[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 215 (Wednesday, November 6, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67633-67634]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-28231]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Agricultural Health Study--
A Prospective Cohort Study of Cancer and Other Diseases Among Men and 
Women in Agriculture--Influence of Corn Farming on the Immune System 
Sub-Study

SUMMARY: 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 National Cancer Institute 
(NCI), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will publish periodic 
summaries of proposed projects to be submitted to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval.
    Proposed Collection: Title: Agricultural Health Study--A 
Prospective Cohort Study of Cancer and Other Diseases Among Men and 
Women in Agriculture--Influence of Corn Farming on the Immune System 
Sub-study. Type of Information Collection Request: Revision of a 
currently approved collection (0925-0406, expiration 11/30/03). Need 
and Use of Information Collection: The Agricultural Health Study (AHS) 
is an ongoing prospective cohort study of 89,658 farmers, their 
spouses, and commercial applicators of pesticides from Iowa and North 
Carolina. The proposed collection of additional information is intended 
to assess the effects of corn farming activities and exposures during 
the farming season on the immune system. The collection is intended to 
determine whether there are immune changes or altered immune function 
occurring in corn farmers and whether such perturbations are associated 
with specific farming exposures or activities, such as exposure to 
certain pesticides during planting or grain dusts during harvesting. 
The characterization of any changes in immune function occurring in 
corn farmers may contribute to understanding of the etiology of immune-
related diseases that have increased incidence among farmers, including 
non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and other immune-related cancers. In addition, 
identification of specific exposures associated with immune

[[Page 67634]]

effects will assist in subsequent identification of specific etiologic 
agents for such immune-related effects will assist in subsequent 
identification of specific etiologic agents for such immune-related 
diseases. Frequency of Response: Single time reporting. Affected 
Public: Individuals or households, Farms. Type of Respondents: Male 
corn farmers who apply pesticides and male agriculture extension 
workers. The annual reporting burden is as follows: Estimated Number of 
Respondents: 25,552; Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 2.2; 
Average Burden Hours Per Response: 1.25; and Estimated Total Annual 
Burden Hours Requested: 14.046. The annualized cost to respondents is 
estimated at: $144,108. There are no Capital Costs to report. There are 
no Operating or Maintenance Costs to report.
    Request for Comments: Written comments and/or suggestions from the 
public and affected agencies are invited on one or more of the 
following points: (1) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the function of 
the agency, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (2) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumption used; (3) Enhance the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and 
(4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who 
are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request more information on the 
proposed project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and 
instruments, contact Roel Vermeulen, Epidemiology and Biostatistics 
Program, Divisions of Cancer Etiology, National Cancer Institute, EPN 
8109, 6120 Executive Boulevard, Rockville, MD 20852, or call (301) 496-
9093, or E-mail your request, including your address, to: 
[email protected]
    Comments Due Date: Comments regarding this information collection 
are best assured of having their full effect if received within 60 days 
of the date of this publication.

    Dated: October 31, 2002.
Reesa L. Nichols,
NCI Project Clearance Liaison.
[FR Doc. 02-28231 Filed 11-5-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-M