[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 181 (Monday, September 20, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 50818]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-24367]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[INFO-99-37]


Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and 
Recommendations

    In compliance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 for opportunity for public comment on 
proposed data collection projects, the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects. 
To request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a 
copy of the data collection plans and instruments, call the CDC Reports 
Clearance Officer on (404) 639-7090.
    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 shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques for other 
forms of information technology. Send comments to Seleda Perryman, CDC 
Assistant Reports Clearance Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D24, 
Atlanta, GA 30333. Written comments should be received within 60 days 
of this notice.

Proposed Project

     National Coal Workers' Autopsy Study Consent Release and History 
Form--(0920-0021)--Extension--National Institute for Occupational 
Safety and Health (NIOSH)--Under the Federal Coal Mine Health & Safety 
Act of 1977, PL91-173 (amended the Federal Coal Mine & Safety Act of 
1969), the Public Health Service has developed a nationwide autopsy 
program (NCWAS) for underground coal miners. The Consent Release and 
History Form is primarily used to obtain written authorization from the 
next-of-kin to perform an autopsy on the deceased miner. The study is a 
service program to aid surviving relatives in establishing eligibility 
for black lung compensation. Because a basic reason for the post-mortem 
exam is research (both epidemiological and clinical), included are a 
minimum of essential information regarding the deceased miner, his 
occupational history, and his smoking history. The data collected will 
be used by the staff at NIOSH for research purposes in defining the 
diagnostic criteria for coal workers' pneumoconiosis (black lung) and 
will be correlated with pathologic changes and x-ray findings.
    It is estimated that only 5 minutes is required for the pathologist 
to put a statement on the invoice affirming that no other compensation 
is received for the autopsy. From past experience, it is estimated that 
15 minutes is required for the next-of-kin to complete form CDC/NIOSH 
2.6. In as much as an autopsy report is routinely completed by a 
pathologist, the only additional burden is the specific request of 
abstract of terminal illness and final diagnosis relating to 
pneumoconiosis. Therefore, only 5 minutes of additional burden is 
estimated for the autopsy report.

Respondent Costs

25 Burden Hours (Pathologists) @ $60/hour = $ 1,500
37.5 Burden Hours (Next-of-Kin) @ $12/hour = $ 450
    Total: $ 1,950

    The total cost to respondents is estimated at $1,950.
    Data Collection:

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                                                                     Number of    Avg. burden of
                   Respondents                       Number of      responses/     response  (In   Total burden
                                                    respondents     respondent         hrs.)         (In hrs.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pathologist Invoice.............................             150               1            5/60            12.5
Report..........................................             150               1            5/60            12.5
Next-of-Kin.....................................             150               1           15/60            37.5
      Total.....................................  ..............  ..............  ..............            62.5
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    Dated: September 14, 1999.
Nancy Cheal,
Acting Associate Director for Policy, Planning and Evaluation, Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 99-24367 Filed 9-17-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P