[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 59 (Monday, March 27, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16204-16206]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-7412]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control And Prevention

[60Day-00-28]


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, the Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention is providing opportunity for public comment on proposed 
data collection 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

    Possible Estuary-Associated Syndrome (PEAS) Surveillance -New- 
National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH)--In 1997, scientists 
found a newly identified microorganism, the dinoflagellate Pfiesteria 
piscicida, in water samples taken from a bay tributary. The presence of 
large numbers of this organism (a bloom) was purportedly associated 
with

[[Page 16205]]

observations of thousands of dead fish as well as with reports of a 
wide range of adverse human health effects. Reports of this purported 
association created excessive public concern about exposure to 
estuarine waters and a general distrust in seafood that prompted a 
flood of inquiries to public health and environmental quality agencies.
    Since 1997, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 
has been working with the States of Delaware, Florida, Maryland, North 
Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia in a series of meetings, 
workshops, and conference calls to design, implement, evaluate, and 
revise surveillance activities to provide a quantitative estimate of 
the public health burden associated with responding to Pfiesteria-
related events, including blooms, fish kills, and people with health 
complaints. Cooperative agreement funds were awarded to these states to 
develop a multi-state surveillance system to examine the effects of 
Pfiesteria blooms upon humans and to expand the scientific knowledge of 
the human health effects if Pfiesteria. Specifically, the states will 
quantify the burden of PEAS on their health agencies by enumerating the 
number of contacts involving public and professional requests for 
information as well as symptoms involved in self-reporting. In 
collaboration with the state health departments, NCEH has developed a 
standardized data collection instrument that the states may use to 
collect and store the surveillance data. NCEH has requested that the 
states report specific data elements back at regular intervals so that 
NCEH can compile the data and issue periodic aggregate reports. CDC/
NCEH is requesting a 3 year clearance. There is no cost to respondents.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                   Avg. burden/
                 Type of burden                      Number of       Number of     Response  (in   Total burden
                                                    respondents      responses         hrs.)         (in hrs.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Information only Calls..........................             800               1            5/60              66
Symptomatic Reports--telephone interview........              80               1           25/60              33
        Total...................................  ..............  ..............  ..............              99
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    2. Microbial Contamination of Produce: A Field Study in the Lower 
Rio Grande Valley, Texas--New--National Center for Environmental Health 
(NCEH). Foodborne diseases are common; an estimated 6-33 million cases 
occur each year in the United States. Although most of these infections 
cause mild illness, severe infections and serious complications do 
occur. The public health challenges of foodborne diseases are changing 
rapidly. In recent years, new and emerging foodborne pathogens have 
been described and changes in food production have led to new food 
safety concerns. Foodborne diseases have been associated with many 
different foods, including recent outbreaks linked to contaminated 
fresh fruits (e.g., cantaloupe, strawberries) and vegetables (e.g., 
leaf lettuce, alfalfa sprouts).
    NCEH proposes to conduct a study to determine what specific farm 
and produce processing practices are associated with fecal 
contamination of fruits and vegetables. Growing, handling and 
processing methods used in the produce industry may increase the risk 
that these foods will become contaminated with fecal matter. The study 
will describe the chain of farm to shipping practices for three 
vulnerable produce groups (leafy lettuces, leafy herbs, green onions). 
Critical agricultural practices where contamination with foodborne 
pathogens is likely will be identified by measuring the microbial 
quality of produce at each step during harvesting and processing (farm 
to shipping). Sources of fecal contamination will be determined by 
measuring the microbial quality of irrigation and process water, 
measuring fecal indicator organisms on hand rinses from farm laborers 
and handlers, and conducting sanitary surveys of sources of human and 
animal feces in and around the farms and processing areas. CDC/NCEH is 
requesting a 3-year clearance. There is no cost to respondents.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                   Avg. burden/
                   Respondents                       Number of      Responses/      respondent     Total burden
                                                    respondents     respondents      (in hrs.)       (in hrs.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Farm Recruiting visit...........................              14               1           30/60               7
Packing Facility Recruiting visit...............               9               1           30/60             4.5
Farm Manager interview (in person)..............              12               2           30/60              12
Packing Facility Manager interview (in person)..               8               1           30/60               4
Hand rinse sample collection....................             160               1           10/60            26.7
        Total...................................  ..............  ..............  ..............            54.2
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    3. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)--
(0920-0237)--Revision-- The National Health and Nutrition Examination 
Survey (NHANES) has been conducted in several cycles since 1970 by the 
National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). The current cycle of 
NHANES began in February 1999. The survey will now be conducted on a 
continuous, rather than episodic, basis. About 6,700 individuals 
receive a health interview in their homes annually; of these, 5,000 
persons complete a physical examination. Participation in the survey is 
voluntary and confidential.
    NHANES programs produce descriptive statistics which measure the 
health and nutritional status of the U.S. population. Through the use 
of questionnaires, physical examinations, and laboratory tests, NHANES 
studies the relationship between diet, nutrition and health in a 
representative sample of the United States civilian, 
noninstitutionalized population. NHANES monitors the prevalence of 
chronic conditions and risk factors such as coronary heart disease, 
arthritis, osteoporosis, pulmonary and infectious diseases, diabetes, 
high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, smoking, drug and 
alcohol use, environmental

[[Page 16206]]

exposures, and diet. NHANES data are used to establish the norms for 
the general population against which health care providers can compare 
such patient characteristics as height, weight, and nutrient levels in 
the blood. Data from NHANES can be compared to those from previous 
surveys to monitor changes in the health of the U.S. population. NHANES 
will also establish a national probability sample of genetic material 
for future genetic research for susceptibility to disease.
    Users of NHANES data include Congress; the World Health 
Organization; Federal agencies such as NIH, EPA, and USDA; private 
groups such as the American Heart Association; schools of public 
health; private businesses; individual practitioners; and 
administrators. NHANES data are used to establish, monitor, and 
evaluate long-term national health objectives, food fortification 
policies, programs to limit environmental exposures, immunization 
guidelines and health education and disease prevention programs. There 
is no cost to the respondent.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Number of
                                                    respondents      Number of      Avg. burden    Total burden
                 Burden category                  between 12/00-    responses/     per response       (hours)
                                                       12/02        respondent      (in hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Screening interview only.....................          40,000               1           10/60           6,680
2. Screeners and family interviews only.........           2,000               1           26/60             868
3. Screeners, family, and SP interviews only....           3,000               1          1 6/60           3,303
4. Screener, household, and SP interviews and             14,800               1         6 40/60          98,686
 primary MEC exam only..........................
5. Screener, household, and SP interviews,                   740               1        11 40/60           8,634
 primary MEC exam and full MEC replicate exam...
6. Screener, household, and SP interviews, MEC             2,960               1          9 1/60          26,693
 exam and dietary replicate interview only (5% +
 optional 15%)..................................
7. Home exam....................................             200               1         2 36/60             521
8. Telephone follow-up of elderly--option.......           3,500               1           15/60             875
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
      Total.....................................  ..............  ..............  ..............         146,260
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Dated: March 20, 2000.
Charles Gollmar,
Acting Associate Director for Policy, Planning, and Evaluation, Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 00-7412 Filed 3-24-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P