[Federal Register: April 7, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 65)]
[Notices]
[Page 15689-15690]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07ap09-14]
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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.
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[[Page 15689]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Economic Research Service
Notice of Intent To Request Revision and Extension of a Currently
Approved Information Collection
AGENCY: Economic Research Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) implementing regulations, this
notice announces the Economic Research Service's (ERS) intention to
request renewal of approval for an annual information collection on
supplemental food security questions in the Current Population Survey
(CPS), commencing with the December 2009 survey. These data will be
used: to monitor household-level food security and food insecurity in
the United States; to assess food security and changes in food security
for population subgroups; to assess the need for, and performance of,
domestic food assistance programs; to improve the measurement of food
security; and to provide information to aid in public policy
decisionmaking.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by June 11, 2009. to be
assured of consideration.
ADDRESSES: Address all comments concerning this notice to Mark Nord,
Food Assistance Branch, Food Economics Division, Economic Research
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1800 M Street, NW., Room N-
2180, Washington, DC 20036-5831. Submit electronic comments to
marknord@ers.usda.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, contact Mark
Nord at the address in the preamble. Tel. 202-694-5433.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Application for an Annual Food Security Supplement to the
Current Population Survey, Beginning in December 2009.
Type of Request: Approval to collect information on household food
insecurity.
OMB Number: 0536-0043.
Expiration Date: September 30, 2009.
Duration of Proposed Extension: 36 months, to September 30, 2012.
Abstract: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(Pub. L. 104-13) and OMB regulations at 5 CFR Part 1320 (60 FR 44978,
August 29, 1995), this notice announces the ERS intention to request
renewal of approval for an annual information collection. The U.S.
Census Bureau will supplement the December CPS, beginning in 2009, with
questions regarding household food shopping, use of food and nutrition
assistance programs, food sufficiency, and difficulties in meeting
household food needs. A similar supplement has been appended to the CPS
annually since 1995. The last collection was in December 2008.
Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Mark
Nord at the address in the preamble.
ERS is responsible for conducting studies and evaluations of the
Nation's food and nutrition assistance programs that are administered
by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), U.S. Department of
Agriculture. The Department currently spends about $60 billion each
year to ensure access to nutritious, healthful diets for all Americans.
The Food and Nutrition Service administers the 15 food assistance
programs of the USDA including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program (SNAP), formerly called the Food Stamp Program, the National
School Lunch Program, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program
for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). These programs, which serve 1
in 5 Americans, represent our Nation's commitment to the principle that
no one in our country should lack the food needed for an active,
healthy life. They provide a safety net to people in need. The
programs' goals are to provide needy persons with access to a more
nutritious diet, to improve the eating habits of the Nation's children,
and to help America's farmers by providing an outlet for the
distribution of food purchased under farmer assistance authorities.
The data collected by the food security supplement will be used to
monitor the prevalence of food security and the prevalence and severity
of food insecurity among the Nation's households. The prevalence of
these conditions as well as year-to-year trends in their prevalence
will be estimated at the national level and for population subgroups.
The data will also be used to monitor the amounts that households spend
for food and their use of community food pantries and emergency
kitchens. These statistics along with research based on the data will
be used to identify the causes and consequences of food insecurity, and
to assess the need for, and performance of, domestic food assistance
programs. The data will also be used to improve the measurement of food
security and to develop measures of additional aspects and dimensions
of food security. This consistent measurement of the extent and
severity of food insecurity will aid in policy decision-making.
The supplemental survey instrument was developed in conjunction
with food security experts nationwide as well as survey method experts
within the Census Bureau and was reviewed in 2006 by the Committee on
National Statistics of the National Research Council. This supplemental
information will be collected by both personal visit and telephone
interviews in conjunction with the regular monthly CPS interviewing.
All interviews, whether by personal visit or by telephone, are
conducted using computers.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this data
collection is estimated to average 7.6 minutes for each household that
responds to the labor force portion of the CPS. The estimate is based
on timing of questions in a pilot survey conducted during development
of the questionnaire and an analysis of the number of households that
were asked each series of questions in recent survey years.
Respondents: Individuals or households.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 54,400.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 6,915 hours.
Comments: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed
collection of information is necessary for the proper
[[Page 15690]]
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; (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. Comments should be sent to the address in the preamble. All
responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request
for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of public
record.
Dated: March 20, 2009.
John R. Kort,
Acting Administrator, Economic Research Service.
[FR Doc. E9-7715 Filed 4-6-09; 8:45 am]
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