[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 151 (Wednesday, August 6, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 46643]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-19978]



[[Page 46643]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-03-103]


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) 498-1210.
    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 or other 
forms of information technology. Send comments to Anne O'Connor, 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: Building Capacity to Fluoridate--New--National 
Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP), 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
    Since the first fluoridation of a public water system in Grand 
Rapids, Michigan in 1945, fluoridation of community water supplies has 
dramatically reduced the prevalence of dental caries in the United 
States. Scientific evidence compiled over nearly six decades 
demonstrates that adjusting the fluoride concentration of public water 
systems is a safe, cost-effective, and equitable intervention that 
benefits everyone in a given community regardless of financial status.
    The percentage of the U.S. population living in areas with 
fluoridated water grew steadily from 1945 to the mid-1970s. Adoption of 
fluoridation is ultimately a choice made by community decision makers 
and often is put before the public for vote as a referendum. In spite 
of survey findings that roughly 70 percent of the U.S. population 
favors fluoridation, referenda since the 1980's have often resulted in 
community decisions not to fluoridate. Thus, the rate of increase in 
access to fluoridated water among those on public water systems has 
slowed. In 2000, 65.8 percent of this population had access to 
fluoridated water, still far short of the 75 percent fluoridation 
target set in both the Healthy People 2000 and 2010 objectives.
    The purpose of this research is to identify and describe the 
variables that influence community fluoridation decisions made by 
public vote and provide enhanced knowledge that may be useful to 
communities considering fluoridation.
    In-person interviews will be conducted with seven (7) to 13 
(thirteen) key players in fluoridation referendum campaigns at eight 
(8) sites where fluoridation has been rejected or accepted within the 
last three years. Key participants in the campaigns will vary slightly 
by site. We expect, however, these participants to include:
    [sbull] State or local health department staff
    [sbull] Campaign directors
    [sbull] Local elected officials
    [sbull] Outside political consultants
    [sbull] Grassroots leaders
    [sbull] Media representatives
    A total of 80 interviews will be conducted. The interviews will 
consist of approximately 30 questions and last 1\1/2\ hours. There are 
no costs to the respondents.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Number of      Average burden
                 Respondents                     Number of      responses per     per response     Total burden
                                                respondents       respondent       (in hrs.)        (in hrs.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Key participants in local fluoridation                    80                1            90/60              120
 referendum campaigns.......................
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    Dated: July 31, 2003.
Thomas A. Bartenfeld,
Acting Associate Director for Policy, Planning and Evaluation, Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 03-19978 Filed 8-5-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P