FNS Information Collection Needs due to COVID-19

OMB Control No: 0584-0654	ICR Reference No: 202004-0584-004
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No:
Agency/Subagency: USDA/FNS	Agency Tracking No: Emergency ICR - COVID-19
Title: FNS Information Collection Needs due to COVID-19
Type of Information Collection: New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Emergency	Approval Requested By: 05/08/2020
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 05/08/2020
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)	Date Received in OIRA: 05/01/2020
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	11/30/2020	10/31/2020
Responses	5,994	0	0
Time Burden (Hours)	6,996	0	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: The Emergency Information Collection requests burden hours for FNS to collect and review waivers and evaluation data required by the Families First Coronavirus Recovery Act to ensure expedient access to nutrition assistance during the Public Health Emergency.

Emergency Justfication: The Food and Nutrition Service is requesting Emergency Clearance for an information collection related to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency and information needed to help distribute nutrition assistance and meet reporting requirements set forth in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and related activities. This submission seeks emergency OMB approval of activities associated with State SNAP, WIC, Food Distribution (FD), and Child Nutrition Programs (CN) waiver requests during COVID-19. As the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is responding to the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic, it is implementing a number of waivers and program adjustments to ensure Americans in need can access nutrition assistance during the crisis while maintaining recommended social distancing practices. Related to these waivers, the Secretary of the USDA must submit a report to Congress following the end of the public health emergency detailing the measures taken to address food security needs of the affected populations, how many people were reached, and whether or not the measures improved program efficiency during the Public Health crisis. The State agencies must report to FNS on how they used the waivers, how it improved services, and on the use of USDA commodities. FNS can attest that the collection of information is: 1) Needed sooner than OMB clearance can be granted under normal procedures; and (2) Essential to the mission of the agency. The agency cannot reasonably comply with normal clearance procedures because: 1) Public harm is reasonably likely to result if normal clearance procedures are followed; 2) An unanticipated event has occurred; and 3) The use of normal clearance procedures is reasonably likely to prevent or disrupt the collection of information or is reasonably likely to cause a statutory or court ordered deadline to be missed. The nutrition assistance is needed immediately due to the Public Health Emergency. Waiting for the normal clearance process to take place would put emergency nutrition assistance at risk for millions of Americans needing the assistance.

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Authorizing Statute(s): PL: Pub.L. 116 - 127 1101, 1102, 2102, 2202, et. al Name of Law: The Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020    PL: Pub.L. 116 - 136 3222 Name of Law: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Ecomomic Security (CARES) Act

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: PL: Pub.L. 116 - 127 1101, 1102, 2102, 2202, et al Name of Law: The Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 PL: Pub.L. 116 - 136 3222 Name of Law: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments

Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title Form No. Form Name SNAP, WIC, FMNP, and CN COVID-19 Waivers, Evaluation, and Reporting Data - State Agencies and WIC Local Government (SLT)

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	5,994	0	5,994	0	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	6,996	0	6,996	0	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: FNS is requesting Emergency Clearance for this new information collection request in order to meet the information collection and reporting requirements detailed in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020, in addition to meeting the program administration needs for the implementation of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. FNS estimates that this new collection will add 6,996 burden hours and 5,994 responses to OMB's inventory due to a program change.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $92,444

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Yes

Agency Contact: Christina Sandberg 703 305-2337 [email protected]

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Common Form ICR:  No

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On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
		(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;
		(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;
		(c) It reduces burden on small entities;
		(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;
		(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;
		(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;
		(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:
			(i) Why the information is being collected;
			(ii) Use of information;
			(iii) Burden estimate;
			(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
			(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
			(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
		(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.
		(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and
		(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Certification Date: 05/01/2020

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