[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.
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[[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