[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 111 (Monday, June 12, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26928-26929]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-12061]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

[30-Day-17-17OB]


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 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

    Characterization of Exposure Potential during Activities Conducted 
on Synthetic Turf with Crumb Rubber Infill--New--Agency for Toxic 
Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).

Background and Brief Description

    Currently in the United States, there are more than 12,000 
synthetic turf fields in use. While the Synthetic Turf Council has set 
guidelines for the content of crumb rubber used as infill in synthetic 
turf fields, manufacturing processes result in differences among types 
of crumb rubber. Additionally, the chemical composition may vary highly 
between different processes and source materials and may vary even 
within granules from the same origin.
    In July, 2016, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 
(ATSDR) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) 
were granted an emergency Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) clearance for a 
research study titled ``Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields 
with Crumb Rubber Infill'' (OMB

[[Page 26929]]

Control No. 0923-0054, expiration date 01/31/2017). The research goals 
for the three activities in the protocol are pilot-level investigations 
to evaluate and characterize: The chemical composition and use of crumb 
rubber infill in synthetic turf using a convenience sample of nine tire 
recycling manufacturing plants and 40 facilities that use synthetic 
turf fields (Activity 1); The human exposure potential to constituents 
in crumb rubber infill among a convenience sample of 60 field users 
(Activity 2); and collection of biological specimens (blood and urine) 
from 45 participants from Activity 2 (Activity 3).
    By December, 2016, ATSDR and US EPA completed Activity 1 which was 
aimed at characterizing the chemical composition and use of synthetic 
turf fields with tire crumb rubber infill. The agencies successfully 
consented and sampled 40 synthetic turf fields with crumb rubber infill 
across the United States. The activities are reported in the ``Status 
Report on the Federal Research Action Plan on Recycled Tire Crumb Used 
on Playing Fields and Playgrounds,'' which was released on December 30, 
2016.
    During Activity 1, ATSDR and US EPA obtained permission to return 
to some of the participating fields to complete the human exposure 
characterization. Due to the limited time constraints and field 
activity schedules, ATSDR and US EPA chose to begin Activity 2 data 
collection and Activity 3 specimen collection in 2017.
    The agencies are submitting a new information collection request 
(ICR) for a one-year PRA clearance to complete Activity 2 and Activity 
3, now subtitled ``Characterization of Exposure Potential during 
Activities Conducted on Synthetic Turf with Crumb Rubber Infill.'' This 
will be the first assessment of activities conducted on synthetic turf 
for the purpose of characterizing potential exposure patterns. The 
study will include persons who use synthetic turf with crumb rubber 
infill (e.g., facility users) and who routinely perform activities that 
would result in a high level of contact to crumb rubber. This will 
allow for the evaluation of potential high-end exposures to 
constituents in synthetic turf among this group of users. The 
respondents will be administered a detailed questionnaire on activity 
patterns on synthetic turf with crumb rubber infill. This instrument, 
along with extant videography of persons engaged in activities of 
interest (see below), will be used to characterize exposure scenarios, 
including the nature and duration of potential exposures.
    The research study will screen a total of 75 participants for 
eligibility. The sample size for the Activity 2 exposure 
characterization is 60 respondents. For Activity 3, we will conduct an 
exposure measurements sub-study among 45 of the 60 respondents, 
including field environmental sampling, personal air monitoring, dermal 
sampling, and urine and blood collection. Video data collection of 
facility user activities will be performed for a further subset of 24 
of the Activity 2 respondents. It is likely that some of the collection 
items will not be analyzed in the current project time frame but will 
be archived for future analysis.
    The total estimated annual time burden requested for this research 
activity equals 174 hours. There is no cost to the respondents other 
than their time in the study.

                                        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 hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adult/Adolescent Facility Users.......  Eligibility Screening                 41               1            5/60
                                         Script.
                                        Adult and Adolescent                  36               1           30/60
                                         Questionnaire.
                                        Exposure Measurement                  27               1               3
                                         Form.
                                        Phlebotomist Safety                   27               1            2/60
                                         Exclusion Questions
                                         Form.
Parents/Guardians of Youth/Child        Eligibility Screening                 34               1            5/60
 Facility Users.                         Script.
                                        Youth and Child                       24               1           30/60
                                         Questionnaire.
                                        Phlebotomist Safety                   18               1            2/60
                                         Exclusion Questions
                                         Form.
Youth/Child Facility Users............  Exposure Measurement                  18               1               3
                                         Form.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


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. 2017-12061 Filed 6-9-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4163-18-P