[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 23 (Friday, February 3, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5834-5836]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-1503]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OA-2006-0080; FRL-8026-8]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Valuing Reduced Asthma Episodes for Adults and 
Children-Focus Groups; EPA ICR Number 2215.01

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 a 
request for a new Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB). 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 April 4, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing docket ID number EPA-HQ-
OA-2006-0080, by one of the following methods:
     http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line 
instructions for submitting comments.
     E-mail: [email protected].
     Fax: 202-566-2338.
     Mail: Office of Environmental Information (OEI) Docket, 
Environmental Protection Agency, Mailcode 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.
     Hand Deliver: Office of Environmental Information (OEI) 
Docket in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room B102, 1301 
Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. Such deliveries are only 
accepted during the Docket's normal hours of operation, and special 
arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OA-2006-
0080. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in 
the public docket without change and may be made available online at 
http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be 
Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose 
disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you 
consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through http://www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The http://www.regulations.gov Web site 
is an ``anonymous access'' system, which means EPA will not know your 
identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of 
your comment. If you send an e-mail comment directly to EPA without 
going through http://www.regulations.gov your e-mail address will be 
automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is 
placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you 
submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name 
and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any 
disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to 
technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA 
may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid 
the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of 
any defects or viruses. For additional information about EPA's public 
docket visit the EPA Docket Center homepage at http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Chris Dockins, Office of Policy, 
Economics and Innovation, U.S. EPA, Mail Code 1809T, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; 
telephone number 202-566-2286; fax number 202-566-2338; e-mail address: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

How Can I Access the Docket and/or Submit Comments?

    EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID 
No. EPA-HQ-OA-2006-0080, which is available for online viewing at 
http://www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at the Office of 
Environmental Information (OEI) Docket in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/
DC), EPA West, Room B102, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. 
The EPA/DC Public Reading Room is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the 
Reading Room is 202-566-1744, and the telephone number for the Office 
of Environmental Information (OEI) Docket is 202-566-1752.
    Use http://www.regulations.gov to obtain a copy of the draft 
collection of information, submit or view public comments, access the 
index listing of the contents of the docket, and to access those 
documents in the public docket that are available electronically. Once 
in the system, select ``search,'' then key in the docket ID number 
identified in this document.

What Information Is EPA Particularly Interested In?

    Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA specifically 
solicits comments and information to enable it 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. In particular, EPA is requesting comments from 
very small businesses (those that employ less than 25) on examples of 
specific additional efforts that EPA could make to reduce the paperwork 
burden for very small businesses affected by this collection.

[[Page 5835]]

What Should I Consider When I Prepare My Comments for EPA?

    You may find the following suggestions helpful for preparing your 
comments:
    1. Explain your views as clearly as possible and provide specific 
examples.
    2. Describe any assumptions that you used.
    3. Provide copies of any technical information and/or data you used 
that support your views.
    4. If you estimate potential burden or costs, explain how you 
arrived at the estimate that you provide.
    5. Offer alternative ways to improve the collection activity.
    6. Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline identified 
under DATES.
    7. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, be sure to identify the docket 
ID number assigned to this action in the subject line on the first page 
of your response. You may also provide the name, date, and Federal 
Register citation.

What Information Collection Activity or ICR Does This Apply To?

    Affected Entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
individuals volunteering to participate in focus group discussions.
    Title: Valuing Reduced Asthma Episodes for Adults and Children--
Focus Groups.
    ICR Numbers: EPA ICR No. 2215.01.
    ICR Status: This ICR is for a new information collection activity. 
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 
in title 40 of the CFR, after appearing in the Federal Register when 
approved, are listed in 40 CFR part 9, are displayed either by 
publication in the Federal Register or by other appropriate means, such 
as on the related collection instrument or form, if applicable. The 
display of OMB control numbers in certain EPA regulations is 
consolidated in 40 CFR part 9.
    Abstract: Asthma is one of the most common chronic illnesses in the 
United States, particularly among children. The disease is 
characterized by recurring episodes of symptoms like cough, shortness 
of breath, and wheezing. Epidemiological studies suggest that ambient 
air pollution may contribute to exacerbation of these episodes. Acute 
asthma episodes are a leading cause of work and school absence and 
contribute to the economic burden of the disease. The policies and 
programs of many public and private entities including EPA may affect 
the frequency and severity of asthma episodes, but economic analysis of 
these programs is hindered by inadequate information about the economic 
benefits of reduced asthma episodes. The proposed surveys would gather 
information to support estimation of willingness to pay (WTP) to avoid 
acute episodes of asthma exacerbation for adults and children.
    The survey research has three main objectives. The first is to 
estimate WTP to reduce frequency of asthma episodes. The second is to 
examine how the ``attributes'' of asthma episodes, such as their 
frequency, severity and symptoms, affect WTP. The third is to provide 
some evidence on the WTP to reduce the severity of asthma episodes, 
while holding frequency constant. WTP would be estimated in the context 
of the severity of the individual's asthma and the activities taken to 
manage the disease. The resulting estimates will help to provide 
researchers and policy analysts with a systematic and credible basis 
for valuing policies that influence acute asthma episodes.
    Through a cooperative agreement from EPA (R-83062801-0), 
researchers at the University of Central Florida (UCF) have designed 
and are proposing to conduct two nationwide surveys of adult 
individuals. One survey would be administered to a sample of adults 
with physician-diagnosed asthma who have experienced asthma symptoms 
during the 12 months preceding the survey. This survey focuses on 
eliciting adults' WTP to reduce the asthma episodes that they 
experience. The other survey would be administered to a national sample 
of parents of children with physician-diagnosed asthma who have 
experienced asthma symptoms during the 12 months preceding the survey. 
In this case, the focus is on eliciting parents' WTP to reduce the 
asthma episodes that their children experience.
    The purpose of the proposed ICR is to gain approval for the conduct 
of a series of focus groups and individual interviews as part of the 
survey development process. Focus groups and cognitive interviews are a 
crucial component in the survey development process as they allow 
survey developers to identify problematic approaches, terminology, and 
graphics in the survey instrument. A total of 50 interviews are 
anticipated, including focus group responses and individual interviews.
    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 in order 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 annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 2 
hours per response. 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.
    The only burden imposed by the interviews on respondents will be 
the time required to participate in focus group discussions and answer 
interview questions. The survey developers estimate that this will 
require an average of 2 hours per respondent. With a total of 50 
respondents this requires a total of 100 hours. Based on an average 
hourly rate of $26.05 \1\ (including employer costs of all employee 
benefits), the survey developers expect that the average per-respondent 
cost for the pilot survey will be $52.10 and the

[[Page 5836]]

corresponding one-time total cost to all respondents will be $5210.00. 
Since this information collection is voluntary and does not involve any 
special equipment, respondents will not incur any capital or operation 
and maintenance (O&M) costs.
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    \1\ Employer costs per hour worked for employee compensation and 
costs as a percent of total compensation: Civilian workers, total 
compensation, December 2005 (http://stats.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.t02.htm).
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What Is the Next Step in the Process for This ICR?

    EPA will consider the comments received and amend the ICR as 
appropriate. The final ICR package will then be submitted to OMB for 
review and approval pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12. At that time, EPA will 
issue another Federal Register notice pursuant to 5 CFR 
1320.5(a)(1)(iv) to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the 
opportunity to submit additional comments to OMB. If you have any 
questions about this ICR or the approval process, please contact the 
technical person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Dated: January 5, 2006.
Al McGartland,
Director, National Center for Environmental Economics, Office of Policy 
Economics and Innovation.
[FR Doc. E6-1503 Filed 2-2-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P