[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 135 (Tuesday, July 15, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37861-37862]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-18467]
========================================================================
Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
========================================================================
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 135 / Tuesday, July 15, 1997 /
Notices
[[Page 37861]]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Consumer Service
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request--Food Distribution Regulations and Forms
AGENCY: Food and Consumer Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces the Food and Consumer Services's (FCS) intention to
request an extension and revision of a currently approved information
collection, the Food Distribution Regulations and Forms.
DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by September
15, 1997.
ADDRESS: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
the agency, including whether the information has practical utility;
(b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the
collection of information, including the validity of the methodology
and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and
clarity of the information now collected; and (d) ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information on those who respond, including
through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information
technology. Comments may be sent to: Lillie F. Ragan, Assistant Branch
Chief, Household Programs Section, Food Distribution Division, Food and
Consumer Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center
Drive, Alexandria, Virginia 22302-1594.
All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the
request for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval. All
comments will also become a matter of public record.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection forms should be directed to Lillie
F. Ragan, (703) 305-2673.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Food Distribution Regulations and Forms.
Number: 0584-0293.
Expiration Date: 9-30-97.
Type of Request: Revision of a Currently Approved Information
Collection.
Abstract: Under several legislative authorities, the Food and
Consumer Service, Food Distribution Division, assists American farmers,
needy people, and all children participating in child nutrition
programs by distributing commodities acquired by other agencies within
the Department. The commodities help meet the nutritional needs of: (a)
Children from preschool age through high school in child nutrition
programs and in nonprofit summer camps; (b) needy persons in households
on Indian reservations that are participating in the Food Distribution
Program on Indian Reservations, and Indian households residing in
Oklahoma; (c) needy households in the Pacific Islands; (d) needy
persons served by charitable institutions; (e) elderly participants in
nutrition programs for the elderly; (f) pregnant and breastfeeding
women, infants, and children and elderly persons participating in the
Commodity Supplemental Food Program; (g) low-income, unemployed, and
homeless persons receiving donated foods or congregate meals through
organizations participating in the Emergency Food Assistance Program;
(h) preschool and school age children, elderly and functionally
impaired adults enrolled in centers participating in the Child and
Adult Day Care Food Program; and (i) persons receiving food assistance
as a result of presidentially-declared disasters or situations of
distress.
The above described programs are administered under the following
parts of Title 7 of the Federal Code of Regulations: Part 240, Cash in
lieu of Donated Foods; 247, Commodity Supplemental Food Program; 250,
Donation of Foods for use in the United States, its Territories and
Possessions and Areas under its Jurisdiction; 251, the Emergency Food
Assistance Program; 252, National Commodity Processing Program; 253,
Administration of the Food Distribution Program for Households on
Indian Reservations; and 254, Administration of the Food Distribution
Program for Indian Households in Oklahoma.
For programs administered under these regulations, Distributing
agencies and local organizations collect, prepare and submit to FCS and
to distributing agencies a wide range of financial and commodity
accountability reports and plans of operation. These reports and plans
of operation are necessary to FCS for the ordering and distribution of
commodities and the provision of Federal administrative funds to
agencies administering these programs. Additionally, these
organizations are required to maintain accurate and complete records of
all their activities under these parts with regard to the receipt,
distribution/disposal and inventory of donated foods, and with respect
to any funds which arise from the operation of the distribution
program. Such records must be maintained for three years from the close
of the fiscal year to which they pertain; however, in instances where
there is claims action or audit findings which have not been resolved
they must be maintained as long as needed.
Comments are requested on the extension of the approval for the
following forms contained under OMB No. 0584-0293: FCS-7, Destination
Data for Delivery of Donated Foods; FCS-52, Food Requisition--Donated
Food and State Distribution; FCS-53, Multi-Commodity Food Requisition;
FCS-57, Report of Shipment Received, Over, Short and/or Damaged; FCS-
152, Monthly Distribution of Donated Foods to Family Units; FCS-153,
Monthly Report of the Commodity Supplemental Food Program and Quarterly
Administrative Financial Status Report; FCS-155, Inventory Management
Register; FCS-513, National Commodity Processing Agreement; FCS-153A,
National Commodity Processing Agreement End Product Data Schedule; FCS-
516, National Commodity Processing System Post Card; FCS-519A and B,
National Commodity Processing Monthly Performance Report; FCS-586A and
B, Report of Meals Served--State and Indian Agencies on Aging;
[[Page 37862]]
and FCS-663, Commodity Acceptability Report. Additionally, comments are
requested with regard to other program reporting requirements that do
not require specific forms. Examples include, but are not limited to
the submission of State plans, applications by local agencies, and
audit responses.
Comments are also requested regarding the following changes in the
reporting and recordkeeping burden requirements:
An adjustment in the reporting and recordkeeping requirements as a
result of the publication of the proposed rule ``Food Distribution
Programs--Reduction of the Paperwork Burden'', on March 14, 1997 (62 FR
12108), and a final rule entitled ``Food Assistance in Disaster and
Distress Situations'' (62 FR 8361) which was published on February 25,
1997.
A reduction in the frequency in which State plans must be submitted
in the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). This change resulted
from the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1966 (P.L.
104-193) which now requires that plans be submitted every four years
rather than annually.
A reduction in burden hours resulting from the discontinuance of
processing bonus commodities under the National Commodity Processing
(NCP) system. Although NCP was reauthorized through Fiscal Year 2002 by
Section 405 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of
1996, P.L. 104-127, the availability of bonus commodities is greatly
reduced and not expected to be available for processing under NCP in
the near future.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average 10 minutes or less to 150 hours per
response, including the time to review instructions, search existing
data sources, gather the data needed, and complete and review the
information collection.
Respondents: Distributing agencies, subdistributing agencies, and
recipient agencies; warehouses, food storage facilities, and
transportation companies; commodity food processors and food service
management companies.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 396,893 respondents.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 2.3.
Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 918,862.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,157,508 hours.
Dated: July 3, 1997.
William E. Ludwig,
Administrator, Food and Consumer Service.
[FR Doc. 97-18467 Filed 7-14-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P
