[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 114 (Wednesday, June 14, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31317-31319]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-14492]



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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
[Announcement 571]


Prevention of Silicosis in Surface Miners

Introduction

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the 
availability of fiscal year (FY) 1995 funds for a cooperative agreement 
program for prevention of silicosis in surface miners.
    The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the 
health promotion and disease prevention objectives of Healthy People 
2000, a PHS-led national activity to reduce morbidity and mortality and 
improve the quality of life. This announcement is related to the 
priority area of Occupational Safety and Health (Objective 10.11). (For 
ordering a copy of Healthy People 2000, see the Section Where to Obtain 
Additional Information.)

Authority

    This program is authorized under sections 20(a) and 22(e)(7) of the 
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 669(a) and 
671(e)(7)) and Section 501(g) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act 
(30 U.S.C. 951(g)).

Smoke-Free Workplace

    The PHS strongly encourages all grant recipients to provide a 
smoke-free workplace and promote the nonuse of all tobacco products, 
and Public Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits smoking 
in certain facilities that receive Federal funds in which education, 
library, day care, health care, and early childhood development 
services are provided to children.

Eligible Applicants

    Applications may be submitted by public and private, non-profit and 
for-profit organizations and governments 

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and their agencies. Thus, universities, colleges, research 
institutions, hospitals, other public and private organizations, State 
and local governments or their bona fide agents, federally recognized 
Indian tribal governments, Indian tribes or Indian tribal 
organizations, and small, minority- and/or women-owned businesses are 
eligible to apply.

Availability of Funds

    Approximately $85,000 is available in FY 95 to fund one award. It 
is expected that the awards will begin on or about September 30, 1995, 
and will be made for a 12-month budget period within a project period 
of up to three years. Funding estimates may vary and are subject to 
change.
    Continuation awards within the project period will be made on the 
basis of satisfactory progress and the availability of funds.

Purpose

    The purpose of this project is to contribute to silicosis 
prevention efforts as follows:
    1. Identification of high silicosis-risk metal/nonmetal and coal 
surface mine drilling workers/operations and development of a plan to 
assess the effectiveness of the 1970 engineering control-based metal-
nonmetal surface mine drilling standard in preventing silicosis. (Phase 
I)
    2. Assessment of training effectiveness in a limited number of 
metal/nonmetal and coal surface mine drilling operations for purposes 
of targeting operations for intervention surveillance (e.g., work 
practices, maintenance, engineering controls). (Phase II)
    3. Follow-up surveillance to evaluate the effectiveness of the 
interventions. (Phase III)

Program Requirements

    In conducting activities to achieve the purpose of this program, 
the recipient will be responsible for the activities under A. 
(Recipient Activities), and CDC/NIOSH will be responsible for the 
activities listed under B. (CDC/NIOSH Activities).
A. Recipient Activities

    1. Design a study to identify high silicosis-risk populations of 
metal/nonmetal and coal surface mine drillers; including small and 
large employers, contractors, unionized and nonunionized operations.
    2. Identify a sample of present or former surface mine drillers who 
have been diagnosed with silicosis; provide ``case study'' reports.
    3. Evaluate current work practices and exposure conditions at a 
variety of operations. This evaluation should include an assessment of 
the effectiveness of current training efforts, maintenance programs, 
engineering controls and driller work practices.
    4. Recommend new or modified training efforts, maintenance 
programs, engineering controls or driller work practices which will 
reduce worker exposures to silica.
    5. Evaluate the effectiveness of interventions which are 
implemented.
    6. Publish results of the study.

B. CDC/NIOSH Activities

    1. Provide scientific, epidemiologic, engineering, environmental, 
and clinical technical assistance (as needed) to the recipient for 
successful completion of this project.
    2. Assist in the development of the overall plan or study design 
for this project.
    3. Collaborate with the recipient on the methods for collection, 
tabulation, analysis, and publication of data related to the project.
    4. In consultation with Mine Safety and Health Administration 
(MSHA) obtain and provide available information on MSHA sampling 
results, MSHA survey data, training videos, etc.
    5. May provide (within the limits of available funding, manpower 
restraints and privacy/regulatory considerations) health screening 
(chest radiographs) for a limited number of targeted surface miners.
    6. Assist in the design and implementation of the evaluation plan 
for the project.

Evaluation Criteria

    Applications will be reviewed and evaluated according to the 
following criteria:
    1. The qualifications and efficient use of current and proposed 
project personnel, with assurance of a major time commitment of the 
program director to the program. Technical qualifications of importance 
include, but are not limited to, experience in conducting 
investigations of the mining industry, knowledge of the technical 
aspects of drilling, and experience with worker education and training 
(to include evaluations of worker training program effectiveness). 
(35%)
    2. The adequacy of the applicant's facilities and resources for 
purposes of evaluating surface mine driller training. Important 
qualifications include program/facility history of developing and 
implementing worker training programs. (10%)
    3. The adequacy of the project plan or methodology. The proposed 
plan and methods should demonstrate a clear understanding and 
application of the goals and objectives for this program. Novel 
approaches and ideas that contribute to attainment of the program's 
goals and objectives are encouraged. Important components include the 
method of identification of high silicosis-risk surface mine drilling 
operations and the plan for assessment of effectiveness of the 
intervention strategies being used. How closely the project's 
objectives fit the objectives for which applications were invited. 
(40%)
    4. Efficient use of resources and uniqueness of program. Evidence 
of collaboration with outside organizations (e.g., labor, universities, 
government agencies) using shared resources towards common goals and 
the demonstrated ability to solicit and receive financial resources 
from outside the organization. (15%)
    5. Budget and justification. (not scored)
    The budget will be evaluated to the extent that it is reasonable, 
clearly justified, and consistent with the intended use of the funds.
Executive Order 12372 Review

    This program is not subject to the Executive Order 12372, 
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.

Public Health System Reporting Requirements

    This program is not subject to the Public Health System Reporting 
Requirements.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number for this program 
is 93.283.

Other Requirements

Paperwork Reduction Act

    Projects that involve the collection of information from ten or 
more individuals and funded by this cooperative agreement will be 
subject to review and approval by the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act.

Human Subjects

    If the proposed project involves research on human subjects, the 
applicant must comply with the Department of Health and Human Services 
Regulations, 45 CFR part 46, regarding the protection of human 
subjects. Assurance must be provided to demonstrate the project will be 
subject to initial and continuing review by an appropriate 
institutional review 

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committee. The applicant will be responsible for providing assurance in 
accordance with the appropriate guidelines and form provided in the 
application kit.
    In addition to other applicable committees, Indian Health Service 
(IHS) institutional review committees also must review the project if 
any component of IHS will be involved or will support the research. If 
any American Indian community is involved, its tribal government must 
also approve that portion of the project applicable to it.

Application Submission and Deadline

    The original and two copies of the application PHS Form 5161-1 
(Revised 7/92, OMB Number 0937-0189) must be submitted to Henry S. 
Cassell, III, Grants Management Officer, Grants Management Branch, 
Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC), 255 East Paces Ferry Road, NE., Room 300, Mailstop E-
13, Atlanta, GA 30305, on or before July 26, 1995.
    1. Deadline: Applications shall be considered as meeting the 
deadline if they are either:
    (a) Received on or before the deadline date; or
    (b) Sent on or before the deadline date and received in time for 
submission to the objective review group. (Applicants must request a 
legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark or obtain a legibly dated 
receipt from a commercial carrier or U.S. Postal Service. Private 
metered postmarks shall not be acceptable as proof of timely mailing.)
    2. Late Applications: Applications which do not meet the criteria 
in 1.(a) or 1.(b) above are considered late applications. Late 
applications will not be considered in the current competition and will 
be returned to the applicant.

Where To Obtain Additional Information

    A complete program description and information on application 
procedures are contained in the application package. Business 
management technical assistance may be obtained from Oppie Byrd, Grants 
Management Specialist, Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants 
Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 255 East 
Paces Ferry Road, NE., Room 300, Mailstop E-13, Atlanta, GA 30305, 
telephone (404) 842-6546.
    Programmatic technical assistance may be obtained from Joseph 
Cocalis, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers 
for Disease and Control Prevention (CDC), 1095 Willowdale Road, 
Mailstop H-120, Morgantown, WV 26505-2888, telephone (304) 285-5754.
    Please refer to Announcement 571 when requesting information and 
submitting an application.
    Potential applicants may obtain a copy of Healthy People 2000 (Full 
Report, Stock No. 017-001-00474-0) or Healthy People 2000 (Summary 
Report, Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) referenced in the Introduction 
Section through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing 
Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325, telephone (202) 512-1800.

    Dated: June 8, 1995.
Diane D. Porter,
Acting Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 95-14492 Filed 6-13-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-19-P