[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 180 (Monday, September 18, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54659-54661]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-15451]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-06-06BR]


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 404-639-5960 
and send comments to Seleda Perryman, CDC Assistant Reports Clearance

[[Page 54660]]

Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-74, Atlanta, GA 30333 or send an e-mail 
to [email protected].
    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. Written comments should be received 
within 60 days of this notice.

Proposed Project

    Brownfield/Land Re-use Public Health Involvement Triage Tool--New--
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    ATSDR has developed a Triage Tool that rapidly screens sites to 
assess the need for public health agency involvement. Users of this 
tool are likely to include: Health departments, redevelopers, financial 
institutions, licensed environmental professionals, environmental 
regulatory agencies, and economic development agencies. Any Brownfield 
or land re-use site that is being considered for redevelopment is a 
candidate for processing through this rapid assessment tool.
    Brownfield sites and land re-use sites may contain conditions that 
represent potential health hazards. Some brownfield sites contain 
significant physical or chemical health hazards. For example, some 
physical hazards include open holes, unstable structures, and sharp 
objects. Past industrial activities often leave behind chemical 
contamination or drums of chemical wastes. These types of sites usually 
do not have adequate security to prevent people from being exposed to 
site hazards. Abandoned sites generally lack any restriction to site 
access. When people enter these properties there is a chance that they 
may be injured or exposed to toxic chemicals. While most adults may 
show little interest in entering these properties, children and 
adolescents often view brownfields as playgrounds and places to 
explore, thereby increasing their risk of exposure.
    Public health agencies are an important resource to communities who 
are either concerned about the health impacts of current conditions at 
these types of sites or are considering redevelopment of these 
properties for expanded re-use. Public health agencies can assist the 
community in assessing potential health impacts, addressing health 
concerns of conditions at brownfield sites, communicating risks, and 
supporting appropriate actions to protect the health of the community.
    The Triage Tool consists of an interactive checklist that is used 
to collect information related to the site, including the suspected 
contamination, site access, type of site, proposed re-use, community 
concerns, and site surroundings. After the checklist is completed, the 
responses are analyzed by the internal logic of the Tool. The Triage 
Tool uses a hierarchical decision matrix, which assesses site 
characteristics, community concerns, and the need for public health 
involvement. A separate system within the Tool allows users to view 
subject-specific information (contaminants, community concerns, etc.) 
via an interactive web tool. A Tour Guide has been developed to provide 
a visual walk-through of the Tool and all of its components.
    While ATSDR can only estimate the annual number of users of the 
Triage Tool, we hope that the tool will be widely available as a 
resource for site assessment. To protect user privacy, ATSDR does not 
intend to maintain information entered by users into the Triage Tool 
checklist function. ATSDR also provides disclaimers in the Triage Tool 
for purposes of Agency liability. Users are advised within the Tool to 
avoid entering personal information (e.g., social security numbers, 
medical information). Any identifying information, such as the site 
contact, entered into the Triage Tool is provided for the use by the 
Tool user and will not be maintained by ATSDR. ATSDR does plan to 
invite feedback regarding the Triage Tool from users through a 
voluntary process. Users may send a separate e-mail or access a Web 
site maintained by ATSDR. This separate e-mail or Web site will also 
exist to enable users to contact ATSDR should they require more 
assistance or other information regarding brownfields/land re-use 
sites.
    Each respondent may use the Triage Tool more than one time. A high-
end, conservative estimate of five uses per year is provided here 
(i.e., assessment of five sites), with each use requiring about 30 
minutes of time. There are no costs to respondents except their time to 
participate in the survey.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Number of        Average
                                                     Number of     responses per    burden per     Total burden
                   Respondents                      respondents     respondent     response  (in      (hours)
                                                                     (average)        hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Local Health Agency Workers.....................           1,000               5           30/60           2,500
State Employees (e.g., EPA, DNR, DEM)...........           1,000               5           30/60           2,500
Developers......................................             500               5           30/60           1,250
Financial institution personnel.................             500               5           30/60           1,250
Environmental or economic professionals.........             500               5           30/60           1,250
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................  ..............  ..............  ..............           8,750
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[[Page 54661]]

    Dated: September 11, 2006.
Joan F. Karr,
Acting Reports Clearance Officer, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention.
 [FR Doc. E6-15451 Filed 9-15-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P