Notice2023-21415
Agency Information Collection Activities: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Retailer Applications
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
September 29, 2023
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentFood and Nutrition Service
Abstract
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 revision of a currently approved collection. FNS seeks OMB approval for the burden associated with SNAP application forms and other document requests that are necessary to effectively administer a large population of retailers, varied in type and scope, and ensure that these retailers remain in compliance with program requirements.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 188 (Friday, September 29, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 188 (Friday, September 29, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67226-67228]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-21415]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection Activities: Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP) Retailer Applications
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 revision
of a currently approved collection. FNS seeks OMB approval for the
burden associated with SNAP application forms and other document
requests that are necessary to effectively administer a large
population of retailers, varied in type and scope, and ensure that
these retailers remain in compliance with program requirements.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before November 28,
2023.
ADDRESSES: The Food and Nutrition Service, USDA, invites interested
persons to submit written comments on this information collection.
Comments may be submitted in writing by one of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>.
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments electronically.
Mail: Comments should be addressed to Marga Ortiz, Chief, Retailer
Policy Branch, Retailer Policy Division, Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program, 1320 Braddock Place, Alexandria, Virginia 22314.
FNS will summarize all responses to this notice and include them 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 Marga Ortiz
at 703-305-2546.
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
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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: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Store
Applications.
Form Numbers: FNS-252; FNS-252-E; FNS-252-FE; FNS-252-R; FNS-252-2;
and FNS-252-C.
OMB Control Number: 0584-0008.
Expiration Date: 1/31/2024.
Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Abstract:
Section 9(a) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended (7
U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) (the Act), requires that FNS determine the
eligibility of retail food stores and certain food service
organizations to accept SNAP benefits, and to monitor them for
compliance purposes and continued eligibility. FNS is also responsible
for requiring updates to application information and reviewing retail
food store applications at least once every five years to ensure that
each firm is under the same ownership and continues to meet eligibility
requirements. FNS relies on the information obtained from applicants to
ensure that each retailer continues to meet SNAP eligibility
requirements and effectuate the purposes of the program. The forms and
other instruments in this information collection are voluntary;
however, a retailer may not participate in SNAP without completing an
application for FNS approval.
There are six forms associated with this approved Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) information collection number 0584-0008--
the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Application for Stores,
Forms FNS-252 (English and Spanish) and FNS-252-E (paper and online
version respectively); Farmer's Market Application, Form FNS-252-FE;
Meal Service Application, Form FNS-252-2;Reauthorization Application,
Form FNS-252-R (form mailed or available electronically); and the
Corporation Supplemental Application, Form FNS-252-C used for
individual (chain) stores under a corporation. For new authorizations,
the majority of applicants use form FNS-252 or FNS-252-E (paper or
online, respectively). FNS-252-E and FNS-252-FE are true online forms
with a different format than the paper version. For reauthorization,
form FNS-252-R is used. It is available as a paper form and online in
the exact same format as the paper form.
In addition to these forms, during new authorization or
reauthorization, FNS may conduct an on-site store visit of the firm.
The store visit of the firm helps FNS confirm that the information
provided on an application is correct. An FNS representative or store
visit contractor obtains permission to complete the store visit
checklist, photograph the store and asks the store owner or manager
about the continued ownership of the store. Previous submissions
estimated that the retailer spent one minute interacting with the FNS
representative or contractor during the store visit. Under this
proposed revision, FNS is increasing the estimate to 10 minutes, which
we believe is a more accurate estimate of the time the retailer must
spend with the FNS representative or contractor.
Applicants using form FNS-252-E, FNS-252-FE, or electronically
accessing FNS-252-R must self-register for a Level 1 access account
through the USDA eAuthentication system prior to starting an online
application. USDA eAuthentication facilitates the electronic
authentication of an individual. Previous submissions included
authorization applicants using FNS-252-E and FNS-252-FE but did not
include burden estimates for electronic reauthorization applicants
registering for eAuthentication access to complete FNS-252-R.
Respondents using the electronic version of FNS-252-R are included
under the proposed revision, in Table A below.
We are also taking this opportunity to more accurately reflect the
burden hours for FNS-252-E and FNS-252-FE by accounting in this notice
for time to gather documents. During the preparation of the last
submission under Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control Number
0584-0008, FNS consulted with stakeholders who commented that the
burden for gathering information and completing the previous paper form
FNS-252 was between 60 to 90 minutes. The Agency used this information
to adjust the burden estimate for the paper version, FNS-252, but
inadvertently failed to apply it to the electronic forms, FNS-252-E and
FNS-252-FE, in the last submission. In Table A, below, we estimate 60
minutes per response for the FNS-252-E and FNS-252-FE and 90 minutes
per response for the paper FNS-252, to account for time gathering
documents.
We estimate that the average hours per response across all
applications for this revised information collection will be 0.54,
which is 32.1 minutes. This is an increase of .38 hours compared to the
Agency's previous notice under OMB Control Number 0584-0008. The
increase is due to our revision of estimated response times to more
accurately reflect the burden on respondents, especially the increased
estimated response time for the FNS-252-E.
FNS used Fiscal Year 2022 data in our calculations of burden
estimates associated with this information collection as this was the
most complete data available to us at this time. Table A below
clarifies the burden of this information collection. The hours per
response vary by the type of application used from 8 minutes to 1.5
hours. There are no recordkeeping, third-party or public disclosure
burdens associated with the information collection.
Reporting
Affected Public: For-profit businesses; retail food stores;
farmers' markets; military commissaries; and meal services.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 55,708.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.7.
Estimated Total Annual Responses: 95,038.3.
Estimated Time per Response: 0.54 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 50,857.1 hours.
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P
[[Page 67228]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN29SE23.002
Tameka Owens,
Assistant Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-21415 Filed 9-28-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-C
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