[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 124 (Tuesday, June 29, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38897-38898]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-14669]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-04-68]


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

[[Page 38898]]

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 Sandra Gambescia, CDC Assistant Reports 
Clearance Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-E11, Atlanta, GA 30333 or send 
an e-mail to [email protected]. Written comments should be received within 60 
days of this notice.

Proposed Project

    National Blood Lead Surveillance System (OMB No. 0920-0337) -- 
Extension -- National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention. CDC, National Center for Environmental 
Health began the National Childhood Lead Surveillance Program in 1992. 
The goals of the childhood lead surveillance program are to: (1) 
Establish childhood lead surveillance systems at the state and national 
levels; (2) use surveillance data to estimate the extent of elevated 
blood-lead levels (BLLs) among children; (3) assess the follow-up of 
children with elevated blood-lead levels; (4) examine potential sources 
of lead exposure; and (5) help allocate resources for lead poison 
prevention activities. State surveillance systems are based on reports 
of blood-lead tests from laboratories. Ideally, laboratories report 
results of all lead tests (not just elevated values) to the state 
health department; however, each state determines the reporting level 
for blood-lead tests. In addition to blood-lead test results, state 
child-specific surveillance databases contain follow-up data on 
children with elevated blood-lead levels including data on medical 
treatment, environmental investigations, and potential sources of lead 
exposure. Surveillance data for the national database are extracted 
from the state child tracking databases and transferred to CDC.
    Since 1987, CDC has sponsored the state-based Adult Blood Lead 
Epidemiology and Surveillance (ABLES) program to track cases of 
elevated BLLs among persons ages 16 years and older, and provide 
intervention consultation and other assistance. The public health 
objective of the ABLES program, as stated in Healthy People 2010, is to 
reduce the number of persons with BLLs >=25 [mu]/dL from work exposures 
to zero by 2010. The ABLES program seeks to accomplish its objective by 
continuing to improve its surveillance programs and helping state 
health and other agencies to effectively intervene to prevent further 
lead exposures. Intervention strategies implemented by state ABLES-
reporting include: Conducting follow-up interviews with physicians, 
employers, and workers; investigating work sites; delivering technical 
assistance regarding exposure reduction or prevention; providing 
referrals for consultation and enforcement; and developing and 
disseminating educational materials and outreach programs. To 
coordinate their reporting and intervention activities for maximum 
efficiency, state ABLES programs are strongly encouraged to develop 
effective working relationships with the childhood lead prevention 
programs in their states. An estimated 2%-3% of children with BLLs >=10 
[mu]/dL reach those levels from exposure to lead brought home from the 
workplace on the clothes or in the vehicles of their adult caregivers.
    ABLES is being included for the first time under this OMB approval 
request. ABLES is also a state laboratory-based surveillance system and 
many states collect both child and adult blood lead data. This request 
is for a 3-year extension with a change in the burden hours and 
inclusion of the adult blood lead surveillance system. There is no cost 
to respondents.

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                                                                  Number of     Average  burden
                 Respondents                     Number of      responses per    per  response    Total  burden
                                                respondents       respondent       (in hrs.)          hours
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State and Local Health Departments for Child               47                4                2              376
 Surveillance...............................
State and Local Health Departments for Adult               37                4                2              296
 Surveillance...............................
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    Total...................................  ...............  ...............  ...............              672
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    Dated: June 21, 2004.
Diane Allen,
Acting Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 04-14669 Filed 6-28-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P