale bidders include provisions for small business concerns. The data collected will be used by the agency to ensure PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 that National Forest System timber will be sold at not less than appraised value, that bidders will meet specific criteria when submitting a bid, and that antitrust violations will not occur during the bidding process. The tax identification number of each bidder is entered into an automated bid monitoring system, which is used to determine if speculative bidding or unlawful bidding practices are occurring and is required to process electronic payments to the purchaser. Respondents will be bidders on National Forest System timber sales. Forest Service sale officers will mail bid forms to potential bidders, and bidders will return the completed forms, dated and signed, to the Forest Service sale officer. The data gathered in this information collection are not available from other sources. Forms Associated With This Information Collection FS–2400–42a—National Forest Timber and Forest Products for Sale (Advertisement and Short-Form Bid): This form will be used for soliciting and receiving bids on short-notice timber sales advertised for less than 30 days for less than $10,000 in advertised value. Respondents are bidders on National Forest System timber sales. FS–2400–14—Bid for Advertised Timber (3 form versions: FS–2400– 14UR—Unit Rate Bidding; FS–2400– 14WA—Weighted Average Bidding; FS– 2400–14TV—Total Value Bidding): These forms implement the same statutes, policies, and regulations and collect similar information from the same applicants. Respondents are bidders on National Forest System timber and forest product sales. FS–2400–14BV—Bid For Integrated Resource Timber Contract (2 form versions: FS–2400–14BV—Best Value, E:\FR\FM\27AUN1.SGM 27AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 167 (Thursday, August 27, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52945-52946]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-18859]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Supplemental Nutrition 
Assistance Program Emergency Allotments (COVID-19)

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), Agriculture (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. The Families First Coronavirus 
Response Act of 2020, enacted March 18, 2020, includes a general 
provision that allows the Department of Agriculture to issue emergency 
allotments (EA) based on a public health emergency declaration by the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services under section 319 of the Public 
Health Service Act related to an outbreak of COVID-19 when a State has 
also issued an emergency or disaster declaration. This is a new 
collection for activities associated with administering emergency 
allotments.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before October 26, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to: Kelly Stewart, Food and Nutrition 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 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 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 Kelly 
Stewart at 703-305-2435 or [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.

Abstract

    The Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 (Pub. L. 116-
127), enacted March 18, 2020, includes a general provision that allows 
the Department of Agriculture to issue emergency allotments (EA) based 
on a public health emergency declaration by the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act 
related to an outbreak of COVID-19 when a State has also issued an 
emergency or disaster declaration. The Department obtained approval 
through an emergency clearance to collect the information as described 
in this Notice (OMB Control Number 0854-0652; expiration 9/30/2020). 
USDA anticipates the need to collect the data beyond the expiration 
date and is seeking approval of this Information Collection Request in 
order to meet the continuing information collection and reporting 
requirements detailed in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 
2020.
    As authorized by Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020, 
State agencies impacted by COVID-19 may submit a waiver request to 
their FNS Regional Office for approval to provide a EA to households to 
bring all households up to the maximum benefit due to pandemic related 
economic conditions. State agency waivers will generally be approved 
under one or more the following conditions as it relates to COVID-19:
     Residents of the State are confirmed to have contracted 
COVID-19.
     Some or all areas of the State are containment or 
quarantine zones.
     Businesses have closed or significantly reduced their 
hours.
     The State's residents have experienced economic impacts 
due to job suspensions or losses.
     The State's residents have been directed to practice 
social distancing.
    Once the State's waiver has been approved by FNS, the State may 
provide the EA without contacting the household. Following waiver 
approval, FNS will require State Agencies to attest to FNS on a monthly 
basis the EA waiver is still needed. Both the initial waiver and the 
monthly attestation are conducted via email. FNS expects 53 State 
agencies will submit one initial EA waiver to FNS. Currently 51 State 
agencies are operating under an EA waiver. It is possible that States 
may have more than one declared public health emergency over the next 
year as COVID-19 rates ebb and flow, therefore we are including hours 
for these initial waiver requests in this IC as a precautionary 
measure. Each initial EA waiver submission should take approximately 
one hour to complete. Each monthly email attesting to the continued 
need for the EA waiver is expected to take 15 minutes to complete.
    Section 18(b) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended, 
requires that, ``In any fiscal year, the Secretary shall limit the 
value of those allotments issued to an amount not in excess of the 
appropriation for such fiscal year.'' Because the EA waiver increases 
the monthly benefit of participants above the amount originally 
anticipated for this fiscal year, the amount of benefits issued and 
redeemed must be carefully tracked to ensure FNS does not exceed its 
appropriation. As such, it is necessary for FNS to collect information 
from State agencies

[[Page 52946]]

operating EA on a more frequent basis than would be reported normally. 
Generally, States report disaster-related SNAP participation and 
issuance data to FNS on the FNS-292B, Report of Disaster Supplemental 
Nutrition Assistance Benefit Issuance, within 45 days of terminating 
disaster assistance.
    While a State is operating under an EA waiver, FNS requires the 
State to submit bi-weekly FNS-292B reports. The burden for a State 
agency to submit FNS-292B reports during normal operations is currently 
captured under the information collection for the Food Programs 
Reporting System (FPRS), OMB Control Number 0584-0594 (expiration date 
7/31/2023). However, FNS is including the burden for submitting this 
form more frequently under this information collection.
     FNS-292B--.4 hours per response x 53 State Agencies x 26 
weeks = 551 hours.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Number of     Frequency of    Total annual    Responses per     Hours per     Annual burden
           Respondent category                    Instruments                    Form               respondents      response        responses      respondent       response         (hours)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State Agencies..........................  Bi-weekly EA Reporting to   FNS-292B..................              53              26           1,378              26             0.4          551.20
                                           FNS.
                                          Initial Waiver Request--    N/A.......................              53               1              53               1               1              53
                                           Emergency Allotment.
                                          Monthly EA Attestation....  N/A.......................              53              12             636              12            0.25             159
                                                                                                 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total...............................  ..........................  ..........................              53              39           2,067              39     0.369230769             763
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    Affected Public: State, Local and Tribal Governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 53.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 39.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 2,067.
    Estimated Time per Response: .37 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 763.

Pamilyn Miller,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-18859 Filed 8-26-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P
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