[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 241 (Monday, December 17, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64576-64577]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-27222]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30Day-19-0960]


Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has submitted the information 
collection request titled Epidemiologic Study of Health Effects 
Associated With Low Pressure Events in Drinking Water Distribution 
Systems to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and 
approval. CDC previously published a ``Proposed Data Collection 
Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations'' notice on August 29, 
2018 to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies. CDC 
received five comments related to the previous notice. This notice 
serves to allow an additional 30 days for public and affected agency 
comments.
    CDC will accept all comments for this proposed information 
collection project. The Office of Management and Budget is particularly 
interested in comments that:
    (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, 725 17th 
Street NW, Washington, DC 20503 or by fax to (202) 395-5806. Provide 
written comments within 30 days of notice publication.

Proposed Project

    Epidemiologic Study of Health Effects Associated With Low Pressure 
Events in Drinking Water Distribution Systems

[[Page 64577]]

(0920-0960, Expiration Date 08/31/2018)--Reinstatement with Change--
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    CDC is seeking a three year reinstatement of OMB Control No. 0920-
0960, Epidemiologic Study of Health Effects Associated With Low 
Pressure Events in Drinking Water Distribution Systems.
    In the United States (U.S.), drinking water distribution systems 
are designed to deliver safe, pressurized drinking water to our homes, 
hospitals, schools and businesses. However, the water distribution 
infrastructure is 50-100 years old in much of the U.S. and an estimated 
240,000 water main breaks occur each year. Failures in the distribution 
system such as water main breaks, cross-connections, back-flow, and 
pressure fluctuations can result in potential intrusion of microbes and 
other contaminants that can cause health effects, including acute 
gastrointestinal and respiratory illness.
    Approximately 200 million cases of acute gastrointestinal illness 
occur in the U.S. each year, but we lack reliable data to assess how 
many of these cases are associated with drinking water. Further, data 
are even more limited on the human health risks associated with 
exposure to drinking water during and after the occurrence of low 
pressure events (such as water main breaks) in drinking water 
distribution systems. Studies in both Norway and Sweden found that 
people exposed to low pressure events in the water distribution system 
had a higher risk for gastrointestinal illness. A similar study is 
needed in the United States.
    The purpose of this data collection is to conduct an epidemiologic 
study in the U.S. to assess whether individuals exposed to low pressure 
events in the water distribution system are at an increased risk for 
acute gastrointestinal or respiratory illness. This study would be, to 
our knowledge, the first U.S. study to systematically examine the 
association between low pressure events and acute gastrointestinal and 
respiratory illnesses. Study findings will inform the Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA), CDC, and other drinking water stakeholders of 
the potential health risks associated with low pressure events in 
drinking water distribution systems and whether additional measures 
(e.g., new standards, additional research, or policy development) are 
needed to reduce the risk for health effects associated with low 
pressure events in the drinking water distribution system.
    We will conduct a cohort study among households that receive water 
from seven water utilities across the U.S. The water systems will be 
geographically diverse and will include both chlorinated and 
chloraminated systems. These water utilities will provide information 
about low pressure events that occur during the study period using a 
standardized form (approximately 13 events per utility). Utilities will 
provide address listings of households in areas exposed to the low 
pressure event and comparable households in an unexposed area to CDC 
staff, who will randomly select participants and send them a 
questionnaire. Consenting household respondents will be asked about 
symptoms and duration of any recent gastrointestinal or respiratory 
illness, tap water consumption, and other exposures including 
international travel, daycare attendance or employment, animal 
contacts, and recreational water exposures. Study participants may 
choose between two methods of survey response: A mail-in paper survey 
and a web-based survey.
    Participation in this study will be voluntary. No financial 
compensation will be provided to study participants. The study duration 
is anticipated to last 36 months. The annualized burden is estimated to 
be 199 hours. There are no costs to respondents other than their time.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Number of    Average burden
          Type of respondents                   Form name            Number of     responses per   per response
                                                                    respondents     respondent      (in hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Water Utility customer................  Paper-based                          240               1           12/60
                                         questionnaire.
                                        Web-based questionnaire.             160               1           12/60
Water Utility maintenance worker......  LPE form, ultrafilter                  5               3          145/60
                                         and grab samples.
                                        LPE form, grab samples..               5               2           45/60
Water Utility Environmental Engineer..  Line listings...........               5               5               2
Water Utility Billing clerk...........  Line listings...........               5               5               1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Jeffrey M. Zirger,
Acting Lead, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Scientific 
Integrity, Office of Science, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2018-27222 Filed 12-14-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4163-18-P