[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 39 (Friday, February 28, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10930-10931]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-03364]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[30Day-25-0530]
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 ``EEOICPA Dose Reconstruction Interviews and
Forms'' 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
8, 2024 to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies. CDC
did not receive comments 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 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
EEOICPA Dose Reconstruction Interviews and Forms (OMB Control No.
0920-0530, Exp. 2/28/2025)--Extension--National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC).
Background and Brief Description
The Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act
of 2000 (EEOICPA), 42 U.S.C. 7384-7385, which originated as Public Law
106-398, established a compensation program to provide a lump sum
payment of $150,000 and medical benefits as compensation to covered
employees suffering from designated illnesses incurred as a result of
their exposure to radiation, beryllium, or silica while in the
performance of duty for the Department of Energy (DOE) and certain of
its vendors, contractors and subcontractors. This legislation also
provided for payment of compensation for certain survivors of these
covered employees.
EEOICPA instructed the President to designate one or more Federal
Agencies to carry out the compensation program. Accordingly, the
President issued Executive Order 13179 (``Providing Compensation to
America's Nuclear Weapons Workers'') on December 7, 2000 (65 FR 77487),
assigning primary responsibility for administration of the compensation
program to the Department of Labor (DOL). The executive order also
directed the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to perform
several technical and policymaking roles in support of the DOL program.
Among other duties, HHS is required to develop methods to estimate
radiation doses (``dose reconstruction'') for certain individuals with
cancer applying for benefits under the DOL program. HHS is also
required to apply these methods to conduct the program of dose
reconstruction required by EEOICPA. On September 28, 2001, this dose
reconstruction program was delegated to the National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), an Institute of the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). On October 5, 2001, HHS published
``Methods for Radiation Dose Reconstruction Under the Energy Employees
Occupational Illness Compensation Act of 2000; Interim Final Rule With
Request for Comments.'' The preamble described the Paperwork Reduction
Act and other information collection requirements involved in the
program, and stated that NIOSH was requesting an emergency clearance
from the Office of Management and Budget to collect data under the
EEOICPA. Emergency clearance was granted on October 30, 2001, and
routine clearance was granted May 31, 2002. HHS published the final
rule on ``Methods for Radiation Dose Reconstruction Under the Energy
Employees Occupational Illness
[[Page 10931]]
Compensation Program Act of 2000'' on May 4, 2002, as 42 CFR 82.
The individuals for whom dose reconstruction is performed include
all covered employees (as defined in EEOICPA) who are not in the
statutorily defined ``special exposure cohort'' with a specified
cancer. Technical limitations of radiation monitoring technology and
procedures will require HHS to evaluate each employee's recorded dose.
In most cases, these monitoring limitations will result in possibly
undetected or unrecorded doses, which will be estimated using standard
dose reconstruction methods and would be added to the dose record.
The procedures and level of effort involved in dose reconstructions
depend in part on the quantity and quality of available dose monitoring
information, the conditions under which radiation exposure arose, and
the forms of radiation to which the individual was exposed. If
individuals for whom dose estimates are needed were monitored using
present day radiation protection technology and received only external
radiation doses, dose reconstruction could be very simple, and might
only require adding the radiation doses recorded from radiation badges
and adding estimated potential ``missed'' doses, where appropriate.
However, dose reconstruction can require extensive research and
analysis. Additional work is required if radiation doses were not
monitored or there is uncertainty about the monitoring methods
involved; if there was potential for internal doses through the
ingestion, inhalation or absorption of radioactive materials; or if the
processes and circumstances involved in the radiation exposures were
complex.
An important aspect of the HHS dose reconstruction process is that
it involves interaction with the covered employee or his or her
survivor. NIOSH initially interviews claimants individually and
provides them with the opportunity, through a structured interview, to
assist NIOSH in documenting the work history of the employee
(characterizing the actual work tasks performed), identifying incidents
that may have resulted in undocumented radiation exposures,
characterizing radiation protection and monitoring practices and
identifying co-workers and other witnesses, if NIOSH determines it
necessary, to confirm undocumented information. In this process, NIOSH
uses a computer assisted telephone interview (CATI) system, which
allows interviews to be conducted more efficiently and quickly than
would be the case with a paper-based instrument.
NIOSH has developed three different initial telephone interviews
which are used in the dose reconstruction process. The first is used
when the claimant is the covered employee. The second is used when the
claimant is a family member of the covered employee, since in many
instances, the covered employee is deceased or incapacitated. The third
interview is for co-workers or supervisors of the covered employee,
when the claimant is a family member, since family members may not know
all the information necessary for the dose reconstruction.
After the dose reconstruction has been completed, NIOSH contacts
the claimants to explain the results of the dose reconstruction.
Claimants have the opportunity to ask questions about the information
used, the methods, and the results. This is the final opportunity for
the claimant to supplement the dose reconstruction record.
Additionally, NIOSH has developed Form OCAS-1 Statement by the Claimant
Closing the Record on a NIOSH Dose Reconstruction under the Energy
Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act--which is
signed by the claimant at the end of the dose reconstruction process,
before the claim is referred back to DOL for further processing.
CDC requests OMB approval for an estimated 3,900 annual burden
hours. NIOSH is requesting a three-year extension of this approval.
Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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Number of Average burden
Type of respondents Form name Number of responses per per response (in
respondents respondent hours)
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EEOICPA Claimant.................... Initial interview...... 3,600 1 1
EEOICPA Claimant.................... Conclusion form OCAS-1. 3,600 1 5/60
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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. 2025-03364 Filed 2-27-25; 8:45 am]
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