Agency information collection activities: Proposed collection; comment request,

[Federal Register: January 21, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 13)]

[Notices]

[Page 3133-3134]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr21ja98-80]

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[INFO-98-09]

Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations

In compliance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 for opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects. To request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and instruments, call the CDC/ATSDR Reports Clearance Officer on (404) 639-7090.

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques for other forms of information technology. Send comments to Wilma Johnson, CDC/ ATSDR Reports Clearance Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D24, Atlanta, GA 30333. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this notice.

Proposed Projects

1. Surveillance of Hazardous Substances Emergency Event--(0923- 0008)--Extension--The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) is mandated pursuant to the 1980 Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), and its 1986 Amendments, The Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA), to prevent or mitigate adverse human health effects and diminished quality of life resulting from the exposure to hazardous substances into the environment. The primary purpose of this activity, which ATSDR has supported since 1992, is to develop, implement, and maintain a state- based surveillance system for hazardous substances emergency events which can be used to: (1) Describe the distribution of the hazardous substance releases; (2) describe the public health consequences (morbidity, mortality, and evacuations) associated with the events; (3) identify risk factors associated with the public health consequences; and (4) propose strategies to reduce future public health consequences. The study population will consist of all hazardous substance nonpermitted acute releases within the 13 states (Alabama, Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin) participating in the surveillance system.

   Until this system was developed and implemented, there was no national public health-based surveillance system to coordinate the collation, analysis, and distribution of health data to public health practitioners. It was necessary to establish this national surveillance system which describes the impact of hazardous substances emergencies on the health of the population of the United States. The data collection form will be completed by the state health department HSEES coordinator using information provided by a variety of sources including environmental protection agencies, police, firefighters, emergency response personnel; or researched by the HSEES coordinator including census data, material safety data sheets, and chemical handbooks. There is no cost to respondents.

   We are requesting a 3-year extension.

   Number of Avg burden/ Total Respondents

   Number of respondents

   responses/ response burden (in respondent (in hrs) hrs)

   State coordinator.................... 13 states.........................

   332

   1

   4,316

2. Long Term Health Effects of Methyl Parathion in Children--a Follow-Up Study--New--The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) is mandated pursuant to the 1980 Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), and its 1986 Amendments, The Superfund

   [[Page 3134]]

   Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA), to prevent or mitigate adverse human health effects and diminished quality of life resulting from the exposure to hazardous substances into the environment. Children were exposed to Methyl Parathion (MP) via illegal indoor residential spraying of MP for pest control in nine states. All of these sprayed areas have been designated as CERCLA sites and placed on the National Priorities List (NPL) for conducting remedial actions. The MP sites consist of contaminated residences and businesses spread over several counties and states, intermingled with other building structures that were never sprayed with MP, making targeted remedial actions more challenging.

   This study of children exposed to MP and children not exposed, but matched on age, sex, and race will provide critical public health information for the gap in data regarding the effects of lower dose, sub-acute exposure on neurobehavioral and respiratory development. The study population will consist of children under 6 years of age at the time of exposure (exposed group), whose residences in Ohio and Mississippi were illegally sprayed with MP since 1994, and matched with unexposed children (unexposed group). No data exist regarding low dose, sub-acute exposure to MP in children. The goal of this study is to examine the association between lower dose, sub-acute MP exposure in children, specifically from indoor spraying, and the risk of adversely affecting normal neurobehavioral and respiratory development.

   The questionnaire will be administered in person by trained interviewers to the mothers (fathers or other guardians, if the mother is not available) of the exposed and unexposed children. The Pediatric Environmental Neurobehavioral Test Battery (PENTB) will be administered by personnel trained in the neurobehavioral assessment of children at annual intervals for the three study years. Other than the time to participate, there will be no cost to respondents.

   Total Number of Avg burden/ annual Respondent questionnaire

   Number of respondents

   responses/ response burden (in respondent (in hrs) hrs)

   Parent/Child (general)............... 537...............................

   1

   1

   537 (PENTB).............................. 537...............................

   1

   1.25

   671

   Total............................ .................................. ........... ...........

   1,208

   Dated: January 14, 1998. Wilma G. Johnson, Acting Associate Director for Policy Planning And Evaluation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

   [FR Doc. 98-1323Filed1-20-98; 8:45 am]

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