[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 29 (Tuesday, February 12, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3454-3455]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-01993]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
[30Day-19-0048]
Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Agency
for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has submitted the
information collection request titled ATSDR Exposure Investigations
(EIs) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and
approval. ATSDR previously published a ``Proposed Data Collection
Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations'' notice on November
6, 2018 to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies. ATSDR
did not receive comments related to the previous notice. This notice
serves to allow an additional 30 days for public and affected agency
comments.
ATSDR 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
ATSDR Exposure Investigations (EIs), (OMB Control No. 0923-0048,
Expiration Date 3/31/2019)--Extension--Agency for Toxic Substances and
Disease Registry (ATSDR).
Background and Brief Description
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) is
requesting a three-year Paperwork Reduction Act approval for the
extension of the generic clearance titled ATSDR Exposure Investigations
(OMB No. 0923-0048; OMB Exp. Date: 3/31/2019) to allow the agency to
conduct exposure investigations (EIs), through methods developed by
ATSDR.
After a chemical release or suspected release into the environment,
EIs are usually requested by officials of a state health agency, county
health departments, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the
general public, and ATSDR staff.
EI results are used by public health professionals, environmental
risk managers, and other decision makers to determine if current
conditions warrant intervention strategies to minimize or eliminate
human exposure. For example, four of the EIs that ATSDR conducted in
the past three years include the Anaconda Smelter (MT--blood lead and
urine arsenic), Former United Zinc and Associated Smelters (KS--blood
lead), Dimock Private Well Water Sampling (PA) and the Follow-up
Arsenic Urine Testing in Hayden, Arizona.
Example 1: Anaconda Smelter Blood Lead and Urine Arsenic Sampling, MT
The site is a former smelter located in Anaconda, Montana. Past
smelting activities resulted in high levels of heavy metals, primarily
arsenic and lead, in community soil and in the slag piles. ATSDR
sampled blood and urine in 191 community members to evaluate lead
(blood) and arsenic (urine) in September 2018. Given community concern
about contamination, all members of the community were invited to
participate in the testing. Given community interest in the testing, an
additional round of testing (177 participants) was completed in
November 2018 that focused on residents that were not tested in the
September event as well as young children and women of childbearing
age, since they are the most impacted by lead exposure.
Urine samples were evaluated for total arsenic, speciated arsenic
(organic and inorganic), creatinine and specific gravity. If arsenic is
detected, speciation of the sample will determined whether the arsenic
is organic (probably resulting from eating seafood) or inorganic
(likely resulting from exposure to environmental arsenic). The results
of the testing are currently being analyzed by the National Center for
Environmental Health/Division of Laboratory Sciences (NCEH/DLS). For
the initial testing event, participants have been notified of their
results by mail; two adult participants with blood lead levels >=5
[micro]g/dL were also notified of their results by phone by the EI
Medical Officer. Results for the follow-up testing will be sent
individually to participants when the analysis is completed and a
report will be prepared and presented to the community in a community
meeting.
Example 2: Former United Zinc and Associated Smelters, Iola, Kansas
The community is located in the vicinity of the Former United Zinc
and Associated Smelters in Iola, Kansas. The smelters operated from
1902 to 1925 and operations resulted in heavy metal contamination in
community soils. Limited sampling of the community in the past found
elevated blood lead levels (BLLs) in young children. The blood testing
was completed in two
[[Page 3455]]
phases: One in December of 2016 and one in August 2017 and a total of
61 participants were tested: 24 children younger than 6 years, 17
children aged 6-19 years and 20 adult women. One child younger than six
years had a BLL greater than five micrograms of lead per deciliter of
blood ([micro]g/dL). The child's parents were notified by phone of the
results by the ATSDR Medical Officer and follow-up was conducted by the
local PEHSU (Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit.
All participants received their results by mail and the EI report
was released and presented to the community in a public meeting in
August 2018.
Example 3: Private Well Water Sampling in Dimock, PA
Unconventional natural gas drilling activities have been conducted
in the Dimock, PA area for approximately 10 years and local residents
complain of poor water quality. In 2012, EPA sampled 64 private wells
in the area for contaminants that may be present due to natural gas
drilling activities. ATSDR assisted in the analysis of the 2012 data
set and the following recommendations were made:
[cir] People with elevated levels of inorganic analytes in their
well water should install a home treatment system, and
[cir] people with high levels of methane in their well water should
vent their well and home and treat their water to eliminate potential
buildup of explosive gases.
Additional water sampling was recommended and an EI was conducted
in August 2017. For the EI, the 64 residents previously sampled were
invited to have their private wells retested: 25 residences agreed
participate in the EI sampling. Residents were provided the results of
their sampling and an EI report is currently being prepared. It will be
presented to the community in a public meeting when completed.
Example 4: Follow-Up Arsenic Urine Testing in Hayden, Arizona
ATSDR completed an EI in 2015 at the ASARCO Hayden Smelter Site in
Hayden, AZ. The EI included blood lead and urine arsenic testing. Air
monitoring determined that the smelter was not operating during the
sample collection period and that, given the short half-life of arsenic
in the body, the arsenic results may not be valid.
In 2017, ATSDR retested the participants from the 2015 EI to
evaluate their urinary arsenic levels. It was determined that all
urinary arsenic levels were below the follow-up level and air data
indicate that air arsenic levels in the two weeks prior to testing were
consistent with usual levels seen in the community. The EI report is
being prepared and a community meeting will be held when the document
is released.
All of ATSDR's targeted biological assessments (e.g., urine, blood)
and some of the environmental investigations (e.g., air, water, soil,
or food sampling) involve participants to determine whether they are or
have been exposed to unusual levels of pollutants at specific locations
(e.g., where people live, spend leisure time, or anywhere they might
come into contact with contaminants under investigation).
Questionnaires, appropriate to the specific contaminant, are
generally needed in about half of the EIs (at most approximately 12 per
year) to assist in interpreting the biological or environmental
sampling results. ATSDR collects contact information (e.g., name,
address, phone number) to provide the participant with their individual
results. ATSDR also collects information on other possible confounding
sources of chemical(s) exposure such as medicines taken, foods eaten,
hobbies, jobs, etc. In addition, ATSDR asks questions on recreational
or occupational activities that could increase a participant's exposure
potential. That information represents an individual's exposure
history.
The number of questions can vary depending on the number of
chemicals being investigated, the route of exposure (e.g., breathing,
eating, touching), and number of other sources of the chemical(s)
(e.g., products used, jobs). We use approximately 12-20 questions about
the pertinent environmental exposures per investigation. Typically, the
number of participants in an individual EI ranges from 10 to 100.
Participation is completely voluntary, and there are no costs to
participants other than their time. Based on a maximum of 12 EIs per
year and 100 participants each, the estimated annualized burden hours
are 600.
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 hrs.)
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Exposure Investigation Participants Chemical Exposure Questions 1,200 1 30/60
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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. 2019-01993 Filed 2-11-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P