2019-01615. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

February 5, 2019.

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 are requested regarding (1) 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; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) 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.

Comments regarding this information collection received by March 11, 2019 will be considered. Written comments 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. 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: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program—Store Applications.

OMB Control Number: 0584-0008.

Summary of Collection: Section 9(a) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 as amended, (7 U.S.C. 2018 et seq.) requires that the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) provide for the submission of applications for approval by retailers, wholesalers, meal service providers, certain types of group homes, shelters, and state-contracted restaurants that wish to participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Program (SNAP). FNS is responsible for reviewing the application in order to determine whether or not applicants meet eligibility requirements, and make determinations whether to grant or deny authorization to accept and redeem SNAP benefits. FNS will collect information using forms FNS-252, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Application for Store, FNS-252-E, On line Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Application for Store, FNS 252-2, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Meal Service Application, FNS-252-C, Corporate Supplemental Application, and FNS 252-R, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Stores Reauthorization and FNS-252FE, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Farmer's Market Application.

Need and Use of the Information: FNS will collect information to determine the eligibility of retail food stores, wholesale food concern, and food service organizations applying for authorization to accept and redeem SNAP benefits and to monitor these firms for continued eligibility, and to sanction stores for noncompliance with the Act, and for Program management. Disclosure of information other than Employer Identification Numbers and Social Security Numbers may be made to Federal and State law enforcement or investigative agencies or instrumentalities administering or enforcing specified Federal or State laws, or regulations issued under those laws. Without the information on the application or reauthorization application, the consequence to the Federal program is the Agency's reduced ability to effectively monitor accountability for program compliance and to detect fraud and abuse would be severely jeopardized.

Description of Respondents: Business for-and-not-for-profit, Farms; Federal Military Commissaries.

Number of Respondents: 143,357.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.

Total Burden Hours: 20,004.

Food and Nutrition Service

Title: Evaluation of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Employment and Training (E&T) Pilots.

OMB Control Number: 0584-0604.

Summary of Collection: The SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) program provides assistance to unemployed and underemployed clients in the form of job search, job skills training, education (basic, post-secondary, vocational), work experience or training and workfare. The Agriculture Act of 2014 (Pub. L. 113-79, Section 4022), authorized grants for up to 10 pilot sites to develop and rigorously test innovative SNAP E&T strategies for engaging more SNAP work registrants in employment, increasing participants' earnings and reducing reliance on public assistance.

Need and Use of the Information: An evaluation of the pilot sites will be critical in helping Congress and FNS identify strategies that effectively assist SNAP participants to succeed in the labor market and become self-sufficient. The data collected for this evaluation will be used for implementation, impact, participant and cost-benefit analyses for each pilot site.

Description of Respondents: Individual/Households; Business for-not-for-Profit; State, Local, or Tribal Government.

Number of Respondents: 53,830.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.

Total Burden Hours: 17,965.

Ruth Brown,

Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.