[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 51 (Wednesday, March 16, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14080-14081]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-05893]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request--Application of Schools Applying for Recognition
Through HealthierUS School Challenge: Smarter Lunchrooms
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 collection is a new
collection for reviewing and evaluating the practices of schools
participating in both the National School Lunch and School Breakfast
Programs as a part of their application for recognition through
HealthierUS School Challenge: Smarter Lunchrooms. The goal is to
highlight and recognize those schools that are achieving success above
and beyond Federal meal pattern requirements in the areas of actively
implementing smarter lunchroom techniques, Smart Snacks, nutrition
education, physical education, local school wellness policies, and
other criteria for excellence.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before May 16, 2016.
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: Ebony James, Food and Nutrition Service,
U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 630,
Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may also be submitted via fax to the
attention of Ebony James at 703-305-2549 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 p.m. Monday through Friday) at 3101 Park Center Drive,
Room 630, 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 Ebony James
at 703-305-2827.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: HealthierUS School Challenge: Smarter Lunchrooms
Application.
Form Number: FNS-779.
OMB Number: Not Yet Assigned.
Expiration Date: Not Yet Determined.
Type of Request: New collection.
Abstract: The HealthierUS School Challenge (HUSSC), begun in 2004,
serves as a way to motivate and facilitate improvements in nutrition
and physical activity in schools by collecting and sharing best
practices. It also allows the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to
showcase schools that have made positive steps in advancing
implementation of wellness policies and the latest Dietary Guidelines
for
[[Page 14081]]
Americans and food guidance system. Research supports the use of both
incentives and the recognition of good work to promote positive
behavior and performance. Therefore, the foundation of the HealthierUS
School Challenge: Smarter Lunchrooms (HUSSC: SL) initiative is based on
four levels of excellence in nutrition and physical activity. Team
Nutrition schools that voluntarily submit applications for one of
HUSSC: SL's four levels of excellence, and meet the HUSSC: SL criteria,
receive an award plaque, banner, monetary incentive, and national and
community recognition of their accomplishments.
This information collection will inform how the Food and Nutrition
Service develops policy and technical assistance regarding the school
nutrition environment. Collective feedback from the schools submitting
application forms will inform FNS on what is actually being implemented
at the local level. An assessment of the information obtained from
schools will help FNS to better target efforts to design science-based
nutrient standards for school meals, develop training and nutrition
education materials in support of Federal child nutrition programs,
plan for program enhancements, and share descriptive information about
best practices with other schools across the country; and will assist
those schools in planning and implementing their own feasible, results-
oriented practices. Ultimately, the information on the application
forms will help FNS better meet the needs of its customers, strengthen
the development of policy directed toward the administration's interest
in eliminating childhood obesity and food insecurity, and enhance the
health and nutritional status of the US population.
This application is currently approved under OMB Control No. 0584-
0524 Generic Clearance to Conduct Formative Research (which expires
June 30, 2016). FNS is now seeking approval for this application in its
own information collection.
Affected Public: State, Local, and Tribal Government. Respondent
groups identified include school and school district representatives.
Estimated Number of Respondents: FNS anticipates that 1,000 school
or school district representatives will voluntarily submit HealthierUS
School Challenge: Smarter Lunchrooms applications over a one year
period (see chart).
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: The school or
district representative will be asked to participate in completing one
application form.
Estimated Total Annual Responses: 1,000.
Estimated Time per Response: 2 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2,000 hours.
See the table below for estimated total annual burden for the
respondents.
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Estimated
Estimated Responses Total annual average Estimated
Respondent number of annually per responses number of total hours
respondents respondent (Col. bxc) hours per (Col. dxe)
response
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Reporting Burden
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School or School District 1,000 1 1,000 2 2,000
Representative.................
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Total Reporting Burden...... 1,000 .............. 1,000 .............. 2,000
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Dated: March 8, 2016.
Audrey Rowe,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-05893 Filed 3-15-16; 8:45 am]
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