[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 40 (Tuesday, March 1, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11441-11442]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-04189]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

[30Day-22-0048]


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 August 13, 
2021 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. Comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular 
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function. 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, 
Exp. 04/30/2022)--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 extension of ``ATSDR Exposure Investigations 
(EIs)'' (OMB Control No. 0923-0048, Exp. 04/30/2022). This generic 
clearance allows the agency to conduct 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.
    During the past three years, no EIs were completed. Instead, the 
ATSDR Office of Community Health and Hazard Assessment (OCHHA), using 
EI methods, completed eight Per- or Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Exposure 
Assessments (PFAS EAs) (OMB Control No. 0923-0059, Exp. 06/30/2022) at 
communities near U.S. military installations that used Aqueous Film 
Forming Foam (AFFF). The PFAS from the AFFF entered groundwater and 
impacted the drinking water in the nearby communities. In 2022, 
however, ATSDR is conducting a follow-up EI under this generic 
clearance ICR to supplement the PFAS EAs. This EI generic information 
collection (GenIC) will evaluate additional non-drinking water sources 
of environmental PFAS exposure in two of the former EA communities.
    The general EI methods are further described below. 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

[[Page 11442]]

other than their time. Based on a maximum of 12 EIs per year and 100 
participants each, the total estimated annualized burden hours are 600.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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                                                                                                      Average
                                                                     Number of       Number of      burden per
          Type of respondents                   Form name           respondents    responses per   response (in
                                                                                    respondent        hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exposure Investigation Participants...  Chemical Exposure                  1,200               1           30/60
                                         Questions.
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Jeffrey M. Zirger,
Lead, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Scientific 
Integrity, Office of Science, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2022-04189 Filed 2-28-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-70-P