[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 26 (Thursday, February 7, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2513-2514]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-01329]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30-Day-19-1105]


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 One Health Harmful Algal Bloom System 
(OHHABS) 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 October 
15, 2018 to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies. CDC 
received four 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

    One Health Harmful Algal Bloom System (OHHABS) (OMB Control No. 
0920-1105, Exp. Date 03/31/2019)--Extension--National Center for 
Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National 
Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases requests a three-
year extension for the One Health Harmful Algal Bloom System (OHHABS) 
for harmful algal bloom (HAB) and HAB-associated illness surveillance.
    Algal toxins from Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) include some of the 
most potent natural chemicals; these toxins can contaminate surface 
water used for recreation and drinking, as well as food sources. HABs 
pose a threat to

[[Page 2514]]

both humans and animals. Human and animal illnesses from environmental 
exposures to HABs in fresh and marine waters have been documented in 
the United States. Animal illness may be an indicator of bloom 
toxicity; thus, it is necessary to provide a One Health approach for 
reporting HAB-associated illnesses and events.
    HABs are an emerging public health concern. Several outbreaks 
related to HABs in freshwater settings have occurred in the United 
States. In 2009-2010, 11 HAB-associated outbreaks in fresh water 
settings were reported to the CDC Waterborne Disease and Outbreak 
Surveillance System (WBDOSS). These 11 outbreaks represent 46% of the 
outbreaks associated with untreated recreational water reported in 
2009-2010 and 79% of HAB-associated outbreak s reported to WBDOSS since 
1978. At least 61 persons experienced health effects such as 
dermatologic, gastrointestinal, respiratory, or neurologic symptoms. In 
August 2014, detectable levels of microcystin, a potent HAB toxin, were 
detected in drinking water supply in Toledo, Ohio, resulting in a ``do 
not drink'' water advisory and an extensive emergency response.
    Known adverse health effects from HABs in marine waters include 
respiratory illness and seafood poisoning. In 2007, 15 persons were 
affected with respiratory illness from exposures to brevetoxins, an 
algal toxin, during a Florida red tide. From 2007-2011, HAB-associated 
foodborne exposures were identified for 273 case reports of human 
illness through a separate five-year data collection effort with a 
subset of states. Of these reports, 248 reported ciguatera fish 
poisoning or poisoning by other toxins in seafood, including saxitoxin 
and brevetoxin. A review of national outbreak data reported to CDC for 
the time period 1998-2015 identified outbreaks of ciguatera fish 
poisoning as the second most common cause of fish-associated foodborne 
disease outbreaks in the United States.
    The purpose of OHHABS is (1) to provide a database for routine data 
collection at the state/territorial and national level to identify and 
characterize HAB events, HAB-associated illnesses, and HAB exposures in 
the United States and (2) to better inform and improve our 
understanding of HAB-associated illnesses and exposures through routine 
surveillance to inform public health policy and illness prevention 
efforts. OHHABS (electronic, year-round collection) includes questions 
about HAB events and HAB-associated-illness for human and animal cases. 
OHHABS, a web-based reporting system, is nationally available for state 
and territorial health departments to voluntarily report information 
about HAB-associated human and animal cases and HAB events.
    States and territories lacking a database to collect information on 
HAB events and HAB-associated illnesses may use OHHABS as a repository 
to track and review HAB events and HAB-associated illnesses within 
their state or territory. OHHABS data may help states and territories 
characterize the baseline frequency of HAB events and HAB-associated 
illnesses. Data from states and territories will be assessed by CDC to 
determine and characterize HAB events and HAB-associated illnesses 
nationally.
    As with all routine public health surveillance conducted by CDC, 
participation by states and territorial health departments with OHHABS 
is voluntary. Participating states and territories will remain 
responsible for the collection and interpretation of these data 
elements at the state level and will voluntarily submit them to CDC. 
HAB event, and HAB-associated human and animal case definitions, which 
were created for OHHABS with input from state and federal partners, are 
available online to assist states and territories. States and 
territories that lack state-specific case and event definitions may use 
the HAB-associated human and animal case and HAB event definitions to 
identify suspect, probable, and confirmed HAB-associated cases and HAB 
events, respectively, to report to OHHABS.
    There is no cost to respondents other than the time to participate. 
The estimated annual burden is 57 hours. Authorizing legislation comes 
from Section 301 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 241).

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Number of    Average burden
        Type of respondents                   Form name              Number of     responses per   per response
                                                                    respondents     respondent      (in hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State/territorial epidemiologists..  One Health Harmful Algal                 57               3           20/60
                                      Bloom System (OHHABS).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Jeffrey M. Zirger,
Acting Lead, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Scientific 
Integrity, Office of Science, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2019-01329 Filed 2-6-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4163-18-P