[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 142 (Monday, July 25, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48437-48438]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-17494]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Indian Health Service


Request for Public Comment: 60 Day Proposed Information 
Collection: Environmental Health Assessment of Tribal Child Care 
Centers in the Pacific Northwest

AGENCY: Indian Health Service, HHS.

ACTION: Notice

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 which 
requires 60 days advance opportunity for public comment on proposed 
information collection projects, the Indian Health Service (IHS) is 
publishing for comment a summary of proposed information collection to 
be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review.
    Proposed Collection: Proposed Collection: Title: 0917-NEW, ``Indian 
Health Service Environmental Health Assessment of Tribal Child Care 
Centers in the Pacific Northwest.'' Type of Information Collection 
Request: Three year approval of this new information collection, 0917-
NEW, ``Indian Health Service Environmental Health Assessment of Tribal 
Child Care Centers in the Pacific Northwest.''
    Form(s): Child Care Center Director Questionnaire and Pesticide 
Applicator Questionnaire.

DATES: Comment Due Date: September 23, 2016. Your comments regarding 
this information collection are best assured of having full effect if 
received within 60 days of the date of this publication.

ADDRESSES: Send your written comments, requests for more information on 
the collection, or requests to obtain a copy of the data collection 
instrument and instructions to Ms. Celeste Davis by one of the 
following methods:
     Mail: Ms. Celeste Davis, Director, Division of 
Environmental Health Services/Emergency Management Coordinator, U.S. 
DHHS/Indian Health Service, 1414 NW Northrup St., 800, Portland, OR 
97209.
     Phone: 503-414-7774.
     Email: [email protected].
     Fax: 503-414-7776.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Division is submitting the proposed 
information collection to OMB for review, as required by the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995. This Notice is soliciting comments from members 
of the public and affected agencies concerning the proposed collection 
of information to: (1) 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: (2) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information; (3) Enhance the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and 
(4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who 
are to respond; including through the use of appropriate automated 
collection techniques of other forms of information technology, e.g., 
permitting electronic submission of responses.
    Title of Proposal: Environmental Health Assessment of Tribal Child 
Care Centers in the Pacific Northwest.
    OMB Control Number: To be assigned.
    Need for the Information and Proposed Use: The Portland Area IHS 
and EPA seek to conduct an environmental health assessment of tribal 
child care centers in Portland Area Indian Country (in the states of 
Washington, Oregon, and Idaho). There is a significant data gap 
regarding the levels of lead, allergens, pesticides, and 
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in child care centers within Portland 
Area Indian country. This research will help us understand the 
potential for exposure to these chemicals among children who attend. 
For example, Eliminating Childhood Lead Poisoning: A Federal Strategy 
Targeting Lead Paint Hazards, produced by the President's Task Force on 
Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks to Children discusses the 
need for more data on lead levels in licensed child care facilities. 
Also, data is limited on the interrelationships between exposure 
factors, building factors, and community factors and their combined 
impact on children's exposures from chemical agents in child

[[Page 48438]]

care environments. Non-chemical stressors, such as noise, number of 
windows in the child care center, tree cover, and shade cover in play 
area, will be included in data collection. Community factors, such as 
mapping the locations of the child care facilities, roads, and 
agricultural operations, will be included in data collection in order 
to evaluate the relationship between indoor air quality and the outdoor 
environment.
    IHS and EPA will also incorporate follow-up outreach and education 
with facilities to explain results and suggest corrective actions to 
remediate or reduce exposures from lead, allergens, pesticides, and 
PCBs that are detected in the facilities. The principal purpose of this 
project is to provide valuable data about the levels of lead, 
allergens, pesticides, and PCBs in child care facilities located in 
Portland Area Indian Country. This project will help prioritize 
services and funding based on known needs and risks in order to help 
facilities obtain needed services. This data may help tribes secure 
funding from the federal Head Start program and other funding sources 
for repairs, rehabilitations or other corrective action. This study may 
also provide federal Head Start and Tribal Programs with data to 
improve standards and initiate policy changes, if necessary. IHS will 
also provide indoor air quality kits to the facilities and 
environmental health training to center staff to provide methods and 
practices for preventing and controlling indoor environmental hazards. 
This project may be replicated in other IHS areas.
    Agency Form Numbers: None.
    Members of Affected Public: Operators of tribal child care 
facilities and pesticide applicators who work in child care facilities.
    Status of the Proposed Information Collection: New request.
    The table below provides: Types of data collection instruments, 
Estimated number of respondents, Number of responses per respondent, 
Annual number of responses, Average burden hour per response, and Total 
annual burden hours.

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                                                                                      Average
                                     Type of         Number of        Number        burden per       Estimated
  Data collection instrument       respondent       respondents    responses per     response      burden hours
                                                                    respondent        (hours)
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Child Care Center Director      Child Care                    45               1             1.5            67.5
 Questionnaire.                  Center Director.
Pesticide Applicator            Pesticide                     30               1             0.5              15
 Questionnaire.                  Applicator.
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.....................  ................              75  ..............  ..............            82.5
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    There are no direct costs to respondents other than their time to 
voluntarily complete the forms and submit them for consideration.
    Comment Due Date: Comments regarding this information collection 
are best assured of having full effect if received within 60 days of 
the date of this publication.

    Dated: July 13, 2016.
 Elizabeth A. Fowler,
 Deputy Director for Management Operations, Indian Health Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-17494 Filed 7-22-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4165-16-P