[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 159 (Wednesday, August 17, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 50993]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-20945]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request--Generic Clearance to Conduct Methodological Testing,
Surveys, Focus Groups, and Related Tools To Improve the Management of
Federal Nutrition Assistance Programs
AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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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 information collection
will conduct research by methodological testing, surveys, focus groups,
and related tools to assess program performance, respond to the needs
of policymakers, and develop innovative approaches that bear on the
practical operations, management, and impact of Federal nutrition
assistance programs.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before October 17, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection
of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions
of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions that were used; (c) ways to enhance the
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and
(d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on
those who are to respond, including use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
Comments may be sent to: Kevin Kwon, Food and Nutrition Service,
U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 1020,
Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may also be submitted via fax to the
attention of Kevin Kwon at 703-605-0800 or via e-mail to
[email protected]. Comments will also be accepted through the
Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to http://www.regulations.gov, and
follow the online instructions for submitting comments electronically.
All written comments will be open for public inspection at the
office of the Food and Nutrition Service during regular business hours
(8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday) at 3101 Park Center Drive,
Room 500, Alexandria, Virginia 22302.
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 Kevin Kwon
at 703-605-0800.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Generic Clearance to Conduct Methodological Testing,
Surveys, Focus Groups, and Related Tools to Improve the Management of
Federal Nutrition Assistance Programs.
OMB Number: 0584-New.
Expiration Date: Not Yet Determined.
Type of Request: New Collection.
Abstract: This generic clearance for information collection is
necessary to obtain input from recipients and those persons eligible
for FNS nutrition assistance programs, State and local staff
administering FNS programs, FNS stakeholders and consumers, and other
interested parties in order to assess program performance in the
administration of FNS nutrition assistance programs, respond to the
needs of policymakers making decisions on policy issues, and develop
innovative approaches that bear on the practical operations,
management, and impact of Federal nutrition assistance programs.
The methodological testing will include data collections for
pretesting activities and methods (e.g., cognitive interviews,
exploratory interviews, respondent debriefing, pilot surveys) to
quickly test and implement new questions for research studies that
often arise to address FNS policy issues or emerging programmatic
needs. The generic clearance will also be used for collections for
formative research for FNS programs using tools and methods such as:
focus groups, interviews, surveys, and web-based collection tools.
Respondents: Recipients and those persons eligible for FNS
nutrition assistance programs, State and local staff administering FNS
programs, FNS stakeholders and consumers, and other interested parties.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 80,000.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: One.
Estimated Total Annual Responses: 80,000.
Estimated Time per Response: 45 minutes (0.75 hours).
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 60,000 hours.
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Estimated Responses Estimated total Estimated avg.
Respondent Number of annually per annual Number of hours Estimated total
respondents respondent responses per response hours
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Total reporting burden............................................. 80,000 1 80,000 0.75 60,000
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Dated: July 29, 2011.
Audrey Rowe,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-20945 Filed 8-16-11; 8:45 am]
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