[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 1 (Monday, January 4, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 71]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-34753]
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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. 64, No. 1 / Monday, January 4, 1999 /
Notices
[[Page 71]]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request--Survey of States on Their School Meals Initiative
(SMI) Reviews
AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is publishing for public comment a
summary of a proposed information collection. FNS wishes to examine
whether data currently collected by States can be used to devise a
nationwide estimate of the nutrient content of the meals that are
offered under the school meals programs. Obtaining this estimate is
necessary for FNS to monitor progress toward goals in its strategic
plan.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by March 5, 1999 to be
assured of consideration.
ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposed collection of information to
Matthew Sinn; Food and Nutrition Service; 3101 Park Center Drive; Room
208; Alexandria, VA 22302-1500. 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 will 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
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
through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information
technology.
When FNS requests approval for this information collection from the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), FNS will provide OMB with all
comments received. All comments will thus become public documents.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matthew Sinn, (703) 305-2133.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Survey of States on their School Meals Initiative Reviews.
OMB Number: Not yet assigned.
Expiration Date: N/A.
Type of Request: New collection of information.
Abstract: The Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food and Nutrition
Service (FNS) wishes to examine whether certain data currently
collected by States can be used to devise a nationwide estimate of
FNS's progress toward a goal in its strategic plan. The goal is that
school meals be consistent with the Recommended Daily Allowances (RDA)
and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, i.e., the nutritional
standards for school meals that were recently established by USDA's
School Meals Initiative (SMI).
SMI is the umbrella term for all efforts and activities associated
with updating the nutritional standards for school meals served
pursuant to the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs.
The primary goal of SMI was to make the nutritional standards for these
meals consistent with the latest scientific evidence on proper
nutrition for children. The legislative and regulatory history of SMI
began when USDA published a proposed rule on June 10, 1994 (59 FR
30218), and culminated when the President signed the Healthy Meals for
Children Act (Public Law 104-149) into law on May 29, 1996. The
operational implementation of SMI began soon after and is ongoing.
States are required to assess nutritional compliance with school
meals requirements of all their school food authorities (SFAs) (the
legal entities, typically school districts, that operate the USDA
school meals programs in schools). This proposed data collection is
intended to inform FNS of the specific data States are collecting in
their school meals nutrition compliance reviews so that FNS can
determine whether this data is in such a form that it would allow FNS
to derive from it national estimates of the nutrient content of meals
analyzed in the reviews. This data collection will not ask States to
provide their review data; rather, it will only ask States about the
disposition and contents of their review data, where it is maintained,
and how it is maintained (on paper, electronically, etc.).
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average 45 minutes per State.
Respondents: Respondents will be the persons or person in each
State most knowledgeable of the specifics of school meals nutrition
compliance reviews in that State.
Estimated Number of Respondents: There will be 51 respondents for
the survey: the 48 contiguous States, Hawaii, Alaska, and the District
of Columbia.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: One.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 38 hours.
Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Matthew
Sinn, Food and Nutrition Service, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 208,
Alexandria, VA 22302-1500.
Dated: December 14, 1998.
Samuel Chambers, Jr.,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 98-34753 Filed 12-31-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P
