[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 225 (Thursday, November 21, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69854-69855]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-27942]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30-Day-14-13ZJ]


Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publishes a 
list of information collection requests under review by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). To request a copy of these requests, call 
(404) 639-7570 or send an email to [email protected]. Send written comments 
to CDC Desk Officer, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 
20503 or by fax to (202) 395-5806. Written comments should be received 
within 30 days of this notice.

Proposed Project

    Emergency Epidemic Investigation Data Collections--New--Center for 
Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services (CSELS), Division 
of Scientific Education and Professional Development, DSEPD), 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. Sec. 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, 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

[[Page 69855]]

performed during the previous two years.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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                                                                                   Number of     Average  burden
        Type of respondents                  Form name            Number of      responses per    per  response
                                                                 respondents       respondent       (in hrs.)
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Emergency Epidemic Investigation     Emergency Epidemic                12,000                1            30/60
 Participants.                        Investigation Data
                                      Collection Instruments.
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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, Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2013-27942 Filed 11-20-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P