[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 189 (Thursday, September 29, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60496-60497]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-25010]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-11-0530]


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 Daniel Holcomb, CDC Reports Clearance Officer, 
1600 Clifton Road, MS-D74, 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 must be received 
within 60 days of this notice.

Proposed Project

    EEOICPA Dose Reconstruction Interviews and Forms--Extension--
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    On October 30, 2000, the Energy Employees Occupational Illness 
Compensation Program Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 7384-7385) was enacted. 
This Act established a federal compensation program for employees of 
the Department of Energy (DOE) and certain of its contractors, 
subcontractors and vendors, who have suffered cancers and other 
designated illnesses as a result of exposures sustained in the 
production and testing of nuclear weapons.
    Executive Order 13179, issued on December 7, 2000, delegated 
authorities assigned to ``the President'' under the Act to the 
Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Energy and Justice. 
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) was delegated the 
responsibility of establishing methods for estimating radiation doses 
received by eligible claimants with cancer applying for compensation. 
NIOSH is applying the following methods to estimate the radiation doses 
of individuals applying for compensation.
    In performance of its dose reconstruction responsibilities, under 
the Act, NIOSH is providing voluntary interview opportunities to 
claimants (or their survivors) individually and providing them with the 
opportunity to assist NIOSH in documenting the work history of the 
employee by characterizing the actual work tasks performed. In 
addition, NIOSH and the claimant may identify incidents that may have 
resulted in undocumented radiation exposures, characterizing 
radiological protection and monitoring practices, and identify co-
workers and other witnesses as may be necessary to confirm undocumented 
information. In this process, NIOSH uses a computer assisted telephone 
interview (CATI) system, which allows interviews to be conducted more 
efficiently and quickly as opposed to a paper-based interview 
instrument. Both interviews are voluntary and failure to participate in 
either or both interviews will not have a negative effect on the claim, 
although voluntary participation may assist the claimant by adding 
important information that may not be otherwise available.
    NIOSH uses the data collected in this process to complete an 
individual dose reconstruction that accounts, as fully as possible, for 
the radiation dose incurred by the employee in the line of duty for DOE 
nuclear weapons production programs. After dose reconstruction, NIOSH 
also performs a brief, voluntary final interview with the claimant to 
explain the results and to allow the claimant to confirm or question 
the records NIOSH has compiled. This will also be the final opportunity 
for the claimant to supplement the dose reconstruction record.
    At the conclusion of the dose reconstruction process, the claimant 
submits a form to confirm that the claimant has no further information 
to provide to NIOSH about the claim at this time. The form notifies the 
claimant that signing the form allows NIOSH to forward a dose 
reconstruction report to DOL and to the claimant, and closes the record 
on data used for the dose reconstruction. Signing this form does not 
indicate that the claimant agrees with the outcome of the dose 
reconstruction. The dose reconstruction results will be supplied to the 
claimant and to the DOL, the agency that will utilize them as one part 
of its determination of whether the claimant is eligible for 
compensation under the Act.
    There is no cost to respondents other than their time.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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                                                                     Number of        Average
               Type of respondent                    Number of     responses per    burden  (in   Total response
                                                    respondents     respondent        hours)       burden hours
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Initial interview...............................           4,200               1               1           4,200
Conclusion Form.................................           8,400               1            5/60             700
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[[Page 60497]]

 
    Total.......................................  ..............  ..............  ..............           4,900
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    Dated: September 22, 2011.
Daniel Holcomb,
Reports Clearance Officer, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2011-25010 Filed 9-28-11; 8:45 am]
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