[Federal Register: August 3, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 148)]
[Notices]               
[Page 46548-46549]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03au04-80]                         

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-04-JU]

 
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) 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, or to send comments 
contact Sandi Gambescia, CDC Assistant Reports Clearance Officer, 1600 
Clifton Road, MS-E11, Atlanta, GA 30333 or send an e-mail to 
omb@cdc.gov.

    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 or other 
forms of information technology. Written comments should be received 
within 60 days of this notice.

Proposed Project

    Factors Impacting Effective Removal of Arsenic by Household Water 
Purification Systems--New--National Center for Environmental Health 
(NCEH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
    Epidemiologic evidence strongly links ingestion of water containing 
inorganic arsenic with an increase in bladder cancer and other cancers. 
In Maine, approximately 10% of private domestic wells have arsenic 
concentrations greater than Maine's health standard for water of 10 
[mu]g/L. In wells with high arsenic concentrations, ingestion of water 
can be the dominant source of arsenic exposure. The preferred method 
for treating domestic well water containing elevated levels of arsenic 
is point-of-use water-treatment devices.
    The purpose of the proposed study is to evaluate how the efficacy 
of water-treatment devices is affected by user behaviors such as 
maintenance and selection of appropriate technologies, and by 
variations in water chemistry. This study will focus on 100 households 
recruited on the basis of their geographic location in areas of Maine 
that have high concentrations of arsenic in groundwater. The study will 
have a cross-sectional component and a temporal component. For the 
cross-sectional component, total arsenic, inorganic arsenic species, 
and selected geochemical constituents will be quantified in the 
influent and effluent of filtration devices treating these 100 domestic 
well-water supplies. The study team will administer questionnaires to 
each participating household to collect data on the type of treatment 
unit used, routine operation parameters, and suggested and actual 
maintenance schedules. For the 3-year temporal component of the study, 
the study team will test the influent and effluent of the treatment 
units of 45 participating households for total arsenic once each year. 
The percentage of arsenic removed by the filter will be compared to the 
study criterion selected to indicate that a filter is failing. If the 
arsenic removal level indicates that a treatment unit meets criterion 
for failure, treatment unit influent and effluent water will be 
analyzed for inorganic arsenic species and geochemical constituents to 
determine whether the chemistry of the water has changed sufficiently 
to explain the failure.
    A follow-up questionnaire will be administered biannually and at 
the time of a system failure to determine when the unit was last 
maintained and if operation and maintenance have changed. CDC/NCEH will 
request a 3-year clearance. There is no cost to respondents.

                                             Annualized Burden Table
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Number of     Avg. burden/
                   Respondents                       Number of      responses/     response  (in   Total burden
                                                    respondents     respondent         hrs)            hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Initial recruiting postcard completion..........              34               1            5/60               3
Initial interview...............................              34               1           30/60              17

[[Page 46549]]


Biannual follow-up interview....................              45               2           25/60              38
System failure follow-up interview..............               4               1           25/60               2
                                                 -----------------
    Total.......................................  ..............  ..............  ..............              60
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Dated: July 27, 2004.
Alvin Hall,
Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 04-17620 Filed 8-2-04; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4163-18-P