Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Form FNS-259, Food Stamp Mail Issuance Report

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service

Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;

Comment Request; Form FNS-259, Food Stamp Mail Issuance Report

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A), as amended by

Section 2 of Pub. L. 104-13, the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this

notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment

on the proposed information collections. This notice announces the Food

and Nutrition Service's (FNS) intention to request that the Office of

Management and Budget (OMB) review and approve the agency's proposal to

continue requiring the use of the Form FNS-259, Food Stamp Mail

Issuance Report, for another 3 years. Section 7 of the Food Stamp Act

of 1977 (the Act), 7 U.S.C. 2016, requires that coupons be issued only

to households which have been duly certified as eligible to participate

in the Program; that Program benefits are timely distributed in the

correct amounts; and that mail issued benefits and mail issuance

reconciliation activities are properly conducted and accurately

reported to FNS.

DATES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed

information collection must be received by September 15, 1998 to be

assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: 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 has practical utility;

(b) the accuracy of the estimated burden that the proposed collection

of information would impose, 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 information collection burden, including the use of appropriate

system automation, other electronics, mechanical, or other

technological collection techniques. Comments may be sent to Abigail C.

Nichols, Director, Program Accountability Division, Food and Nutrition

Service, Food Stamp Program, USDA, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 905,

Alexandria, Virginia, 22302.

All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the

information collection request for OMB approval. All comments will also

become a matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information regarding this information

collection should be directed to Abigail C. Nichols at (703) 305-2414.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Food Stamp Mail Issuance Report.

OMB Number: 0584-0015.

Form No.: FNS-259.

Expiration Date: 10/31/98.

Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information

collection.

Abstract: Pursuant to Section 7(f) of the Act, Part 274.4 of the

Food Stamp Program (FSP) regulations requires that State agencies

account for all food stamp coupon mail issuances, including the number

and value of mail issuance replacements. This part of the regulations

requires each coupon issuer at intervals prescribed by the Secretary,

but not less often than monthly, to submit a written report of the

issuer's operations during such period. Part 276.2 of the regulations

provides that State agencies be held strictly liable for mail issuance

losses that are in excess of the State agency's preselected tolerance

level for each administrative reporting unit. The program management

information collected on Form FNS-259 is used by FNS to validate mail

issuance, identify mail issuance losses, assess liabilities and bill

State agencies for a portion of mail issuance losses.

Frequency of Responses: The FNS-259 collects monthly information

for three consecutive calendar months which must be accumulated and

submitted to FNS on a quarterly basis by the 45th day following the end

of the quarter.

Affected Public: State and local government.

Number of Respondents: 1,470.

Number of Responses Per Respondent: 4.

Total Annual Burden Hours: 490.

Dated: July 7, 1998.

George A. Braley,

Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.

[FR Doc. 98-19118 Filed 7-16-98; 8:45 am]

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