[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 33 (Thursday, February 19, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7762-7763]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-3648]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection

Comment Request

    In compliance with the requirement for opportunity for public 
comment on proposed data collection projects (section 3506(c) (2) of 
Title 44, United States Code, as amended by the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995, Public Law 104-13), the Health Resources and Services 
Administration (HRSA) will publish periodic summaries of proposed 
projects being developed for submission to OMB under the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995. To request more information on the proposed 
project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans, call the HRSA 
Reports Clearance Officer on (301) 443-1129.
    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

[[Page 7763]]

use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.

Proposed Project: The Smallpox Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (OMB 
No. 0915-0282)--Extension

    The Smallpox Emergency Personnel Protection Act (SEPPA) authorized 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish The Smallpox 
Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, which is designed to provide 
benefits and/or compensation to certain persons harmed as a direct 
result of receiving smallpox covered countermeasures, including the 
smallpox vaccine, or as a direct result of contracting vaccinia through 
certain accidental exposures.
    The benefits available under the Program include compensation for 
medical care, lost employment income, and survivor death benefits. To 
be considered for Program benefits, requesters (i.e., smallpox vaccine 
recipients, vaccinia contacts, survivors, or the representatives of the 
estates of deceased smallpox vaccine recipients or vaccinia contacts), 
or persons filing on their behalf as their representatives, must file a 
Request Form and the documentation required under this regulation to 
show that they are eligible.
    Requesters must submit appropriate documentation to allow the 
Secretary to determine if the requesters are eligible for Program 
benefits. This documentation will vary somewhat depending on whether 
the requester is filing as a smallpox vaccine recipient, a vaccinia 
contact, a survivor, or a representative of an estate. All requesters 
must submit medical records sufficient to demonstrate that a covered 
injury was sustained by a smallpox vaccine recipient or a vaccinia 
contact.
    The burden estimate is as follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Number of     Responses per      Hourly       Total burden
                      Form                          respondents     respondent       response          hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Request Form....................................           1,250               1               5           6,250
Certification...................................           1,250               1               1           1,250
                                                 -----------------
    Total.......................................           2,500  ..............  ..............           7,500
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Send comments to Susan G. Queen, Ph.D., HRSA Reports Clearance 
Officer, Room 14-33 Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, 
Maryland 20857. Written comments should be received within 60 days of 
this notice.

    Dated: February 12, 2004.
Tina M. Cheatham,
Director, Division of Policy Review and Coordination.
[FR Doc. 04-3648 Filed 2-18-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P