Information Collection: Recordkeeping of D-SNAP Benefit Issuance and Commodity Distribution for Disaster Relief

Summary

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on this proposed information collection. This collection is an extension of a currently approved collection. This information collection addresses the recordkeeping burden associated with forms FNS–292A (Report of Commodity Distribution for Disaster Relief) and FNS–292B (Report of Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Benefit Issuance).

Request for Comments

Written comments must be received on or before Feb. 2, 2024.

• Preferred Method: Go to http://www.regulations.gov, and follow the online instructions for submitting comments electronically.
• Regarding form FNS–292A, comments may be sent to Polly Fairfield, Chief, Food Distribution Policy Branch, Policy Division, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1320 Braddock Place, Alexandria, VA 22314, or via email to polly.fairfield@usda.gov.
• Regarding form FNS–292B, comments may be sent to John “David” Noble, Chief, Program Modernization and Integration Branch, Program Development Division, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1320 Braddock Place, Alexandria, VA 22314, or via email to john.noble@usda.gov.

All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval. All comments will be a matter of public record.

Abstract

This information collection pertains only to the recordkeeping burden associated with forms FNS–292A and FNS–292B. The reporting burden associated with these forms is approved under OMB No. 0584–0594 (Food Program Reporting System; expiration date: 9/30/2026). The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) utilizes forms FNS–292A and FNS–292B to collect information not otherwise available on the extent of FNS-funded disaster relief operations. Following OMB approval of this extension, this information collection will be merged with OMB Control # 0584–0336 (expiration 11/30/2025) to streamline burden estimates related to disasters into one information collection.

Form FNS–292A, Report of Commodity Distribution for Disaster Relief, is used by state distributing agencies, including Indian Tribal Organizations administering the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), to provide a summary report to FNS following termination of disaster commodity assistance and to request replacement of donated foods distributed during the disaster or situation of distress. Donated food distribution in disaster situations is authorized under section 32 of the Act of August 24, 1935 (7 USC 612c); Section 416 of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 USC 1431); Section 709 of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1965 (7 USC 1446a-1); Section 4(a) of the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 (7 USC 612c note); and by sections 412 and 413 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 USC 5179, 5180). Program implementing regulations are contained in part 250 of title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). In accordance with 7 CFR 250.69(f) and 7 CFR 250.70(f), state distributing agencies shall provide a summary report to FNS within 45 days following termination of the disaster assistance and maintain records of these reports and other information relating to disasters.

Form FNS–292B, Report of Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Benefit Issuance, is used by state agencies to report to FNS the number of households and persons certified for Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D–SNAP) benefits as well as the value of benefits issued. D–SNAP is a separate program from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and is authorized by sections 402 and 502 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 USC 5121 et seq.) and the temporary emergency provisions contained in section 5 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, and in 7 CFR part 280 of the SNAP regulations. State agencies may request FNS approval to operate a D–SNAP to address the temporary food needs of certain households in affected areas following a disaster after certain criteria is met. If approved to operate D–SNAP by FNS, a state agency must submit its final FNS–292B to FNS within 45 days of terminating D–SNAP operations, and maintain records of this report.

The number of disasters that will result in a state requesting to operate a FNS disaster food relief activity in a given year is impossible to predict. However, 55 is the maximum number of state distributing agencies that have ever utilized disaster commodity assistance in a given year. Accordingly, FNS is estimating this burden by assuming that, at maximum, 55 state distributing agency will distribute donated foods during a disaster or situation of distress once per year. In the case of state SNAP agencies, FNS is estimating this burden assuming that each state SNAP agency will request and be approved to operate D–SNAP once per year.