[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 222 (Monday, November 18, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69090-69092]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-27485]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60 Day-14-0636]


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 
and

[[Page 69091]]

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: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 
Secure Public Health Emergency Response Communications Network (Epi-X) 
(OMB Control No. 0920-0636, exp. 5/31/2014)--Revision--Office of Public 
Health Preparedness and Response (OPHPR), Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    From 2009-2012, CDC conducted incident specific, public health 
emergency response operations on average of six public health incidents 
a year with an average emergency response length of 50 days for each 
incident. The effectiveness and efficiency of CDC's response to any 
public health incident depends on information at the agency's disposal 
to characterize and monitor the incident, make timely decisions, and 
take appropriate actions to prevent or reduce the impact of the 
incident.
    Available information in anticipation of, during and following 
public health incident responses is often incomplete, is not easily 
validated by state and local health authorities, and is sometimes 
conflicting. This lack of reliable information often creates a high 
level of uncertainty with potential negative impacts on public health 
response operations. Secure communications with CDC's state, local, 
territorial, and tribal public health partners is essential to resolve 
conflicting information, validate incident status, and establish and 
maintain situational awareness. Reliable, secure communications are 
essential for the agency to gain and maintain accurate situational 
awareness, make informed decisions, and to respond in the most 
appropriate manner possible in order to minimize the impact of an 
incident on the public health of the United States.
    This generic Information Collection Request (ICR) is being revised 
to: (1) Remove verbiage limiting data collection to activation of the 
Incident Management Structure, (2) broaden categories under which data 
may be collected to increase its utilization, and (3) provide clarity 
regarding the data elements.
    (Epi-X) is CDC's Web-based communication system for securely 
communicating in immediate anticipation of, during and following public 
health emergencies that have multi-jurisdictional impacts and 
implications. The incidents of September 11, 2001 illustrated the need 
for an encrypted and secure communications system that would permit CDC 
to communicate urgently with partners at the state and local levels, 
and to notify them 24/7, when necessary. Similarly, Epi-X was 
specifically designed to provide public health decision-makers at the 
state and local levels a secure, reliable tool for communicating 
sensitive, unusual, or urgent public health incidents to neighboring 
jurisdictions as well as to CDC.
    CDC has recognized a need to expand the use of Epi-X to collect 
specific response related information in anticipation of, during and 
following public health emergencies. Proposed data collection 
instruments under this generic ICR will be designed to ensure ready 
access to public health and disease epidemiology information.
    Authorized officials from state and local health departments 
affected by the public health incident will be informed of this data 
collection first through an Epi-X Facilitator, who will work closely 
with Epi-X program staff and the Epi-X Information Collection Request 
Liaison to ensure that Epi-X incident specific information collections 
are understood. The survey instruments will contain specific questions 
relevant to the current and ongoing public health incident and response 
activities.
    Respondents will receive the survey instrument(s) as an official 
CDC email, which is clearly labeled, ``Epi-X Emergency Public Health 
Incident Information Request.'' The email message will be accompanied 
by a link to an Epi-X Forum discussion Web page. Respondents can 
provide their answers to the survey questions by posting information 
within the discussion. The total estimated burden for the generic 
information collection is 73,200 hours for three years.
    There are no costs to respondents except their time.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      Average
                                                     Number of        Number        burden per     Total burden
      Type of respondent            Form name       respondents    responses per   response  (in       hours
                                                                    respondent        hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State Epidemiologists.........  Epi-X Emergency               50             104               1           5,200
                                 Public Health
                                 Incident
                                 Information
                                 Request.
County Health.................  Epi-X Emergency            1,600              12               1          19,200
Officials.....................   Public Health
                                 Incident
                                 Information
                                 Request.
                               ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.....................  ................  ..............  ..............  ..............          24,400
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[[Page 69092]]

LeRoy 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. 2013-27485 Filed 11-15-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P