[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 63 (Tuesday, April 2, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15565-15566]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-7943]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7166-9]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 
et seq.), this document announces that EPA is planning to submit the 
following Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB): Human Exposure to Particulates of High-
risk Subpopulations; EPA ICR #: 1887.01; OMB Control # 2080-0058 
Expiration Date: 7/31/2002. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review 
and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the 
proposed information collection as described below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before June 3, 2002.

ADDRESSES: National Exposure Research Laboratory; US EPA; Research 
Triangle Park, NC 27711.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Blackwell, Phone: 919-541-
2886, Fax: 919-541-1111, E-mail: [email protected]. For 
Technical Information Contact Lance Wallace., Phone: 703-648-4287, Fax: 
703-648-4290, E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
those individuals that may be requested to take part in a study of 
human exposure to airborne particles.
    Title: Human Exposure to Particulates in High-Risk Subpopulations, 
EPA ICR #: 1887.01, OMB Control Number: 2080-0058, Expires July 31, 
2002.
    Abstract: This information collection has been fully described in 
an earlier Federal Register notice of March 5, 1999 (63 FR 69073). 
Briefly, because of epidemiological studies relating daily mortality to 
fluctuations in outdoor particle concentrations, it has been deemed 
desirable by EPA and the National Academy of Sciences to determine the 
relationship between exposure of high-risk subpopulations and ambient 
concentrations of particles. Three cooperative agreements were awarded 
to University consortia to pursue studies of persons with respiratory 
and cardiovascular problems. Under the terms of the agreements, 
personal, indoor and

[[Page 15566]]

outdoor measurements of particle concentrations were to have been 
performed on a voluntary sample of residents of six cities. To help 
determine activities and conditions leading to increased exposure, each 
resident was to answer a questionnaire and fill out a time-activity 
daily diary, both of which have been approved by OMB. Two of the 
Universities have completed their field work, but the third will still 
be completing its planned field work past the expiration date of the 
OMB-approved questionnaire. This action is simply to extend the 
approval to use this questionnaire beyond the July 31, 2002 expiration 
date. No new burden beyond what has been already approved is planned. 
All responses to the questionnaire are voluntary. The information will 
be used to support the Agency's regulatory responsibilities under the 
Clean Air Act. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is 
not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it 
displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control numbers 
for EPA's regulations are listed in 40 CFR part 9 and 48 CFR Chapter 
15. The EPA would like to solicit comments to:
    (i) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    (ii) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of 
the methodology and assumptions used;
    (iii) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
to be collected; and
    (iv) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic 
submission of responses.
    Burden Statement: The cost and hour burden on respondents has been 
fully described in the previous Federal Register notice. Since this 
request is only for an extension without any new information 
collection, the cost and burden detailed previously is unchanged. 
Briefly, the burden on the average respondent is estimated to be about 
36 minutes per day filling out the questionnaire and time-activity 
diary. The cost to the respondent includes electricity to operate the 
monitors. This cost is repaid by the government, and the respondent 
also receives a small monetary award to repay him or her for other 
costs. A total of no more than 50 respondents will be enrolled in the 
months following the original expiration date of July 31, 2002.
    Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources 
expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or 
provide information to or for a Federal agency. This includes the time 
needed to review instructions; develop, acquire, install, and utilize 
technology and systems for the purposes of collecting, validating, and 
verifying information, processing and maintaining information, and 
disclosing and providing information; adjust the existing ways to 
comply with any previously applicable instructions and requirements; 
train personnel to be able to respond to a collection of information; 
search data sources; complete and review the collection of information; 
and transmit or otherwise disclose the information.

    Dated: March 21, 2002.
Jewel F. Morris,
Acting Deputy Director or the National Exposure Research Laboratory.
[FR Doc. 02-7943 Filed 4-1-02; 8:45 am]
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