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