Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request, 41372 [2024-10421]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 93 (Monday, May 13, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 41372]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-10421]


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Notices
                                                Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 93 / Monday, May 13, 2024 / Notices

[[Page 41372]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments 
are requested regarding; whether the collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility; the 
accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of 
the methodology and assumptions used; ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    Comments regarding this information collection received by June 12, 
2024 will be considered. Written comments and recommendations for the 
proposed information collection should be submitted within 30 days of 
the publication of this notice on the following website 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information 
collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for 
Public Comments'' or by using the search function. An agency may not 
conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless the collection of 
information displays a currently valid OMB control number and the 
agency informs potential persons who are to respond to the collection 
of information that such persons are not required to respond to the 
collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB 
control number.

Food and Nutrition Service

    Title: Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, 
and Children (WIC) Program Regulations--Reporting and Recordkeeping 
Burden.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-0043.
    Summary of Collection: The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program 
for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides supplemental foods, 
nutrition education, including breastfeeding promotion and support, and 
health care referrals to low income, nutritionally at-risk pregnant, 
breastfeeding and postpartum women, infants, and children up to age 
five. Currently, WIC operates through State health departments in 50 
States, 33 Indian Tribal Organizations, American Samoa, District of 
Columbia, Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto 
Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The Federal regulations governing the WIC 
Program (7 CFR part 246) require that certain program-related 
information be collected and that full and complete records concerning 
WIC operations are maintained. The WIC Program is authorized by the 
Child Nutrition Act of 1966, as amended.
    Access to Baby Formula Act (ABFA) of 2022 Implementation (RIN 0584-
AE94) and amends the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, 
Infants, and Children (WIC) program regulations by incorporating 
provisions of the Access to Baby Formula Act of 2022.
    ABFA established waiver authority for the Secretary of Agriculture 
to address certain emergencies, disasters, and supply chain disruptions 
impacting WIC, and adds requirements to State agency infant formula 
cost containment contracts to protect against disruptions to the 
program in the event of a recall. The amended provision focuses on 
improving State agencies' ability to ensure continuity of program 
operations during emergencies, public health emergencies, and major 
disasters (emergency periods) and supply chain disruptions, while 
ensuring access to program benefits among low-income infants, children, 
and pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding applicants and participants
    Need and Use of the Information: The Food and Nutrition Service 
(FNS) collects information from state and local agencies, applicants, 
and retail vendors to determine eligibility in the WIC Program. This 
ongoing information collection is mandatory for state agencies and 
required to obtain or retain benefits for the WIC participants. This 
information includes participant certification information (e.g., 
income and nutrition risk); nutrition education documentation; local 
agency and vendor application and agreement information; vendor sales 
and shelf price data; data related to vendor monitoring and training; 
financial and food delivery system records, and Electronic Benefits 
Transfer (EBT) delivery, alternate operating procedures in the event of 
an emergency period or supply-chain disruption, and remedies for infant 
formula cost containment contracts related to the changes in the rule. 
State Plans are the principal source of information about how each 
State agency operates its WIC Program. The information is needed for 
the general operation of the Program, including regulatory compliance, 
and for ongoing program integrity and cost-saving efforts. The 
information is also used by FNS to manage, plan, evaluate, make 
decisions, and report on WIC Program operations. If the information 
were not collected, the efficiency and effectiveness of the Program 
would be jeopardized, improper use of Federal funds would increase, and 
FNS' ability to detect violations would diminish greatly.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or Households; Businesses 
or Other for Profit; Not-for profit institutions; and State, Local, or 
Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 6,283,276.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Quarterly; Semi-
annually; Monthly; Annually; and as Needed.
    Total Burden Hours: 15,693,814.

Rachelle Ragland-Greene,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024-10421 Filed 5-10-24; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-30-P