    [Federal Register Volume 91, Number 58 (Thursday, March 26, 2026)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 14687-14688]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 2026-05837]

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    DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

    Department of the Navy

    [DOD-2026-OS-0695]

    Proposed Collection; Comment Request

    AGENCY: Department of the Navy, Department of Defense, (DoD).

    ACTION: 60-Day information collection notice.

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    SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
    Naval Health Research Center announces a revision to an approved
    information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions
    thereof. Comments are invited on: whether the collection of information
    is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency,
    including whether the information shall have practical utility; the
    accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed
    information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
    clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the
    burden of the information collection on respondents, including through
    the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of
    information technology.

    DATES: Consideration will be given to all comments received by May 26,
    2026.

    ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number and
    title, by any of the following methods:
        Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
    instructions for submitting comments.
        Mail: Department of War, Office of the Director of Administration
    and Management, Privacy, Civil Liberties, and Transparency Directorate,
    Regulatory Division, 4800 Mark Center Drive, Mailbox #24, Suite 05F16,
    Alexandria, VA 22350-1700.
        Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency
    name, docket number and title for this Federal Register document. The
    general policy for comments and other submissions from members of the
    public is to make these submissions available for public viewing on the
    internet at http://www.regulations.gov as they are received without
    change, including any personal identifiers or contact information.

    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request more information on this
    proposed information collection or to obtain a copy of the proposal and
    associated collection instruments, please write to Naval Health
    Research Center, Gate 4, Patterson Rd. at McClelland Rd., Bldg. 320,
    San Diego, CA 92152, Dr. Cameron McCabe, (619) 553-8067.

    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
        Title; Associated Form; and OMB Number: Challenges of Operational
    Environments Study; OMB Control Number 0703-0100.
        Needs and Uses: Recent suicide clusters aboard Naval vessels have
    highlighted a critical need to better understand risk factors for
    suicide among various shipboard environments (e.g., in maintenance
    yards, at sea). Unfortunately, extremely limited research to date has
    identified individual and organizational factors that are directly
    associated with harmful behaviors, including suicidality, in a variety
    of Naval environments. In response, the Office of Naval Research and
    the Defense Health Agency have funded a longitudinal study called the
    Challenges of Operational Environments Study to identify specific
    shipboard stressors associated with different phases of the aircraft
    carrier life cycle and determine the effects of these stressors on
    Sailor's mental and behavioral health and readiness. Research is needed
    to provide the Navy with in-depth information on specific risks to
    Sailors at each phase of the carrier cycle, such that allocation of
    resources to prevent suicidality and other mental/behavioral health
    problems can be tailored to meet potentially unique needs at each
    phase. Additionally, findings from the effort are used to develop
    targeted recommendations to improve Sailor mental health and well-being
    that are provided directly to Navy leaders. To date, this research has
    resulted in over

    [[Page 14688]]

    10 operational briefs to Navy leaders, and its findings have been
    incorporated into the Chief of Naval Operations NAVPLAN. Based on
    feedback received throughout the course of study implementation and to
    ensure continued alignment with Navy and Department of War priorities,
    the study team is seeking to update the previously approved survey
    measures to include additional questions regarding operational
    stressors and other threats to the readiness and performance of Navy
    Sailors. Because we cannot fully anticipate a specific command's
    evolving needs or accommodate urgent ad hoc data collection requests
    from leadership, we are seeking a Generic Clearance that will extend
    the approval of the core methodology while granting the study team the
    necessary adaptability to respond to stakeholder requirements in a
    timely manner. To support this Generic Clearance request, the burden
    allotment estimates below provide a projection of the maximum
    anticipated potential time and cost based on 6 annual data collections
    (3 ships, 2 data collections/ship) over a 3-year period of performance
    (18 total) and may not reflect the actual burden over 3 years.
        Affected Public: Individuals or households.

    Challenges of Operational Environments Survey

        Burden Hours Over 3 Years: 9,000.
        Number of Respondents Over 3 Years: 18,000.
        Responses per Respondent: 1.
        Number of Responses Over 3 Years: 18,000.
        Average Burden per Response: 30 minutes.

    Challenges of Operational Environments Focus Groups

        Burden Hours Over 3 Years: 2,700.
        Number of Respondents Over 3 Years: 1,800.
        Responses per Respondent: 1.
        Number of Responses Over 3 Years: 1,800.
        Average Burden per Group: 90 minutes.

    Implementation Focus Groups

        Burden Hours Over 3 Years: 1,350.
        Number of Respondents Over 3 Years: 900.
        Responses per Respondent: 1.
        Number of Responses Over 3 Years: 900.
        Average Burden per Group: 90 minutes.

    Total

        Total Burden Hours Over 3 Years: 13,050.
        Total Number of Respondents Over 3 Years: 20,700.
        Total Responses Over 3 Years: 20,700.
        Frequency: On occasion or by request.

        Dated: March 20, 2026.
    Stephanie J. Bost,
    Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
    [FR Doc. 2026-05837 Filed 3-25-26; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 6001-FR-P