[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 220 (Wednesday, November 16, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68692-68693]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-24916]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30Day-23-0850]


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 ``Laboratory Response Network'' 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 March 28, 2022 to obtain comments from the 
public and affected agencies. CDC received one comment related to the 
previous notice. This notice serves to

[[Page 68693]]

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. 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

    Laboratory Response Network (LRN) (OMB Control No. 0920-0850)--
Reinstatement with Change--National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic 
Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    This is a request for Reinstatement with Change of a previously 
approved collection. Previous requests only included the biological 
side of the Laboratory Response Network (LRN), this request also 
includes the chemical side of the LRN. Additionally, there is a 
decrease in the estimated burden from 2,064,660 to 422,716 annual 
hours.
    The information collected is used to ensure that the Laboratory 
Response Network Program Office can determine the ability of the 
Network to respond to a biological or chemical terrorism event. The LRN 
was established by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in accordance with 
Presidential Decision Directive 39, which outlined national anti-
terrorism policies and assigned specific missions to federal 
departments and agencies. The LRN's mission is to maintain an 
integrated national and international network of laboratories that can 
respond to suspected acts of biological, chemical, or radiological 
terrorism and other public health emergencies. Federal, state and local 
public health laboratories join the LRN voluntarily. When laboratories 
join, they assume specific responsibilities and are required to provide 
information to the LRN Program Office at CDC. Each laboratory must 
submit and maintain complete information regarding the testing 
capabilities of the laboratory. Biennially, laboratories are required 
to review, verify and update their testing capability information. This 
information is needed so that the LRN Program Office can determine the 
ability of the LRN to respond to a biological or chemical terrorism 
event. The sensitivity of all information associated with the LRN 
requires that CDC obtain personal information about all individuals 
accessing the LRN website. Since CDC must be able to contact all 
laboratory personnel during an event, each laboratory staff member who 
obtains access to the restricted LRN website must provide his or her 
contact information to the LRN Program Office.
    CDC requests OMB approval for an estimated 422,716 annual burden 
hours. Data collection is voluntary and there is no cost to respondents 
other than their time to participate.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Number of    Average burden
          Type of respondents                   Form name            Number of     responses per   per response
                                                                    respondents     respondent      (in hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Health Laboratories............  Biennial Requalification             130               1               2
Public Health Laboratories............  Routine Testing Results              130              25               4
                                         (LRN-B).
Public Health Laboratories............  Challenge Panel/                     130               2              12
                                         Validation Testing
                                         Results (LRN-B).
Public Health Laboratories............  Surge Event Testing                  130             625               4
                                         Results (LRN-B).
Public Health Laboratories............  BioFire Inventory                     16               1               2
                                         Records (LRN-B).
Public Health Laboratories............  Proficiency Testing/                  44               4             392
                                         Characterization
                                         Results (LRN-C).
Public Health Laboratories............  Surge Event Testing                   57               3              72
                                         Results/Exercises (LRN-
                                         C: SPaSE, Surge, ERE).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Jeffrey M. Zirger,
Lead, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Scientific 
Integrity, Office of Science, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2022-24916 Filed 11-15-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P