Notice2023-26659
Agency Information Collection Activities: Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP)-Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden
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Published
December 5, 2023
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentFood and Nutrition Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 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 for the reporting and recordkeeping burden associated with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) regulations.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 232 (Tuesday, December 5, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 232 (Tuesday, December 5, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 84297-84300]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-26659]
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Notices
Federal Register
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 232 / Tuesday, December 5, 2023 /
Notices
[[Page 84297]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection Activities: Special Supplemental
Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Farmers'
Market Nutrition Program (FMNP)--Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden
AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), Department of Agriculture
(USDA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA),
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 for the reporting and
recordkeeping burden associated with the Special Supplemental Nutrition
Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Farmers' Market
Nutrition Program (FMNP) regulations.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before February 5, 2024.
ADDRESSES: The Food and Nutrition Service, USDA, invites interested
persons to submit written comment.
<bullet> Preferred Method: Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a> and follow the online instructions for submitting
comments electronically.
<bullet> Mail: Allison Post, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, 1320 Braddock Place, Room 328, Alexandria,
VA 22302.
<bullet> Email: Send email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ec8d8080859f8382c29c839f98ac999f888dc28b839a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="355459595c465a5b1b455a464175404651541b525a43">[email protected]</span></a>.
All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the
request for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 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 Allison
Post at 703-457-7708.
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 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: Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants,
and Children (WIC) Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP)--Reporting
and Recordkeeping Burden.
Form Number: FNS-683B (under OMB Control Number 0584-0594) is
associated with this collection.
OMB Number: 0584-0447.
Expiration Date: August 31, 2024.
Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Abstract: The WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) is
associated with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women,
Infants, and Children, also known as WIC. WIC provides supplemental
foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education at no cost to
low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding post-partum
individuals, infants, and children up to 5 years of age at nutritional
risk. The purpose of FMNP is to provide fresh, nutritious, unprepared,
locally grown fruits and vegetables through farmers' markets and
roadside stands to WIC participants, and to expand awareness and use
of, and sales at, farmers' markets and roadside stands. Currently, FMNP
operates through State health departments in 41 States, 7 Indian Tribal
Organizations, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin
Islands.
Section 17(m)(8) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C.
1786(m)(8)), and FMNP regulations at 7 CFR part 248 require that
certain program-related information be collected and that full and
complete records concerning FMNP operations are maintained. The
information reporting and recordkeeping burdens are necessary to ensure
appropriate and efficient management of FMNP. The burden activities
that are covered by this Information Collection Request (ICR) include
requirements that involve the authorization and monitoring of State
agencies; the certification of FMNP participants; the nutrition
education that is provided to participants; farmer and market
authorization, monitoring, and management; and financial and
participation data.
State Plans are the principal source of information about how each
State agency operates FMNP. Information from participants and local
agencies is collected through State agency-developed forms or
Management Information Systems (MIS). The information collected is used
by the Department of Agriculture/Food and Nutrition Service to manage,
plan, evaluate, make decisions and report on FMNP operations. Along
with State Plans, State agencies also submit the Federal-State
Supplemental Nutrition Programs Agreements (FNS-339), for which the
associated reporting and recordkeeping burden is approved under OMB
Control Number: 0584-0332, Expiration Date: 06/30/2025. Additionally,
FMNP financial and participation data are collected using the WIC
Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) Annual Financial and Program
Data Report (FNS 683B), for which the form and its associated reporting
burden are approved under OMB Control Number: 0584-0594 Food Programs
Reporting System (FPRS), Expiration Date: 09/30/2026. Recordkeeping
burden associated with form FNS 683B is not approved under OMB Control
Number 0584-0594. State agencies must maintain records in order to
support data reported in FPRS, and the recordkeeping burden for such
record maintenance is captured in this ICR, OMB Control Number: 0584-
0447.
This information collection is requesting a revision in the burden
hours due to program changes resulting from FMNP State agencies
transitioning from paper coupon systems to electronic benefit systems,
as well as one existing requirement that has been in use
[[Page 84298]]
without PRA approval. The requested revisions in this information
collection also reflect program adjustments to account for changes in
the number of FMNP participants, FMNP authorized outlets, and FMNP
State and local agencies.
The currently approved burden for this collection is 1,640,906
hours. FNS estimates the new burden at 1,175,580 burden hours, which is
a decrease of 465,326 hours. The currently approved total annual
responses are 4,909,194. FNS estimates the new number of responses at
4,148,625, which is a decrease of 760,569 total annual responses.
Affected Public: Individuals/Households, Business or Other For
Profit; Not For Profit; State, Local, and Tribal Government. Respondent
groups identified include: (1) FMNP participants who are women,
infants, and children participating in the WIC Program; (2) authorized
FMNP outlets which are farmers, farmers' markets, and roadside stands;
(3) nonprofit businesses operating as local agencies; and (4) local and
State agencies (including geographic States, U.S. Territories, and
Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs)) administering FMNP.
Estimated Number of Respondents: The total estimated number of
respondents is 1,351,492. This includes 51 State agencies, 769 local
agencies, 1,330,746 individuals/households (FMNP participants), 329
nonprofit businesses, and 19,597 authorized FMNP outlets (farmers,
farmers' markets, roadside stands).
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: The total estimated
number of responses per respondent for this collection is 3.07.
Estimated Total Annual Responses: 4,148,625. The estimated total
for reporting is 2,814,962 while the estimate total for recordkeeping
is 1,333,663.
Estimated Time per Response: The estimated time per response
averages approximately 17 minutes (0.28 hours) for all respondents. For
the reporting burden, the estimated time per response varies from 3
minutes to 40 hours, while the estimated time per response for the
recordkeeping burden varies from 10 minutes to 40 hours, depending on
the requirement.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,175,580 hours. The
estimated total reporting burden is 839,123 hours while the estimated
total recordkeeping burden is 336,457 hours.
See the table below for the estimated total annual burden for each
type of respondent.
Estimate of the Collection of Information Burden Table
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Estimated Annual
Regulatory section Information collected Form(s) number of responses per Total annual Hours per Total annual
respondents respondent responses response burden hours
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REPORTING BURDEN ESTIMATES
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Affected Public: STATE & LOCAL AGENCIES (Including Indian Tribal Organizations and U.S. Territories)
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248.3(e), 246.5.................... Local Agency ........... 768.60 0.50 384.30 2.00 768.60
Applications.
248.4.............................. State Plan............ ........... 51.00 1.00 51.00 40.00 2,040.00
248.6, 248.10(i)................... Certification Data for ........... 51.00 26,093.06 1,330,746.00 0.25 332,686.50
Participants.
248.10(a)(2),(3),(b),(c)........... Authorization--Review ........... 51.00 192.13 9,798.50 0.25 2,449.63
of Outlet
Applications
(Farmers, Farmers'
Market, Roadside
Stand).
248.10(a)(4)(d).................... Face-to-Face Training ........... 51.00 1.00 51.00 8.00 408.00
Development.
248.10(a)(4)(d).................... Face-to-Face Training. ........... 51.00 15.00 765.00 2.00 1,530.00
248.10(b)(5)....................... Disqualification of ........... 5.00 1.00 5.00 0.08 0.42
Authorized Outlets.
248.10(d).......................... Annual Training for ........... 51.00 1.00 51.00 8.00 408.00
Authorized Outlets
Development.
248.10(d).......................... Annual Training for ........... 51.00 15.00 765.00 2.00 1,530.00
Authorized Outlets.
248.10(e)(2),(3); 248.17(c)(1)(i).. Monitoring/Review of ........... 51.00 38.43 1,959.70 1.50 2,939.55
Authorized Outlets.
248.10(e)(4); 248.17(c)(1)(ii)..... Monitoring/Review of ........... 51.00 10.76 549.00 2.00 1,098.00
Local Agencies.
248.10(f).......................... Coupon Management ........... 51.00 1.00 51.00 5.00 255.00
System.
248.10(h).......................... Coupon Reconciliation. ........... .............. .............. .............. .............. 115.50
248.10(h).......................... Paper Coupon ........... 26.00 1.00 26.00 3.00 78.00
Reconciliation.
248.10(h).......................... Electronic Benefit ........... 25.00 1.00 25.00 1.50 37.50
Reconciliation.
248.10(j).......................... Recipients and ........... 51.00 9.67 493.00 1.00 493.00
Authorized Outlet
Complaints.
248.10(k).......................... Farmer/farmers' market ........... 51.00 7.69 391.94 0.08 32.73
sanctions.
248.11(a).......................... Disclosure of ........... 51.00 1.00 51.00 10.00 510.00
Financial
Expenditures.
248.12(a)(2)....................... Prior approval for ........... 5.00 1.00 5.00 40.00 200.00
cost items per 2 CFR
part 200, subpart E,
and 2 CFR parts 400
and 415.
248.17(a).......................... Establishment of ME ........... 1.00 1.00 1.00 24.00 24.00
System.
248.17(b)(2)(ii)................... State Agency ........... 7.00 1.00 7.00 10.00 70.00
Corrective Action
Plan.
248.17(c)(2)....................... Special Reports....... ........... 2.00 1.00 2.00 10.00 20.00
248.18(b).......................... Audit Responses....... ........... 1.00 1.00 1.00 15.00 15.00
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[[Page 84299]]
Subtotal Reporting: State and ...................... ........... 819.60 1,642.48 1,346,179.44 0.26 347,593.92
Local Agencies (Including Indian
Tribal Organizations and U.S.
Territories).
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Affected Public: INDIVIDUALS/HOUSEHOLDS (Applicants for Program Benefits)
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248.6, 248.10(i)................... Certification Data for ........... 1,330,746.00 1.00 1,330,746.00 0.05 66,670.37
Participants.
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Subtotal Reporting: Individuals/ ...................... ........... 330,746.00 1.00 330,746.00 0.05 66,670.37
Households.
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Affected Public: Authorized Outlets (Farmers/Markets/Roadside Stands) and Businesses
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248.3(e), 246.5.................... Non-profit businesses ........... 329.40 0.50 164.70 2.00 329.40
Applications.
248.10(a)(4)(d).................... Face-to-Face Training. ........... 1,959.70 1.00 1,959.70 2.00 3,919.40
248.10(b)(1)(xi)................... Farmer/farmers' market ........... 493.00 1.00 493.00 0.50 246.50
complaints.
248.10(b),(c)...................... Authorized Outlet ........... 9,799 1.00 9,798.50 0.08 818.17
Agreements.
248.10(b)(5)....................... Appeal of Denial...... ........... 7.84 1.00 7.84 2.00 15.68
248.10(d).......................... Annual Training for ........... 17,637.30 1.00 17,637.30 2.00 35,274.60
Authorized Outlets.
248.10(e)(1)....................... Coupon Reimbursement.. ........... .............. .............. .............. .............. 384,254.90
248.10(e)(1)....................... Paper Coupon ........... 10,375 9.00 93,373.94 4.00 373,495.76
Reimbursement &
Electronic Benefit
Mail-In.
248.10(e)(1)....................... Electronic Benefit ........... 769 9.00 6,916.59 1.00 6,916.59
Reimbursement via
Hybrid Processing.
248.10(e)(1)....................... Electronic Benefit ........... 7,685 1.00 7,685.10 0.50 3,842.55
Reimbursement via
Electronic Processing.
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Subtotal Reporting: Authorized ...................... ........... 19,926.40 6.93 138,036.67 3.08 424,858.65
outlets.
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GRAND SUBTOTAL: REPORTING...... ...................... ........... 1,351,492.00 2.08 2,814,962.11 0.30 839,122.95
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RECORDKEEPING BURDEN ESTIMATES
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Affected Public: STATE & LOCAL AGENCIES (Including Indian Tribal Organizations and U.S. Territories)
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248.4(c)........................... State Plan Record ........... 51.00 1.00 51.00 0.17 8.52
Maintenance.
248.9.............................. Nutrition Education... ........... 51.00 26,093.06 1,330,746.00 0.25 332,686.50
248.10(a)(4),(d)................... Authorized Outlet ........... 51.00 1.00 51.00 2.00 102.00
Training Content.
248.10(b),(c)...................... Authorized Outlet ........... 51.00 1.00 51.00 2.00 102.00
Agreements.
248.10(b)(5)....................... Maintenance of ........... 51.00 1.00 51.00 0.17 8.52
Disqualification and
Sanction Records.
248.10(e)(2),(3); 248.17(c)(1)(i).. Monitoring and Review ........... 51.00 38.43 1,959.70 0.50 979.85
of Authorized Outlets.
248.10(e)(4); 248.17(c)(1)(ii)..... Monitoring/Review of ........... 51.00 10.76 549.00 0.50 274.50
Local Agencies.
248.11(c).......................... Record of Financial FNS-683B 51.00 1.00 51.00 2.00 102.00
Expenditures.
248.16(a).......................... Fair Hearings......... ........... 51.00 1.00 51.00 1.00 51.00
248.17(a).......................... Maintenance of ........... 51.00 1.00 51.00 2.00 102.00
Management
Evaluations.
248.23(a).......................... Record of Program ........... 51.00 1.00 51.00 40.00 2,040.00
Operations.
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GRAND SUBTOTAL: RECORDKEEPING.... ...................... ........... 51.00 26,150.25 1,333,662.70 0.25 336,456.88
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GRAND TOTAL: REPORTING AND ...................... ........... 1,351,492.00 3.07 4,148,624.81 0.28 1,175,579.83
RECORDKEEPING.
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Note: FNS-683B, OMB Control Number: 0584-0594 Food Programs Reporting System (FPRS), Expiration Date: 09/30/2026.
Summary Table
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Estimated avg.
Estimated number Responses per Total annual number of Estimated total
respondents respondent responses hours per hours (col. D x
response E)
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Total Reporting Burden...................................... 1,351,492.00 2.08 2,814,962.11 0.30 839,122.95
[[Page 84300]]
Total Recordkeeping Burden.................................. 51.00 26,150.25 1,333,662.70 0.25 336,456.88
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TOTAL BURDEN FOR #0584-0447............................. 1,351,492.00 3.07 4,148,624.81 0.28 1,175,579.83
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Tameka Owens,
Assistant Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-26659 Filed 12-4-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P
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