[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 25 (Tuesday, February 7, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6092-6093]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-2726]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army

[Docket ID USA-2012-0002]


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY: Edgewood Chemical Biological Center, DoD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995, the Edgewood Chemical Biological Center 
announces a new public information collection and seeks public comment 
on the provisions thereof. 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 information collection; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
information collection on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.

DATES: Submit comments on or before April 9, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number and 
title, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Federal Docket Management System Office, 4800 Mark 
Center Drive, 2nd Floor, East Tower, Suite 02G09, Alexandria, VA 22350-
3100.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency 
name, docket number and title for this Federal Register document. The 
general policy for comments and other submissions from members of the 
public is to make these submissions available for public viewing on the 
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov as they are received without 
change, including any personal identifiers or contact information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request more information on this 
proposed information collection or to obtain a copy of the proposal and 
associated collection instruments, please email at 
[email protected] with subject heading ``First Responder 
Survey Collection'', or call Dr. Peter Emanuel at (410) 436-5562.
    Title And OMB Number: Edgewood Chemical Biological Center First 
Responder Survey; OMB Control Number: 0702-TBD.
    Needs and Uses: US Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC) 
will conduct a survey of responder capabilities, detection 
technologies, and training in support of the Department of Homeland 
Security (DHS). The effort will use Web site survey tools to collect 
data about technologies being employed

[[Page 6093]]

in the field, and provide information to DHS in order to understand 
capabilities and perceptions related to CBRN defense. ECBC will also 
collect data through similar web-based methodologies on commercial 
hardware systems that detect chemical, biological, and radiological 
which have applicability in assessing human exposure to pathogens, 
toxic chemical and radiological agents. The surveillance of hardware 
systems has been tasked by The Joint Program Executive Office for 
Chemical and Biological Defense and the Defense Threat Reduction 
Agency.
    Affected Public: Volunteer and professional fire stations, 
paramedics services, law enforcement officers.
    Annual Burden Hours: 291.
    Number of Respondents: 700.
    Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Average Burden per Response: 25 minutes.
    Frequency: On occasion.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Summary of Information Collection

Continuation of CBRN Surveillance Hardware Systems

    ECBC will collect data on CBRN surveillance systems in support of 
the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense 
and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. In parallel ECBC will also 
collect data on responder preparedness related to CBRN defense in 
support of the Department of Homeland Security. The methodologies used 
in both web-based surveys have been replicated from highly successful 
CBRN market surveys conducted since 2003. In those previous efforts 
commercially available products were evaluated through an online 
collection tool. In executing these efforts a survey questionnaire is 
distributed online via http://www.SurveyMonkey.com to the targeted 
community. ECBC maintains an up-to-date contact list from past 
participation and also works in collaboration with trade groups or 
professional organizations who share interest and help facilitate 
distribution of the message. ECBC's subject matter experts have created 
a small set of targeted questions to be answered by the participants. 
The information collected will be analyzed using a weighted system and 
the resulting data is consolidated into a report for the directing 
organization. In the case of the surveillance hardware surveys the 
final product was a helpful consolidated guide of all commercially 
available detection systems which provide a way to compare surveillance 
and detection equipment and make informed purchasing decisions. Due to 
rapid changes and inventions in technology, the market survey must be 
updated to ensure accuracy in the information obtained. Previous 
published editions include the 2003 Market Research Survey, 2005 Market 
Research Survey, Market Survey: Biological Detection 2007 Edition, and 
the 2011 Chemical, Biological, Radiological Technology Survey.

First Responder Survey

    ECBC will collect data on responder preparedness related to CBRN 
defense in support of the Department of Homeland Security. The 
methodologies shall be a web-based survey distributed online via http://www.SurveyMonkey.com to the targeted community. ECBC maintains an up-
to-date contact list from past participation and also works in 
collaboration with trade groups or professional organizations who share 
interest and help facilitate distribution of the message. ECBC's 
subject matter experts have created a small set of targeted questions 
to be answered by the participants. The information collected will be 
analyzed using a weighted system and the resulting data is consolidated 
into a report for the directing organization.

Contact First Responders

    ECBC will work with DHS, professional trade groups, and the 
Responder Knowledge Base (https://www.rkb.us/) to identify a 
representative group of first responders to survey. ECBC will provide 
to these first responders a detailed letter describing the effort and 
the process for providing information. The survey questionnaire shall 
be developed using http://www.SurveyMonkey.com, the world's leading 
provider of web-based survey solutions, and shall be hosted at the Web 
site http://www.ResponderHorizonScan.com. This will allow ECBC to 
electronically capture information for a large number of first 
responders and quickly organize and download the information for 
analysis.

Collect and Analyze Data

    The data collected by ECBC will be analyzed by a team of subject 
matter experts in detection and decision analysis. Decision analysis 
experts will create a system by which to subjectively analyze the 
information gathered from the first responder community. This system 
will allow flexibility in the analysis increasing the power of the 
survey. The field analysis will provide to DHS valuable insight into 
the tools being used in the field.

Create and Deliver Final Report and/or Publication

    ECBC will provide to DHS a final report consisting of the full and 
final raw data collected via www.ResponderHorizonScan.com and a written 
report detailing the analysis performed and the results of the 
analysis. In addition, ECBC will provide to DHS a presentation for 
conferences and meetings that highlights the survey results.

    Dated: January 23, 2012.
Patricia L. Toppings,
OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2012-2726 Filed 2-6-12; 8:45 am]
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