[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 185 (Wednesday, September 24, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57108-57110]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-22691]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

[30-Day 14-14AEH]


Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

    The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has 
submitted the following information collection request to the Office of 
Management and

[[Page 57109]]

Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995. The notice for the proposed information 
collection is published to obtain comments from the public and affected 
agencies.
    Written comments and suggestions from the public and affected 
agencies concerning the proposed collection of information are 
encouraged. Your comments should address any of the following: (a) 
Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary 
for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
whether the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the 
accuracy of the agencies estimate of the burden of the proposed 
collection of information, including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used; (c) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; (d) Minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on those who are to respond, including 
through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or 
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses; and 
(e) Assess information collection costs.
    To request additional information on the proposed project or to 
obtain a copy of the information collection plan and instruments, call 
(404) 639-7570 or send an email to [email protected]. Written comments and/or 
suggestions regarding the items contained in this notice should be 
directed to the Attention: 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

Assessment of Chemical Exposures (ACE) Investigations--New--Agency for 
Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)

Background and Brief Description

    The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) is 
requesting a three-year generic clearance for the Assessment of 
Chemical Exposures (ACE) Investigations to assist state, regional, 
local, or tribal health departments after toxic substance spills or 
chemical incidents. ACE investigations are a component of the National 
Toxic Substance Incidents Program (NTSIP). The NTSIP was introduced in 
2010 as a comprehensive agency approach to toxic substance incident 
surveillance, prevention, and response. This three-part program 
includes a proposal for state-based surveillance for toxic substance 
releases, a national database of toxic substance incidents combining 
data from many sources, and the ACE investigations.
    The ACE Investigations focus on performing rapid epidemiological 
assessments to assist state, regional, local, or tribal health 
departments (the requesting agencies) to respond to or prepare for 
acute chemical releases. The main objectives for performing these rapid 
assessments are to:
    1. Characterize exposure and acute health effects of respondents 
exposed to toxic substances from discrete, chemical releases and 
determine their health statuses;
    2. identify needs (i.e. medical and basic) of those exposed during 
the releases to aid in planning interventions in the community;
    3. assess the impact of the incidents on health services use and 
share lessons learned for use in hospital, local, and state planning 
for chemical incidents; and
    4. identify cohorts that may be followed and assessed for 
persistent health effects resulting from acute releases.
    Because each chemical incident is different, it is not possible to 
predict in advance exactly what type of and how many respondents will 
need to be consented and interviewed to effectively evaluate the 
incident. Respondents typically include, but are not limited to 
emergency responders such as police, fire, hazardous material 
technicians, emergency medical services, and personnel at hospitals 
where patients from the incident were treated. Incidents may occur at 
businesses or in the community setting; therefore, respondents may also 
include business owners, managers, workers, customers, community 
residents, pet owners, and those passing through the affected area.
    Data will be collected by the multi-disciplinary ACE team 
consisting of staff from ATSDR, the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC), and the requesting agencies. ATSDR has developed a 
series of sample survey forms that can be quickly tailored in the field 
to collect data that will meet the goals of the investigation. They 
will be administered based on time permitted and urgency. For example, 
it is preferable to administer the general survey to as many 
respondents as possible. However, if there are time constraints, the 
shorter Rapid Response Registry form or the household survey may be 
administered instead. The individual surveys collect information about 
exposure, acute health effects, health services use, medical history, 
needs resulting from the incident, communication during the release, 
health impact on children and pets, and demographic data. Hospital 
personnel are asked about the surge, response and communication, 
decontamination, and lessons learned. Medical chart abstractions may 
also be done to collect more detailed patient information. Similarly, 
veterinary chart abstractions may be performed if data about the health 
effects experienced by pets is needed to supplement human data.
    Depending on the situation, respondents may incur reporting burden 
during face-to-face interviews, telephone interviews, written surveys, 
mailed surveys, or on-line surveys. For ACE Investigations, respondents 
to surveys and interviews will incur reporting burden; the staff from 
state, local, or tribal health agencies, will incur recordkeeping 
burden if they work with ATSDR and CDC staff on medical and veterinary 
chart abstractions. In rare situations, an investigation might involve 
the collection and laboratory analysis of clinical specimens.
    In the past, ACE investigations have been performed in response to 
requests for assistance from state, regional, local, or tribal health 
departments under OMB No. 0920-0008, which expired July 31, 2014. The 
number of participants surveyed ranged from 30-715, averaging about 250 
participants per investigation. In the future, ATSDR anticipates up to 
four ACE investigations per year. Therefore, the total annualized 
estimated burden will be 589 hours per year.
    Participation in ACE investigations is voluntary and there are no 
anticipated costs to respondents other than their time.

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                                        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.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Residents, first responders, business   General Survey..........             800               1           30/60
 owners, employees, customers.
                                        Rapid Response Registry               50               1            7/60
                                         Form.
Residents.............................  Household Survey........             110               1           15/60
Hospital staff........................  Hospital Survey.........              40               1           30/60
Staff from state, local, or tribal      Medical Chart                        250               1           30/60
 health agencies.                        Abstraction Form.
                                        Veterinary Chart                      30               1           20/60
                                         Abstraction Form.
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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. 2014-22691 Filed 9-23-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P