[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 17, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4884-4885]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-00815]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30Day-17-17BX]


Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has submitted 
the following information collection request to the Office of 
Management and 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]. Direct written comments 
and/or suggestions regarding the items contained in this notice 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

    Understanding the Needs, Challenges, Opportunities, Vision and 
Emerging Roles in Environmental Health (UNCOVER EH)--New--National 
Center for Environmental Health (NCEH), Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC)

Background and Brief Description

    The environmental health (EH) workforce is an essential component 
of the public health workforce. According to recent health department 
surveys, EH professionals are employed at approximately 85% of local 
health departments, 81% of state health departments, and 30% of tribal 
health departments. Describing and characterizing the EH workforce is 
essential to identifying gaps in staffing, training, and ultimately 
ensuring EH professionals are prepared to meet future challenges. 
Because EH professionals play a crucial role in decreasing illness in 
our communities and protecting people from traditional and emerging 
environmental factors that may adversely affect human health, the 
workforce challenges facing this critical component of the public 
health system are a concern for public and community health. CDC's goal 
is to create a strong, sustained, and prepared EH workforce to meet 
today's challenges and improve the health and safety of all. In order 
to meet this goal, it is necessary to first

[[Page 4885]]

describe and characterize the EH workforce to assess their needs, 
challenges, and opportunities.
    This is a one-time information collection designed to thoroughly 
describe the health department EH workforce on: (1) The current supply 
of EH professionals; (2) EH workforce demographics and professional 
roles; (3) gaps in current EH education and competencies and training 
needs; and (4) critical skills and resources needed to meet the 
evolving and emerging EH issues and challenges. This information will 
benefit the government and other entities by providing essential data 
to inform and support workforce development activities and initiatives 
and understand areas of practice and where gaps may exist in capacity 
to address current EH issues and future challenges.
    The survey will be offered to the estimated 20,000 EH professionals 
working within health departments. They will be enumerated and 
recruited by identifying a point of contact in each state, local, 
tribal, and territorial health department from whom a roster of EH 
professionals will be requested. A list of respondents and their 
business email addresses will be generated and used for recruitment and 
survey administration. Any contact information collected will be 
related to the respondents' role in the organization. Participation 
will be voluntary. We expect approximately 80 percent of the estimated 
20,000 EH professionals (16,000 respondents) to respond to the survey.
    Data will be collected one time from a census of members of the 
public health department EH workforce using a web-based survey 
instrument. The UNCOVER EH Survey will take approximately 30 minutes to 
complete per respondent. There will be no cost to respondents other 
than their time. The requested time burden is 8,269 hours.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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                                                                                                      Average
                                                                     Number of       Number of      burden per
          Type of respondents                   Form name           respondents    responses per   response (in
                                                                                    respondent         hrs.)
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Health Department EH Administrative     Health Department Roster           3,231               1            5/60
 Staff.
Health Department EH Professionals....  UNCOVER EH Survey.......          16,000               1           30/60
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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. 2017-00815 Filed 1-13-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P