[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 45 (Wednesday, March 7, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13582-13585]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-5568]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Disability and Rehabilitation Research Project; Burn Model 
Systems Centers

AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, 
Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Overview Information:
    Proposed priority--National Institute on Disability and 
Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)--Disability and Rehabilitation Research 
Projects and Centers Program--Disability and Rehabilitation Research 
Project (DRRP)--Burn Model Systems Centers.
    CFDA Number: 84.133A-3.
SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and 
Rehabilitative Services proposes a priority under the Disability and 
Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program administered by 
the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research 
(NIDRR). Specifically, this notice proposes a priority for DRRPs that 
will serve as Burn Model Systems (BMS) Centers. The Assistant Secretary 
may use this priority for competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2012 and 
later years. We take this action to focus research attention on areas 
of national need. We intend this priority to contribute to improved 
outcomes for individuals with burn injury.

DATES: We must receive your comments on or before April 6, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Address all comments about this notice to Lynn Medley, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5140, Potomac 
Center Plaza (PCP), Washington, DC 20202-2700.
    If you prefer to send your comments by email, use the following 
address: [email protected]. You must include ``Proposed Priority for 
Burn Model Systems (BMS) Centers'' in the subject line of your 
electronic message.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lynn Medley. Telephone: (202) 245-7338 
or by email: [email protected].
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call the 
Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    This notice of proposed priority is in concert with NIDRR's 
currently approved Long-Range Plan (Plan). The Plan, which was 
published in the Federal Register on February 15, 2006 (71 FR 8165), 
can be accessed on the Internet at the following site: http://www2.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/other/2006-1/021506d.pdf.
    Through the implementation of the Plan, NIDRR seeks to: (1) Improve 
the quality and utility of disability and rehabilitation research; (2) 
foster an exchange of expertise, information, and training to 
facilitate the advancement of knowledge and understanding of the unique 
needs of traditionally underserved populations; (3) determine best 
strategies and programs to improve rehabilitation outcomes for 
underserved populations; (4) identify research gaps; (5) identify 
mechanisms of integrating research and practice; and (6) disseminate 
findings.
    This notice proposes a priority that NIDRR intends to use for a 
DRRP competition in FY 2012 and possibly later years. However, nothing 
precludes NIDRR from publishing additional priorities, if needed. 
Furthermore, NIDRR is under no obligation to make an award for this 
priority. The decision to make an award will be based on the quality of 
applications received and available funding.
    Invitation to Comment: We invite you to submit comments regarding 
this notice. To ensure that your comments have maximum effect in 
developing the notice of final priority, we urge you to identify 
clearly the specific topic that each comment addresses.
    We invite you to assist us in complying with the specific 
requirements of Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 and their overall 
requirement of reducing regulatory burden that might result from this 
proposed priority. Please let us know of any further ways we could 
reduce potential costs or increase potential benefits while preserving 
the effective and efficient administration of the program.
    During and after the comment period, you may inspect all public 
comments about this notice in room 5140, 550 12th Street SW., PCP, 
Washington, DC, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., Washington, 
DC time, Monday through Friday of each week except Federal holidays.
    Assistance to Individuals With Disabilities in Reviewing the 
Rulemaking Record: On request we will provide an appropriate 
accommodation or auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability who 
needs assistance to review the comments or other documents in the 
public rulemaking record for this notice. If you want to schedule an 
appointment for this type of accommodation or auxiliary aid, please 
contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Disability and 
Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program is to plan and 
conduct research, demonstration projects, training, and related 
activities, including international activities, to develop methods, 
procedures, and rehabilitation technology, that maximize the full 
inclusion and integration into society, employment, independent living, 
family support, and economic and social self-sufficiency of individuals 
with disabilities, especially individuals with the most severe 
disabilities, and to improve the effectiveness of services authorized 
under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (Rehabilitation Act).

Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects

    The purpose of NIDRR's DRRPs, which are funded through the 
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program, 
are to improve the effectiveness of services authorized under the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, by developing methods, 
procedures, and rehabilitation technologies that advance a wide range 
of independent living and employment outcomes for individuals with 
disabilities, especially individuals with the most severe disabilities. 
DRRPs carry out one or more of the following types of activities, as 
specified and defined in 34 CFR 350.13 through 350.19: Research, 
training, demonstration, development, dissemination, utilization, and 
technical assistance.
    Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 762(g) and 764(a).
    Applicable Program Regulations: 34 CFR part 350.
    Proposed Priority:
    This notice contains one proposed priority.
    Burn Model Systems (BMS) Centers.

[[Page 13583]]

    Background:
    The American Burn Association (ABA) reports that 450,000 persons in 
the United States receive medical treatment for burn injuries annually 
(ABA, 2011). Of these, 3,500 die and 45,000 are hospitalized. Of those 
hospitalized, 25,000 are treated in hospitals with burn centers. With 
advances in early medical response to burn injuries and advances in 
infection control, survival rates of those incurring large burns have 
significantly increased (ABA, 2011b; Soman, Greenhalgh, & Palmieri, 
2010). For those who survive, there are often significant challenges 
that affect their functional outcomes. Physical challenges may include 
severe contractures, joint deformities, neurologic and musculosketal 
problems, scarring, pain, and fatigue (Dewey, Richard, & Parry, 2011; 
Gabriel, 2011; Schneider, Holavanahalli, Helm, Goldstein, & Kowalske, 
K., 2006; Schneider & Qu, 2011). Psychological challenges may include 
posttraumatic stress, depression, and anxiety (Fauerbach et al., 2007; 
Ullrich, Askay, & Patterson, 2009; Wiechman, 2011). Psychosocial and 
environmental factors make community integration, including return to 
school and work, difficult (Esselman, 2011; Schneider, Bassi, & Ryan, 
2009). Improvements in survival rates have highlighted the need for 
comprehensive rehabilitation treatment teams that provide a continuum 
of coordinated services from admission to the burn unit to assistance 
with community reintegration, and a combined focus on physical and 
psychological rehabilitation (Esselman & Kowalske, 2011; Richard et 
al., 2008).
    The Burn Injury Model Systems centers (BMS Centers) program was 
created by NIDRR in 1994 to provide leadership in rehabilitation as a 
key component of exemplary burn care and to advance the research base 
on effective rehabilitation services for burn survivors. The mission of 
the BMS Centers is to improve the lives of persons who experience burn 
injury and their families by creating and disseminating new knowledge 
about the natural course of burn injury and rehabilitation treatment 
and outcomes following burn injury. NIDRR currently funds 4 BMS Centers 
throughout the United States. Each BMS Center provides a coordinated 
system of burn injury care to individuals who sustain a burn injury and 
conducts burn research, including clinical research and the analysis of 
standardized data in collaboration with other BMS Centers. Since 1998, 
the BMS Centers have collected and contributed information on common 
data elements for a centralized BMS database, which is maintained 
through a NIDRR-funded grant for a National Data and Statistical Center 
for the BMS. (Additional information on the BMS database can be found 
at http://bms-dcc.ucdenver.edu/). The National Data and Statistical 
Center for the BMS coordinates data collection among the BMS Centers, 
manages the BMS database, and provides statistical support to the BMS 
Centers. As of December, 2011, BMS Centers have contributed 4,917 cases 
to the BMS database, with follow up data available for 3,419 
participants at 6-months post injury; 2,998 at 1 year post injury; and 
2,481 at 2 years post injury. During the 2007-2012 grant cycle, data 
collection was extended to include information from participants at 5 
and 10 years post injury.
    Through this priority, we seek to fund new BMS Centers that will 
continue to provide a multidisciplinary system of rehabilitation care 
specifically designed to meet the needs of individuals with burn 
injury. These services would span the continuum of treatment from acute 
care through community re-entry. Under this priority, BMS Centers would 
engage in initiatives and new approaches and maintain close working 
relationships with other governmental and non-profit institutions and 
organizations to coordinate scientific efforts, encourage joint 
planning, and promote the interchange of data and reports among burn 
injury researchers.
    A committee consisting of the individual BMS project directors has, 
since its inception, guided the BMS Centers program. This group meets 
annually in Washington, DC and at the annual ABA meeting. They also 
meet by teleconference throughout the year. NIDRR intends to form such 
a committee with the project directors awarded grants under this 
proposed priority.
    References:

    American Burn Association. (2011). Burn Incidence and Treatment 
in the US: 2011 Fact Sheet. Retrieved December 1, 2011, from http://www.ameriburn.org/resources_factsheet.php.
    American Burn Association. (2011b). National Burn Repository: 
2011 Report Dataset Version 7.0. Retrieved December 2, 1011, from 
http://www.ameriburn.org/2011NBRAnnualReport.pdf.
    Dewey, W.S., Richard, R.L., & Parry, I.S. (2011). Positioning, 
splinting, and contracture management. In P. C. Esselman, K. J. 
Kowalske, & G. H. Kraft (Eds.), Burn Rehabilitation, Physical 
Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America, 22(2), 229-
247.
    Gabriel, V. (2011). Hypertrophic scar. In P. C. Esselman, K. J. 
Kowalske, & G. H. Kraft (Eds.), Burn Rehabilitation, Physical 
Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America, 22(2), 301-
310.
    Esselman, P.C. (2011). Community integration outcome after burn 
injury. In P. C. Esselman, K. J. Kowalske, & G. H. Kraft (Eds.), 
Burn Rehabilitation, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of 
North America, 22(2), 351-356.
    Esselman, P.C. & Kowalske, K. J. (2011). Burn Rehabilitation, 
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America, 
22(2), xiii-xv.
    Fauerbach, J.A., McKibben, J., Bienvenu, O.J., Magyar-Russell, 
G., Smith, M.T., Holavanahalli, R., Patterson, D.R., Wiechman, S.A., 
Blakeney, P., & Lezotte, D. (2007). Psychological distress after 
major burn injury. Psychosomatic Medicine, 69(5), 473-482.
    Richard, R.L., Hedman, T.L., Quick, C.D., Barillo, D.J., Cancio, 
L.C., Renz, E.M., Chapman, T.T., Dewey, W.S., Dougherty, M.E., 
Esselman, P.C., Forbes-Duchart, L., Franzen, B.J., Hunter, H., 
Kowalske, K., Moore, M.L., Nakamura, D.Y., Nedelec, B., Niszczak, 
J., Parry, I., Serghiou, M., Ward, R.S., Holcomb, J.B., Wolf, S.E. 
(2008). A clarion to recommit and reaffirm burn rehabilitation. 
Journal of Burn Care & Research, 29(3), 425-432.
    Schneider, J.C., Bassi, S., & Ryan, C.M. (2009). Barriers 
impacting employment after burn injury. Journal of Burn Care & 
Research, 30(2), 294-300.
    Schneider, J.C., Holavanahalli, R., Helm, P., Goldstein, R., & 
Kowalske, K. (2006). Contractures in burn injury: Defining the 
problem. Journal of Burn Care & Research, 27(4), 508-514.
    Schneider, J.C. & Qu, H.D. (2011). Neurologic and 
musculoskeletal complications of burn injuries. Burn Rehabilitation, 
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America, 
22(2), 261-275.
    Soman, S., Greenhalgh, D., & Palmieri, T. (2010). Review of burn 
injury research for the year of 2009. Journal of Burn Care & 
Research, 31(6), 836-848.
    Ullrich, P.M., Askay, SW., Patterson, D.R. (2009). Pain, 
depression, and physical functioning following burn injury. 
Rehabilitation Psychology, 54, 211-216.
    Wiechman, S.A. (2011). Psychosocial recovery, pain, and itch 
after burn injuries. In P. C. Esselman, K. J. Kowalske, & G. H. 
Kraft (Eds.), Burn Rehabilitation, Physical Medicine and 
Rehabilitation Clinics of North America, 22(2), 327-345.

    Proposed Priority:
    The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative 
Services proposes a priority for the funding of Burn Model Systems 
centers (BMS Centers). The BMS Centers must provide comprehensive, 
multidisciplinary services to individuals with burn injury and conduct 
research that contributes to evidence-based rehabilitation 
interventions and clinical and practice guidelines. The BMS Centers 
must generate new knowledge that can be used to improve outcomes of

[[Page 13584]]

individuals with burn injury in one or more domains identified in 
NIDRR's currently approved Long Range Plan, published in the Federal 
Register on February 15, 2006 (71 FR 8166): Health and function, 
participation and community living, technology, and employment. Each 
BMS Center must contribute to this outcome by--
    (a) Providing a multidisciplinary system of rehabilitation care 
specifically designed to meet the needs of individuals with burn 
injury, including but not limited to physical, psychological, and 
community reintegration needs. The system must encompass a continuum of 
care, including emergency medical services, acute care services, acute 
medical rehabilitation services, and post-acute services;
    (b) Continuing the assessment of long-term outcomes of individuals 
with burn injury by enrolling at least 30 subjects per year into the 
BMS database, and collecting follow-up data on all subjects enrolled in 
the database at 6 months, and at 1, 2, 5, and 10 years post injury (as 
is being done in the current grant cycle) and extending the assessment 
to every five years thereafter, following established protocols for the 
collection of enrollment and follow-up data on subjects;

    Note: BMS Centers will be funded at varying amounts up to the 
maximum award based on the numbers of BMS database participants from 
whom BMS Centers must collect follow-up data. BMS Centers that have 
previously been BMS grantees with large numbers of database 
participants will receive more funding within the specified range 
than BMS Centers with fewer participants, as determined by NIDRR 
after applicants are selected for funding. Applicants must include 
in their budgets specific estimates of their costs for follow-up 
data collection. Funding will be determined individually for each 
successful applicant, up to the maximum allowed, based upon the 
documented workload associated with the follow-up data collection, 
other costs of the grant, and the overall budget of the research 
project.

    (c) Proposing and conducting at least one, but no more than two, 
site-specific research projects to test innovative approaches to 
treating burn injury or to assess outcomes of individuals with burn 
injury. Site-specific research projects must focus on outcomes in one 
or more domains identified in the Plan: health and function, community 
living and participation, technology, and employment;

    Note: Applicants who propose more than two site-specific 
research projects will be disqualified. Site-specific research 
projects may include collaborating entities as needed for execution 
of the research project.

    (d) Coordinating with the NIDRR-funded Model Systems Knowledge 
Translation Center (MSKTC; http://www.msktc.org/) to provide scientific 
results and information for dissemination to clinical and consumer 
audiences;
    (e) Spending $5,000 of its total budget toward the costs of a 
state-of-the-science conference, which will be planned and executed 
with input and participation by the BMS Centers;
    (f) Addressing the needs of individuals with burn injuries, 
including individuals from one or more traditionally underserved 
populations; and
    (g) Ensuring that the input of individuals with burn injuries is 
used to shape BMS research activities.
    Types of Priorities:
    When inviting applications for a competition using one or more 
priorities, we designate the type of each priority as absolute, 
competitive preference, or invitational through a notice in the Federal 
Register. The effect of each type of priority follows:
    Absolute priority: Under an absolute priority, we consider only 
applications that meet the priority (34 CFR 75.105(c)(3)).
    Competitive preference priority: Under a competitive preference 
priority, we give competitive preference to an application by (1) 
awarding additional points, depending on the extent to which the 
application meets the priority (34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i)); or (2) 
selecting an application that meets the priority over an application of 
comparable merit that does not meet the priority (34 CFR 
75.105(c)(2)(ii)).
    Invitational priority: Under an invitational priority, we are 
particularly interested in applications that meet the priority. 
However, we do not give an application that meets the invitational 
priority a preference over other applications (34 CFR 75.105(c)(1)).
    Final Priority:
    We will announce the final priority in a notice in the Federal 
Register. We will determine the final priority after considering 
responses to this notice and other information available to the 
Department. This notice does not preclude us from proposing additional 
priorities, requirements, definitions, or selection criteria, subject 
to meeting applicable rulemaking requirements.

    Note: This notice does not solicit applications. In any year in 
which we choose to use this priority, we invite applications through 
a notice in the Federal Register.

    Executive Orders 12866 and 13563:

Regulatory Impact Analysis

    Under Executive Order 12866, the Secretary must determine whether 
this regulatory action is ``significant'' and, therefore, subject to 
the requirements of the Executive order and subject to review by the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Section 3(f) of Executive Order 
12866 defines a ``significant regulatory action'' as an action likely 
to result in a rule that may--
    (1) Have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more, 
or adversely affect a sector of the economy, productivity, competition, 
jobs, the environment, public health or safety, or State, local or 
Tribal governments or communities in a material way (also referred to 
as an ``economically significant'' rule);
    (2) Create serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an 
action taken or planned by another agency;
    (3) Materially alter the budgetary impacts of entitlement grants, 
user fees, or loan programs or the rights and obligations of recipients 
thereof; or
    (4) Raise novel legal or policy issues arising out of legal 
mandates, the President's priorities, or the principles stated in the 
Executive order.
    This proposed regulatory action is not a significant regulatory 
action subject to review by OMB under section 3(f) of Executive Order 
12866.
    We have also reviewed this regulatory action under Executive Order 
13563, which supplements and explicitly reaffirms the principles, 
structures, and definitions governing regulatory review established in 
Executive Order 12866. To the extent permitted by law, Executive Order 
13563 requires that an agency--
    (1) Propose or adopt regulations only on a reasoned determination 
that their benefits justify their costs (recognizing that some benefits 
and costs are difficult to quantify);
    (2) Tailor its regulations to impose the least burden on society, 
consistent with obtaining regulatory objectives and taking into 
account--among other things and to the extentpracticable--the costs of 
cumulative regulations;
    (3) In choosing among alternative regulatory approaches, select 
those approaches that maximize net benefits (including potential 
economic, environmental, public health and safety, and other 
advantages; distributive impacts; and equity);
    (4) To the extent feasible, specify performance objectives, rather 
than the behavior or manner of compliance a regulated entity must 
adopt; and
    (5) Identify and assess available alternatives to direct 
regulation,

[[Page 13585]]

including economic incentives--such as user fees or marketable 
permits--to encourage the desired behavior, or provide information that 
enables the public to make choices.
    Executive Order 13563 also requires an agency ``to use the best 
available techniques to quantify anticipated present and future 
benefits and costs as accurately as possible.'' The Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs of OMB has emphasized that these 
techniques may include ``identifying changing future compliance costs 
that might result from technological innovation or anticipated 
behavioral changes.''
    We are taking this regulatory action only on a reasoned 
determination that its benefits justify its costs. In choosing among 
alternative regulatory approaches, we selected those approaches that 
maximize net benefits. Based on the analysis that follows, the 
Department believes that this proposed priority is consistent with the 
principles in Executive Order 13563.
    We also have determined that this regulatory action would not 
unduly interfere with State, local, and tribal governments in the 
exercise of their governmental functions.
    In accordance with both Executive orders, the Department has 
assessed the potential costs and benefits of this regulatory action. 
The potential costs associated with this regulatory action are those 
resulting from statutory requirements and those we have determined as 
necessary for administering the Department's programs and activities.
    The benefits of the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects 
and Centers Programs have been well established over the years in that 
similar projects have been completed successfully. This proposed 
priority would generate new knowledge through research and development. 
Another benefit of this proposed priority is that the establishment of 
new DRRPs would improve the lives of individuals with disabilities. The 
new DRRP would generate, disseminate, and promote the use of new 
information that would improve the options for individuals with 
disabilities to perform activities of their choice in the community.
    Intergovernmental Review: This program is not subject to Executive 
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
    Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this 
document in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, 
audiotape, or computer diskette) by contacting the Grants and Contracts 
Services Team, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., 
Room 5075, PCP, Washington, DC 20202-2550. Telephone: (202) 245-7363. 
If you use a TDD, call the FRS, toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.
    Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this 
document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free 
Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the 
Code of Federal Regulations is available via the Federal Digital System 
at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you can view this document, as well 
as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal 
Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). To use PDF 
you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at the 
site.
    You may also access documents of the Department published in the 
Federal Register by using the article search feature at: 
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search 
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published 
by the Department.

    Dated: March 2, 2012.
Alexa Posny,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2012-5568 Filed 3-6-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P