Agency Information Collection Activities: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Emergency Allotments (COVID-19), 35460-35462 [2021-14303]

Download as PDF 35460 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 126 / Tuesday, July 6, 2021 / Notices For Further Information about the 46th Session of the CCFL, contact U.S. Delegate, Dr. Douglas Balentine, douglas.balentine@fda.hhs.gov. For Further Information about the public meeting Contact: U.S. Codex Office, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 4861, South Agriculture Building, Washington, DC 20250. Phone (202) 720–7760, Fax: (202) 720–3157, Email: uscodex@usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES Background Codex was established in 1963 by two United Nations organizations, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization. Through adoption of food standards, codes of practice, and other guidelines developed by its committees, and by promoting their adoption and implementation by governments, Codex seeks to protect the health of consumers and ensure fair practices in the food trade. The Terms of Reference of the Codex Committee on Food Labelling (CCFL) are: (a) To draft provisions on labeling applicable to all foods; (b) to consider, amend if necessary, and endorse draft specific provisions on labeling prepared by the Codex Committees drafting standards, codes of practice and guidelines; (c) to study specific labeling problems assigned to it by the Commission; and, (d) to study problems associated with the advertisement of food with particular reference to claims and misleading descriptions. The CCFL is hosted by Canada. The United States attends the CCFL as a member country of Codex. Issues To Be Discussed at the Public Meeting The following items on the Agenda for the 46th Session of the CCFL will be discussed during the public meeting: • Adoption of the Agenda • Matters referred to the Committee by the CAC and other Codex Subsidiary Bodies • Matters of interest from FAO and WHO • Consideration of labeling provisions in draft Codex standards (endorsement) • Draft Guidance for the Labelling of Non-Retail Containers • Proposed draft Guidelines on Frontof-Pack Nutrition Labelling • Proposed draft Guidelines on internet sales/e-commerce • Proposed draft revision to the General Standard for the Labelling of Prepackaged Foods—Provisions relevant to allergen labeling VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:42 Jul 02, 2021 Jkt 253001 • Proposed draft Guidance on Precautionary Allergen Labelling • Innovation—use of technology in food labelling (discussion paper) • Labelling of alcoholic beverages (discussion paper) • Labelling of foods in joint presentation and multipack formats (discussion paper) • Future work and direction of CCFL (discussion paper) (request for information through CL2020/08–FL) • Approach and criteria for evaluation and prioritization of work of CCFL (request for comments through CL2020/09/OCS–FL) Public Meeting At the September 1, 2021, 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 Dr. Douglas Balentine, U.S. Delegate for the 46th Session of the CCFL (see ADDRESSES). Written comments should state that they relate to activities of the 46th Session of the CCFL. Additional Public Notification Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy development is important. Consequently, the U.S. Codex Office will announce this Federal Register publication on-line through the USDA web page located at: https:// www.usda.gov/codex, a link that also offers an email subscription service providing access to information related to Codex. Customers can add or delete their subscription themselves and have the option to password protect their accounts. USDA Non-Discrimination Statement No agency, officer, or employee of the USDA shall, on the grounds of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/ parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, or political beliefs, exclude from participation in, deny the benefits of, or subject to discrimination any person in the United States under any program or activity conducted by the USDA. How To File a Complaint of Discrimination 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 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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). Done at Washington, DC, on June 30, 2021. Mary Lowe, U.S. Manager for Codex Alimentarius. [FR Doc. 2021–14347 Filed 7–2–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Food and Nutrition Service Agency Information Collection Activities: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Emergency Allotments (COVID–19) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), 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. This collection is an extension, without change, of a currently approved collection for activities associated with administering emergency allotments (EA) waivers. 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) waivers 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. DATES: Written comments must be received on or before September 7, 2021. ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to: Kelly Stewart, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1320 Braddock Place, 5th Floor, Alexandria, VA 22314; telephone 703– 305–2425. Comments may also be submitted via email to Kelly.stewart@ usda.gov. Comments will also be accepted through the Federal eRulemaking Portal. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\06JYN1.SGM 06JYN1 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 126 / Tuesday, July 6, 2021 / Notices 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 Kelly.stewart@usda.gov; telephone 703– 305–2425. 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: Agency Information Collection Activities: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Emergency Allotments (COVID–19). OMB Number: 0584–0652. Expiration Date: 1/31/2022. Type of Request: Extension, without change, of a currently approved collection. 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. In January 2021, the Department obtained Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to collect the information as described in this Notice for a period of one year (OMB Control Number 0584– 0652; expiration 1/31/2022). The President’s Executive Order on Economic Relief Related to the COVID– 19 Pandemic, issued January 22, 2021, directed all Federal agencies to consider administrative actions to better address VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:42 Jul 02, 2021 Jkt 253001 the current economic crisis resulting from the pandemic. FNS reviewed existing EA policy and issued updated State guidance 1 on April 1, 2021, outlining a new approach to calculating EA that provides greater equity for households most in need. The April 2021 guidance supersedes previous guidance issued in March 2020 and April 2020. In addition to outlining a new EA minimum benefit policy, the April 2021 guidance describes an EA phase-out request States may use when their State-level emergency declaration expiration date is imminent. The State agency process for requesting EA, as outlined in the April 2021 guidance, remains generally unchanged, though the State must now confirm that the State’s emergency or disaster declaration remains active when requesting EA. 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 an EA 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. As outlined in the April 2021 guidance, 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, The State agency must also confirm that the State’s emergency or disaster declaration remains active. In addition, to allow for State EA phase-out upon expiration of the State’s emergency declaration, States may request EA approval for one additional issuance month if: • The national public health emergency declaration that was extended on January 21, 2021, by the Secretary for Health and Human 1 https://fns-prod.azureedge.net/sites/default/ files/resource-files/snap-covid-emergencyallotments-phase-3-guidance.pdf. PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 35461 Services under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act remains in place, and • The State-issued emergency or disaster declaration has expired or will expire in the current month. This will allow a State that has lost or will lose its declaration in the current month to provide one additional issuance month of EA and to notify SNAP participants that EA benefits will be ending. Once the State’s EA 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 and that the State declaration remains in place. Both the initial EA 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. There are three reporting requirements for this information collection request. (1) Each initial EA waiver submission should take approximately one hour to complete. (2) Each monthly email attesting to the continued need for the EA waiver is expected to take 15 minutes to complete. FNS expects that any phase-out request, as outlined in the April 2021 guidance, would be included in the email as part of the monthly attestation process; the indication of phase-out would simply signal the end of that State’s need for EA and, thus, monthly attestations. The phase out request is expected to take 1 minute of the 15 minutes estimated for monthly attestation; therefore, no additional burden is estimated for phase-out requests. 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 operating EA on a more frequent basis than would be reported normally. Generally, States report disaster-related E:\FR\FM\06JYN1.SGM 06JYN1 35462 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 126 / Tuesday, July 6, 2021 / Notices 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, (3) FNS requires the State to submit bi-weekly FNS–292B reports. Instruments Form State Agencies ........................ Bi-weekly EA Reporting to FNS. Initial Waiver Request—Emergency Allotment. Monthly EA Attestation (including Phase-Out Requests). FNS–292B .. 53 26 1,378 0.4008 552.20 N/A ............. 53 1 53 1 53 N/A ............. 53 12 636 0.25 159 .................... 53 39 2,067 0.3697641 764.30 ................................................. 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: 0.3697641 hours. Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 764. Cynthia Long, Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service. [FR Doc. 2021–14303 Filed 7–2–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–30–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records U.S. Department of Agriculture; Forest Service. ACTION: Notice of a new system of records. AGENCY: In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA or Department) proposes to create a new system of records titled ‘‘Department of Agriculture Forest Service Application Cloud Environment (FS ACE).’’ ACE is a general support system owned by the Forest Service Chief Information Officer (CIO) and operated by the Data Center Services Branch of the Forest Service CIO Operations Division. The system is located and managed in two geographically separated USDA Digital Infrastructure Services Centers (DISC), Class 4 data centers: One in Kansas City, MO; and the other in St. Louis, MO. Each provide alternate processing and SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:42 Jul 02, 2021 Jkt 253001 Number of respondents burden used for EA in this request and including the burden for submitting this form more frequently under this information collection. • FNS–292B—Takes States approximately 24 minutes or 0.4008 hours per response × 53 State Agencies × 26 weeks = 552.30 hours. Respondent category Total ................................. jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES 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 accounting for the additional Frequency of response Total annual responses data storage services in support of disaster recovery activities. Additionally, DISC-Kansas City provides off-site tape storage in Lenexa, KS, through a third-party vendor, Recall. All three locations are addressed within the DISC authorization boundaries. Hours per response Annual burden (hours) Officer, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250 or by email at sullie.coleman@usda.gov or by telephone at (202) 604–0467. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (5 U.S.C. 552a), requires agencies to publish in the Federal Register notice of DATES: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. new systems of records maintained by 552a(e)(4) and (11), this notice is the Agency. A system of records is a effective upon publication, subject to a group of any records under the control 30-day notice and comment period to of any agency from which information comment on the routine uses described is retrieved by the name of an below. Please submit any comments by individual or by some identifying August 5, 2021. number, symbol, or other identifying ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, particular assigned to an individual. identified by docket number FS–2021– The Forest Service proposes to create 0004 by one of the following methods: a system of records entitled USDA/FS– • Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: https:// 63 Application Cloud Environment (FS www.regulations.gov—follow the ACE) that will be used to maintain instructions for submitting comments. • Cynthia Towers, NRE Forest Service records of activities conducted by the Agency pursuant to its mission and Privacy Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer, U.S. Department of responsibilities. Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue TITLE OF BUSINESS ADDRESS OF THE AGENCY SW, Washington, DC 20250. OFFICIAL RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SYSTEM OF • email to SM.FS.WOFOIA@usda.gov. RECORD: Instructions: All submissions received Chief Information Officer, U.S. must include the Agency name and Department of Agriculture, 1400 docket number for this rulemaking. All Independence Avenue SW, Washington, comments received will be posted DC 20250. without change to https:// SYSTEM NAME AND NUMBER: www.regulations.gov, including any USDA/FS–63 Application Cloud personal information provided. Environment (FS ACE). Forest Service Docket: For access to the docket to Application Cloud Environment (FS read the background document or ACE) CSAM ID 1991, External ID: UII comments received go to https:// Code: 005–000000243; 005–000003304; www.regulations.gov. 005–000003305; 005–000000257. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general questions about this notice, SECURITY CLASSIFICATION: please contact Cynthia Towers, NRE Controlled Unclassified Information Forest Service Privacy Officer, at 816– (CUI). 286–5272 or by email at SYSTEM LOCATION: cynthia.towers@usda.gov. For privacy issue questions, please The system is located and managed in contact: Sullie Coleman, Chief Privacy two geographically-separated U.S. Officer, Office of the Chief Information Department of Agriculture (USDA) PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\06JYN1.SGM 06JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 126 (Tuesday, July 6, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35460-35462]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-14303]


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

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), 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.
    This collection is an extension, without change, of a currently 
approved collection for activities associated with administering 
emergency allotments (EA) waivers. 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) waivers 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.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before September 7, 
2021.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to: Kelly Stewart, Food and Nutrition 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1320 Braddock Place, 5th 
Floor, Alexandria, VA 22314; telephone 703-305-2425. Comments may also 
be submitted via email to [email protected]. Comments will also be 
accepted through the Federal eRulemaking Portal.

[[Page 35461]]

    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 [email protected]; telephone 703-305-2425.

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: Agency Information Collection Activities: Supplemental 
Nutrition Assistance Program Emergency Allotments (COVID-19).
    OMB Number: 0584-0652.
    Expiration Date: 1/31/2022.
    Type of Request: Extension, without change, of a currently approved 
collection.
    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. In January 2021, the 
Department obtained Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to 
collect the information as described in this Notice for a period of one 
year (OMB Control Number 0584-0652; expiration 1/31/2022). The 
President's Executive Order on Economic Relief Related to the COVID-19 
Pandemic, issued January 22, 2021, directed all Federal agencies to 
consider administrative actions to better address the current economic 
crisis resulting from the pandemic. FNS reviewed existing EA policy and 
issued updated State guidance \1\ on April 1, 2021, outlining a new 
approach to calculating EA that provides greater equity for households 
most in need. The April 2021 guidance supersedes previous guidance 
issued in March 2020 and April 2020. In addition to outlining a new EA 
minimum benefit policy, the April 2021 guidance describes an EA phase-
out request States may use when their State-level emergency declaration 
expiration date is imminent. The State agency process for requesting 
EA, as outlined in the April 2021 guidance, remains generally 
unchanged, though the State must now confirm that the State's emergency 
or disaster declaration remains active when requesting EA. 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ https://fns-prod.azureedge.net/sites/default/files/resource-files/snap-covid-emergency-allotments-phase-3-guidance.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As authorized by Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020, 
State agencies impacted by COVID-19 may submit an EA 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. As outlined in the April 2021 guidance, 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,

    The State agency must also confirm that the State's emergency or 
disaster declaration remains active.
    In addition, to allow for State EA phase-out upon expiration of the 
State's emergency declaration, States may request EA approval for one 
additional issuance month if:
     The national public health emergency declaration that was 
extended on January 21, 2021, by the Secretary for Health and Human 
Services under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act remains in 
place, and
     The State-issued emergency or disaster declaration has 
expired or will expire in the current month. This will allow a State 
that has lost or will lose its declaration in the current month to 
provide one additional issuance month of EA and to notify SNAP 
participants that EA benefits will be ending.
    Once the State's EA 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 and that the State declaration 
remains in place. Both the initial EA 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. There 
are three reporting requirements for this information collection 
request. (1) Each initial EA waiver submission should take 
approximately one hour to complete. (2) Each monthly email attesting to 
the continued need for the EA waiver is expected to take 15 minutes to 
complete. FNS expects that any phase-out request, as outlined in the 
April 2021 guidance, would be included in the email as part of the 
monthly attestation process; the indication of phase-out would simply 
signal the end of that State's need for EA and, thus, monthly 
attestations. The phase out request is expected to take 1 minute of the 
15 minutes estimated for monthly attestation; therefore, no additional 
burden is estimated for phase-out requests.
    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 operating EA on a more frequent basis than would be 
reported normally. Generally, States report disaster-related

[[Page 35462]]

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, (3) 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 accounting for the additional burden used 
for EA in this request and including the burden for submitting this 
form more frequently under this information collection.
 FNS-292B--Takes States approximately 24 minutes or 0.4008 
hours per response x 53 State Agencies x 26 weeks = 552.30 hours.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             Number of     Frequency of    Total annual      Hours per     Annual burden
       Respondent category            Instruments             Form          respondents      response        responses       response         (hours)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State Agencies..................  Bi-weekly EA         FNS-292B.........              53              26           1,378          0.4008          552.20
                                   Reporting to FNS.
                                  Initial Waiver       N/A..............              53               1              53               1              53
                                   Request--Emergency
                                   Allotment.
                                  Monthly EA           N/A..............              53              12             636            0.25             159
                                   Attestation
                                   (including Phase-
                                   Out Requests).
                                                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................  ...................  .................              53              39           2,067       0.3697641          764.30
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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: 0.3697641 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 764.

Cynthia Long,
Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-14303 Filed 7-2-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P


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