[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 134 (Friday, July 12, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 41930]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-16738]



[[Page 41930]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60 Day-13-13ZJ]


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 404-639-7570 or 
send comments to Leroy Richardson, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D74, Atlanta, 
GA 30333 or send an email 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

    Generic Emergency Epidemic Investigation Data Collections--New--
Scientific Education and Professional Development Program Office 
(SEPDPO), Office of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services 
(OSELS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    CDC previously has conducted Emergency Epidemic Investigations 
(EEIs) under Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number 0920-
0008. CDC is seeking a new OMB generic clearance for a 3-year period to 
collect vital information during EEIs in response to urgent outbreaks 
or events (i.e., natural, biological, chemical, nuclear, radiological) 
characterized by undetermined agents, undetermined sources, 
undetermined transmission, or undetermined risk factors. These EEIs 
represent a subset of those performed under OMB clearance 0920-0008.
    Supporting effective emergency epidemic investigations is one of 
the most important ways that CDC protects the health of the public. CDC 
is frequently called upon to conduct EEIs at the request of local, 
state, or international health authorities seeking support to respond 
to urgent outbreaks or urgent public health-related events. In response 
to external partner requests, CDC provides necessary epidemiologic 
support to identify the agents, sources, modes of transmission, or risk 
factors to effectively implement rapid prevention and control measures 
to protect the public's health. Data collection is a critical component 
of the epidemiologic support provided by CDC; data are analyzed to 
determine the agents, sources, modes of transmission, or risk factors 
so that effective prevention and control measures can be implemented. 
During an unanticipated outbreak or event, immediate action by CDC is 
necessary to minimize or prevent public harm. The legal justification 
for EEIs are found in the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 301 
[241] (a).
    Successful investigations are dependent on rapid and flexible data 
collection that evolves during the investigation and is customized to 
the unique circumstances of each outbreak or event. Data collection 
elements will be those necessary to identify the agents, sources, mode 
of transmission, or risk factors. Examples of potential data collection 
methods include telephone or face-to-face interview; email, web or 
other type of electronic questionnaire; paper-and-pencil questionnaire; 
focus groups; medical record review; laboratory record review; 
collection of clinical samples; and environmental assessment. 
Respondents will vary depending on the nature of the outbreak or event; 
examples of potential respondents include health care professionals, 
patients, laboratorians, consumers, and the general public. 
Participation in EEIs is voluntary and there are no anticipated costs 
to respondents other than their time. CDC will use the information 
gathered during EEIs to rapidly identify and effectively implement 
measures to minimize or prevent public harm.
    CDC projects 60 EEIs in response to outbreaks or events 
characterized by undetermined agents, undetermined sources, 
undetermined transmission, or undetermined risk factors annually. The 
projected average number of respondents is 200 per EEI, for a total of 
12,000 respondents. CDC estimates the average burden per response is 
0.5 hours and each respondent will be asked to respond once. Therefore, 
the total estimated annual burden hours are 6,000. These estimates are 
based on the reported burden for EEIs that have been performed during 
the previous two years.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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                                                                     Number of      Avg. burden
      Type of respondents           Form name        Number of     responses per   per response    Total burden
                                                    respondents     respondent       (in hrs.)       (in hrs.)
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Emergency Epidemic              Emergency                 12,000               1             0.5           6,000
 Investigation Participants.     Epidemic
                                 Investigation
                                 Data Collection
                                 Instruments.
                               ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.....................  ................  ..............  ..............  ..............           6,000
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Leroy A. Richardson,
Chief, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Scientific 
Integrity, Office of the Associate Director for Science, Office of the 
Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2013-16738 Filed 7-11-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P