[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 138 (Friday, July 18, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41954-41957]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-16914]
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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. 79, No. 138 / Friday, July 18, 2014 /
Notices
[[Page 41954]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection Activities: Notice of Emergency
Approval of New Information Collection for Examination of Cash
Nutrition Assistance Program (NAP) Benefits in Puerto Rico
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 announces FNS' intention to request emergency approval from the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and invites the general public
and other public agencies to comment on this proposed information
collection. This is a new collection for Examination of Cash Nutrition
Assistance Program Benefits in Puerto Rico.
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 the use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical or other technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
Written comments may be sent to Richard Lucas, Office of Policy
Support, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
3101 Park Center Drive, Room 1014, Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may
also be submitted via fax to the attention of Richard Lucas at 703-305-
2576 or via email 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 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday) at 3101 Park Center
Drive, Room 1014, Alexandria, VA 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.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before September 16,
2014.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of this information collection should be directed to Richard
Lucas at 703-305-2017.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Examination of Cash Nutrition Assistance Program Benefits in
Puerto Rico.
OMB Number: 0584--NEW.
Expiration Date: Not yet determined.
Type of Request: Emergency request for a new collection.
Abstract
The Nutrition Assistance Program (NAP) is a critical Federal
Government assistance program provided to low-income residents of
Puerto Rico. Since July 1982, Puerto Rico has operated NAP from Federal
funds received as a block grant. In late 2001, Puerto Rico developed an
electronic benefit transfer (EBT) system and mandated that 75 percent
of a household's monthly benefit be restricted to the EBT system for
purchasing eligible food items at certified retailers. The remaining 25
percent of the monthly benefit may be issued in the form of cash to
allow participants a way to purchase food from retailers not certified
to accept EBT.
In early 2014, Congress reauthorized the Food and Nutrition Act of
2008 in the Agricultural Act of 2014 (Pub. L. 113-79), commonly known
as the 2014 Farm Bill, which included a provision for the gradual
discontinuation of the cash portion of the NAP benefit until, by FY
2021, no benefits in the form of cash will be issued (Section 4025).
The legislation also required a review of NAP cash benefits in Puerto
Rico, including the history and purpose of the cash portion, barriers
to redeeming the non-cash portion, and usage of cash benefits for the
purchase of non-food items. Additionally, it required an assessment of
the potential adverse effects of discontinuing the cash portion for
both participants and retailers, and allows the Secretary of
Agriculture to exempt participants or categories of participants if the
review finds that the discontinuation of cash benefits is likely to
have significant adverse effects.
This study performs the required assessment of the cash portion of
benefits received under NAP in Puerto Rico. The specific research
objectives are to:
Objective 1: Review the history and purpose of distributing a
portion of monthly benefits in the form of cash
Objective 2: Examine the barriers to the redemption of non-
cash benefits by both program participants and retailers
Objective 3: Examine the current usage of cash benefits for
the purchase of non-food and other prohibited items
Objective 4: Identify and assess the potential adverse effects
of the discontinuation of cash benefits for both program participants
and retailers
Primary data collected from NAP participants, NAP-certified and
uncertified retailers, community-based organizations (CBOs), and group
residential facilities will be analyzed to assess barriers to redeeming
the non-cash portion of the benefit, use of the cash portion of the
benefit, and potential adverse effects on participants and retailers
from eliminating the cash portion of the benefit.
The information collection includes the following components:
A telephone survey with NAP participants,
Focus groups with NAP participants,
In-person (semi-structured) interviews with certified and
uncertified retailers,
In-person (semi-structured) interviews with directors of
community-based organizations that work with NAP participants, and
[[Page 41955]]
In-person (semi-structured) interviews with directors of
residential facilities where NAP participants live
Affected Public
Respondent groups identified include: (1) NAP participants across
Puerto Rico; (2) managers or owners of food stores (retailers) across
Puerto Rico; (3) directors of CBOs, and (4) directors/managers of group
residential facilities.
Estimated Number of Respondents
The total estimated number of respondents is 1,467. This includes
1,000 NAP participants for telephone surveys (75 percent of whom will
complete surveys); 396 NAP participants for the focus groups (41
percent of whom will attend the focus groups); and 60 retailers (30
certified and 30 uncertified) for the in-person semi-structured
interviews (50 percent of whom will complete interviews). Also included
are 6 CBO directors and 5 directors/managers of group residential
facilities.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent
All respondents (NAP participants, retailers, and CBO and group
residential facility directors) will respond once, either to one
telephone survey, one focus group, or one in-person interview. In
addition, all respondents will be contacted with an advance letter, and
will receive recruitment phone calls.
Estimated Total Annual Responses
The estimated total annual responses is 4,475, including contacts
with an advance letter, initial recruitment phone calls, follow-up
phone calls, and completed surveys, focus groups, and interviews.
The 4,475 responses are based on the sum of 2,659 successful
contacts or completed surveys, focus groups, and interviews, and 1,816
attempted contacts, surveys, and interviews.
Estimated Time per Response
Response times may vary from 0.05 hours to 1.5 hours depending on
actual activity and respondent group. The estimated time per interview
ranges from 0.18 hours to 1.5 hours, depending on respondent group and
interview mode.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents
The estimated total annual burden on respondents is 599.08 hours
(including recruitment communications and completed and attempted
interviews and surveys). See the table below for estimated total annual
burden for each type of respondent.
BILLING CODE: 3410-30-P
[[Page 41956]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN18JY14.000
[[Page 41957]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN18JY14.001
Dated: July 14, 2014.
Audrey Rowe,
FNS Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-16914 Filed 7-17-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-C