[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 103 (Tuesday, May 28, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46119-46120]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-11591]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-24-24FS; Docket No. CDC-2024-0038]


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 proposed information 
collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This 
notice invites comments on a proposed information collection titled 
Needle Exchange Utilization Survey (NEXUS). This data collection is 
being created to develop a surveillance system to monitor drug use, 
prevention behaviors, and the infectious disease consequences of drug 
use in select urban and non-urban areas of the U.S.

DATES: CDC must receive written comments on or before July 29, 2024.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Docket No. CDC-2024-
0038 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: 404-639-7118; 
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 the 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 collecting information on those to 
respond, including using appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, 
or other technological collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology, e.g., permitting electronic responses; and
    5. Assess information collection costs.

Proposed Project

    Needle Exchange Utilization Survey (NEXUS)--New--National Center 
for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP), Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    The purpose of the Needle Exchange Utilization Survey (NEXUS) is to 
develop a surveillance system to monitor drug use, prevention 
behaviors, and the infectious disease consequences of drug use in 6-15 
select urban and non-urban areas of the U.S. that the opioid crisis has 
impacted. Such a surveillance system is needed to inform prevention 
efforts and policy. The specific objectives of the project are to 
assess the following among persons who inject drugs who are recruited 
in syringe services programs (SSPs) and their peers who use drugs 
through peer-driven recruitment: (1) drug use and sexual behaviors, 
injection risk networks, receipt of prevention services, and barriers 
to prevention and care; and (2) the prevalence of HIV and hepatitis C 
(HCV) infections.
    The project will involve a two-stage sampling approach. First, up 
to 15 SSPs will be selected to ensure geographic diversity and 
representation of key program characteristics, such as the syringe 
distribution model (needs-based vs. all others) and length in operation 
(<5 years, >=5 years). Second, SSP clients, the majority who are 
persons who inject drugs (PWID), and their peers who use drugs will be 
recruited through a combination of direct recruitment at each SSP and 
peer-driven recruitment to partake in a survey and HCV and HIV testing.
    Clients of SSPs and their peers who meet eligibility criteria will 
complete a survey using an Electronic Data Capture system, a secure 
web-based application for administering online surveys. The survey will 
include questions on drug use and sexual behaviors, injection risk 
networks, drug treatment history, history of drug use-related adverse 
health outcomes, experiences with law enforcement, HIV and HCV testing 
experience, and use of prevention and health care services. Lastly, 
participants will be offered anonymous HIV and HCV testing in 
conjunction with the survey, which they may refuse with no effect on 
participation in the survey.
    Data from NEXUS will be used to inform the planning and evaluation 
of prevention programs at the local and national levels that aim to 
reduce adverse health outcomes due to injection and non-injection drug 
use and to contribute to the overall opioid crisis response efforts. 
Data from NEXUS will also be used for an ongoing surveillance system in 
the U.S. to monitor trends in drug use and the infectious disease 
consequences of drug use.
    Approximately 6,000 individuals will complete the eligibility 
screener. Our target population is 300 participants per site or 4,500 
for up to 15 sites. We anticipate that, on average, 25% or 1,499 
persons (for up to 15 SSPs) will not be interested in completing a 
questionnaire, yielding a maximum of

[[Page 46120]]

6,000 eligible participants. The total annualized burden is 3,126 
hours. There are no other costs to respondents other than their time.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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                                                                              No. of      Average
                                                                 No. of     responses    burden per     Total
             Respondent                        Form           respondents      per        response   burden  (in
                                                                            respondent    (hours)       hours)
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Persons Screened....................  Eligibility Screening         5,400            1         5/60          450
                                       Form English.
Persons Screened....................  Eligibility Screening           600            1         5/60           50
                                       Form Spanish.
Persons who give permission.........  Model Project Consent         4,050            1         5/60          338
                                       Form English.
Persons who give permission.........  Model Project                   450            1         5/60           38
                                       Permission Form
                                       Spanish.
Eligible Participants...............  NEXUS Survey English..        4,050            1        30/60        2,025
Eligible Participants...............  NEXUS Survey Spanish..          450            1        30/60          225
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
    Total...........................  ......................  ...........  ...........  ...........        3,126
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Jeffrey M. Zirger,
Lead, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Scientific 
Integrity, Office of Science, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2024-11591 Filed 5-24-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P