E8-23249. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

September 29, 2008.

The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments regarding (a) Whether the 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 burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (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 should be addressed to: Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), [e-mail] or fax [phone] and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-7602. Comments regarding these information collections are best assured of having their full effect if received within 30 days of this notification. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling [phone].

An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information that such persons are not required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

Food and Nutrition Service

Title: Waivers Under Section 6(o) of the Food Stamp Act.

OMB Control Number: 0584-0479.

Summary of Collection: Section 824 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Pub. L. 104-193 (PRWORA) establishes a time limit for the receipt of food stamp benefits for certain able-bodied adults who are not working. The provision authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture, upon a State agency's request, to waiver the provision for any group of individuals if the Secretary determines “that the areas in which the individuals reside has an unemployment rate of over 10 percent or does not have a sufficient number of jobs to provide employment for the individuals.”

Need and Use of the Information: The Food and Nutrition Service use the information provided by State food stamp agencies to evaluate whether the statutory requirements for a waiver of the food stamp time limit have been met and to determine specifically whether the designated areas' unemployment rate is over ten percent or if there is a lack of sufficient jobs available. If the information is not collected, the State Food Stamp agencies could not obtain waivers of time limits contained in Section 6(o) of the Act.

Description of Respondents: State, Local, or Tribal Government; Individuals or household; Federal Government.

Number of Respondents: 53.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion, Annually.

Total Burden Hours: 1,680.

Ruth Brown,

Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.