[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 122 (Tuesday, June 27, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41625-41626]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-13572]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-23-0881; Docket No. CDC-2023-0052]


Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public Comment and 
Recommendations

AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice with comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as part 
of its continuing effort to reduce public burden and maximize the 
utility of government information, invites the general public and other 
federal agencies the opportunity to comment on a continuing information 
collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This 
notice invites comment on a proposed information collection project 
titled Data Calls for the Laboratory Response Network (LRN). These Data 
Calls are needed to address issues concerning the response capabilities 
of member facilities for priority threat agents or to assess the 
network's ability to respond to new emerging threats.

DATES: CDC must receive written comments on or before August 28, 2023.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. CDC-2023-
0052 by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. Follow 
the instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Jeffrey M. Zirger, Information Collection Review 
Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road 
NE, MS H21-8, Atlanta, Georgia 30329.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
and Docket Number. CDC will post, without change, all relevant comments 
to www.regulations.gov.
    Please note: Submit all comments through the Federal eRulemaking 
portal (www.regulations.gov) or by U.S. mail to the address listed 
above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request more information on the 
proposed project or to obtain a copy of the information collection plan 
and instruments, contact Jeffrey M. Zirger, Information Collection 
Review Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton 
Road NE, MS H21-8, Atlanta, Georgia 30329; Telephone: 404-639-7570; 
Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), federal agencies must obtain approval from 
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of 
information they conduct or sponsor. In addition, the PRA also requires 
federal agencies to provide a 60-day notice in the Federal Register 
concerning each proposed collection of information, including each new 
proposed collection, each proposed extension of existing collection of 
information, and each reinstatement of previously approved information 
collection before submitting the collection to the OMB for approval. To 
comply with this requirement, we are publishing this notice of a 
proposed data collection as described below.
    The OMB is particularly interested in comments that will help:
    1. 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;
    2. Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of 
the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
    3. Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected;
    4. 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 
submissions of responses; and
    5. Assess information collection costs.

Proposed Project

    Data Calls for the Laboratory Response Network (LRN) (OMB Control 
No. 0920-0881)--Reinstatement Without Change--National Center for 
Emerging and Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    The Laboratory Response Network (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 
Administration has stated that it is the policy of the United States to 
use all appropriate means, to deter, defeat, and respond to all 
terrorist attacks on our territory and resources, both with people and 
facilities. The LRN's mission is to maintain an integrated national and 
international network of laboratories that can respond quickly to 
suspected acts of biological, chemical, or radiological terrorism, 
emerging infectious diseases, and other public health threats and 
emergencies.
    Federal, state and local public health laboratories join the LRN 
voluntarily. When laboratories join, they assume specific 
responsibilities and are required to provide facility information to 
the LRN Program Office at CDC as well as test results for real samples 
or proficiency tests. LRN laboratories participate in Proficiency 
Testing Challenges, Exercises and Validation Studies each year. LRN 
information collection is covered by OMB Control No. 0920-0850. On 
occasion, CDC may conduct a Special Data Call to obtain additional 
information from LRN laboratories regarding biological or chemical 
terrorism, or emerging infectious disease preparedness. Although the 
LRN Program Office at CDC has an extensive database of information 
regarding all network members, LRN Special Data Calls are sometimes 
needed to address issues concerning the response capabilities of member 
facilities for priority threat agents or to assess the network's 
ability to respond to new emerging threats. Special Data Calls may be 
conducted via broadcast email that asks respondents to send information 
via email to the LRN Help Desk or through online survey tools (i.e., 
Survey Monkey) which require respondents to go to a web link and answer 
a series of questions.
    This request is for a Reinstatement of a Generic collection 
instrument that is necessary for any impromptu data calls that are 
needed. CDC requests OMB approval for an estimated 94 annual burden 
hours. There is no cost to respondents other than their time to 
participate.

[[Page 41626]]



                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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                                                                  Number of      Average burden
     Type of respondent          Form name        Number of     responses per   per response (in   Total burden
                                                 respondents     respondent          hours)            hours
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Public Health Laboratories..  Special Data                187               1                0.5              94
                               Call.
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    Total...................  ...............  ..............  ..............  .................              94
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Jeffrey M. Zirger,
Lead, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Public Health 
Ethics and Regulations, Office of Science, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2023-13572 Filed 6-26-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P