[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 103 (Tuesday, May 28, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46117-46119]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-11589]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30Day-24-0931]


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 ``Blood Lead Surveillance System (BLSS)'' 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 November 27, 2023 to obtain 
comments from the public and affected agencies. CDC received one 
comment related to the previous notice. This notice serves to 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

[[Page 46118]]

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

    Blood Lead Surveillance System (BLSS) (OMB Control No. 0920-0931, 
Exp. 07/31/2024)--Extension--National Center for Environmental Health 
(NCEH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    This is a request for a three-year Extension for an existing 
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) clearance titled ``Blood Lead 
Surveillance System (BLSS)'' (OMB Control No.0920-0931, Exp. 07/31/
2024). The National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) is leading 
this data collection conducted by for two Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention (CDC) programs; one for childhood blood lead 
surveillance by NCEH and another for adult blood lead surveillance by 
the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
    The goal of the NCEH Childhood Blood Lead Surveillance (CBLS) 
Program is to support blood lead screening and to promote primary 
prevention of exposure to lead. The CBLS Program also supports 
secondary prevention of adverse health effects when lead exposures 
occur in children, through improved program management and oversight in 
respondent jurisdictions.
    The goal of the NIOSH Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and 
Surveillance (ABLES) Program is to build state capacity for adult blood 
lead surveillance programs to measure trends in adult blood lead levels 
and to prevent lead over-exposures.
    NCEH has a five-year cooperative agreement, titled ``Childhood Lead 
Poisoning Prevention and Surveillance of Blood Lead Levels in 
Children'' (Funding Opportunity Announcement [FOA] No. CDC-RFA-EH21-
2102). The first two years of this ICR will extend from FY24 through 
FY26, and thus will be covered for two-thirds of the ICR three-year 
period, while funding for the third year of this ICR will be determined 
in the future. Data submission to the ABLES Program is voluntary and 
completed through data sharing agreements with state agencies or their 
bona fide agents.
    Blood lead surveillance over the human lifespan is covered under 
this single ICR, specifically for children younger than 16 years 
through CBLS at NCEH, and for adults 16 years and older, through ABLES 
at NIOSH. Over the past several decades there have been substantial 
efforts in environmental lead abatement, improved protection from 
occupational lead exposure, and a reduction in the prevalence of 
population blood lead levels (BLLs) over time. The U.S. population BLLs 
have substantially decreased over the last four decades. For example, 
the CDC has reported the 1976-1980 U.S. mean BLL in children six months 
to five years was 16.0 micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL), and 14.1 mcg/
dL among adults 18 to 74 years. More recently, the CDC reported the 
2009-2010 U.S. BLL geometric means among children one to five years and 
among adults 20 years and older as 1.2 mcg/dL for both age groups. In 
2012, the National Toxicology Program (NTP) concluded that there is 
sufficient evidence that even BLLs less than 5 mcg/dL are associated 
with adverse health effects in both children and adults. Despite the 
reduction in the overall population BLL over four decades, lead 
exposures continue to occur at unacceptable levels for individuals in 
communities and workplaces across the nation. Surveillance will 
continue through CBLS and ABLES to identify individuals with BLLs 
greater than most children who may need follow-up. Surveillance can 
also help prioritize communities for primary prevention of lead 
exposure and expanding blood lead testing. As of October 2021, NCEH 
defines its Blood Lead Reference Value (BLRV) for children at 3.5 mcg/
dL. NIOSH defines an elevated BLLs as greater than or equal to 5 mcg/dL 
for adults.
    Respondents are defined as state, local, and territorial health 
departments with lead poisoning prevention programs. The estimated 
annual time burden for NCEH CBLS is 1,058 hours. The estimated annual 
time burden for NIOSH ABLES is 280 hours. In total, CDC is requesting 
approval for a total annual time burden of 1,338 hours.

                                        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)
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State, Local and Territorial Health     CBLS Variables (ASCII                 66               4               4
 Departments, or their Bona Fide         Text Files).
 Agents.
                                        CBLS Aggregate Records                 1               1               2
                                         Form (Excel).
                                        ABLES Case Records Form               32               1               8
                                         and Brief Narrative
                                         Report.
                                        ABLES Aggregate Records                8               1               3
                                         Form and Brief
                                         Narrative Report.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



[[Page 46119]]

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. 2024-11589 Filed 5-24-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P