[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 208 (Monday, October 30, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74194-74196]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-23859]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-24-0138; Docket No. CDC-2023-0088]


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 Pulmonary Function Testing Course Approval Program. The program 
consists of an application submitted by potential sponsors--
universities, hospitals, and private consulting firms, who seek NIOSH 
approval to conduct courses, and if approved, notification to NIOSH of 
any course or faculty changes during the approval period, which is 
limited to five years.

DATES: CDC must receive written comments on or before December 29, 
2023.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. CDC-2023-
0088 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

[[Page 74195]]

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

    Pulmonary Function Testing Course Approval Program. (OMB Control 
Number 0920-0138, Expiration Date 3/31/2024)--Extension--National 
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    NIOSH has the responsibility under the Occupational Safety and 
Health Administration's (OSHA) Cotton Dust Standard, 29 CFR 1920.1043, 
for approving courses to train technicians to perform pulmonary 
function testing in the cotton industry. Successful completion of a 
NIOSH-approved course is mandatory under this Standard. In addition, 
regulations at 42 CFR 37.95(a) specify that persons administering 
spirometry tests for the national Coal Workers Health Surveillance 
Program must successfully complete a NIOSH-approved spirometry training 
course and maintain a valid certificate by periodically completing 
NIOSH-approved spirometry refresher training courses. Also, 29 CFR 
1910.1053(i)(2)(iv), 29 CFR 1910.1053(i)(3), 29 CFR 1926.1153(h)(2)(iv) 
and 29 CFR 1926.1153(h)(3) specify that pulmonary function tests for 
initial and periodic examinations in general industry and construction 
performed under the Respirable Crystalline Silica Standard should be 
administered by a spirometry technician with a current certificate from 
a NIOSH-approved spirometry course.
    To carry out its responsibility, NIOSH maintains a Pulmonary 
Function Testing Course Approval Program. The program consists of an 
application submitted by potential sponsors (universities, hospitals, 
and private consulting firms) who seek NIOSH approval to conduct 
courses, and if approved, notification to NIOSH of any course or 
faculty changes during the approval period, which is limited to five 
years. The application form and added materials, including an agenda, 
curriculum vitae, and course materials are reviewed by NIOSH to 
determine if the applicant has developed a program which adheres to the 
criteria required in the Standard. Following approval, any subsequent 
changes to the course are submitted by course sponsors via letter or 
email and reviewed by NIOSH staff to assure that the changes in faculty 
or course content continue to meet course requirements. Course sponsors 
also voluntarily submit an annual report to inform NIOSH of their class 
activity level and any faculty changes.
    Sponsors who elect to have their approval renewed for an additional 
five-year period submit a renewal application and supporting 
documentation for review by NIOSH staff to ensure the course curriculum 
meets all current standard requirements. Approved courses that elect to 
offer NIOSH-Approved Spirometry Refresher Courses must submit a 
separate application and supporting documents for review by NIOSH 
staff. Institutions and organizations throughout the country 
voluntarily submit applications and materials to become course sponsors 
and carry out training. Submissions are required for NIOSH to evaluate 
a course and determine whether it meets the criteria in the Standard 
and whether technicians will be adequately trained as mandated under 
the Standard.
    NIOSH will disseminate a one-time customer satisfaction survey to 
course directors and sponsor representatives to evaluate our service to 
courses, the effectiveness of the program changes implemented since 
2005, and the usefulness of potential program enhancements. The 
estimated annual burden to respondents is 178 hours. There will be no 
cost to respondents other than their time to participate.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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                                                                     Number of    Average burden
      Type of respondents           Form name        Number of     responses per   per response    Total burden
                                                    respondents     respondent      (in hours)      (in hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Potential Sponsors............  Initial                        3               1              10              30
                                 Application.
Approved Sponsors.............  Annual Report...              34               1           30/60              17
Approved Sponsors.............  Report for                    24               1           30/60              12
                                 Course Changes.
Approved Sponsors.............  Renewal                       13               1               6              78
                                 Application.
Approved Sponsors.............  Refresher Course               3               1               8              24
                                 Application.
Approved Sponsors.............  One-Time                      34               1           30/60              17
                                 Customer
                                 Satisfaction
                                 Survey.
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.....................  ................  ..............  ..............  ..............             178
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[[Page 74196]]

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. 2023-23859 Filed 10-27-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P