[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 25 (Monday, February 9, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6414-6415]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-2612]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30Day-09-0530]


Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publishes a 
list of information collection requests under review by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). To request a copy of these requests, call 
the CDC Reports Clearance Officer at (404) 639-5960 or send an e-mail 
to [email protected]. Send written comments to CDC Desk Officer, Office of 
Management and Budget, Washington, DC or by fax to (202) 395-6974. 
Written comments should be received within 30 days of this notice.
    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 must be received 
within 60 days of this notice.

Proposed Project

    Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act 
(EEOICPA), Dose Reconstruction Interviews and Forms, OMB No. 0920-
0530--Reinstatement--The National Institute for Occupational Safety and 
Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

Background and Brief Description

    On October 30, 2000, the Energy Employees Occupational Illness 
Compensation Program Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 7384-7385) was enacted. 
This Act established a federal compensation program for employees of 
the Department of Energy (DOE) and certain of its contractors, 
subcontractors and vendors, who have suffered cancers and other 
designated illnesses as a result of exposures sustained in the 
production and testing of nuclear weapons.
    Executive Order 13179, issued on December 7, 2000, delegated 
authorities assigned to ``the President'' under the Act to the 
Departments of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services, Energy and 
Justice. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) was 
delegated the responsibility of establishing methods for estimating 
radiation doses received by eligible claimants with cancer applying for 
compensation. NIOSH is applying the following methods to estimate the 
radiation doses of individuals applying for compensation.
    In performance of its dose reconstruction responsibilities, under 
the Act, NIOSH is providing voluntary interview opportunities to 
claimants (or their survivors) individually and providing them with the 
opportunity to assist NIOSH in documenting the work history of the 
employee by characterizing the actual work tasks performed. In 
addition, NIOSH and the claimant may identify incidents that may have 
resulted in undocumented radiation exposures, characterizing 
radiological protection and monitoring practices, and identify co-
workers and other witnesses as may be 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 as opposed to a paper-based interview 
instrument. Both interviews are voluntary and failure to participate in 
either or both interviews will not have a negative effect on the claim, 
although voluntary participation may assist the claimant by adding 
important information that may not be otherwise available.
    NIOSH uses the data collected in this process to complete an 
individual dose reconstruction that accounts, as fully as possible, for 
the radiation dose incurred by the employee in the line of duty for DOE 
nuclear weapons production programs. After dose reconstruction, NIOSH 
also performs a brief, voluntary final interview with the claimant to 
explain the results and to allow the claimant to confirm or question 
the records NIOSH has compiled. This will also be the final opportunity 
for the claimant to supplement the dose reconstruction record.
    At the conclusion of the dose reconstruction process, the claimant 
submits a form to confirm that the claimant has no further information 
to provide to NIOSH about the claim at this time. The form notifies the 
claimant that signing the form allows NIOSH to forward a dose 
reconstruction report to DOL and to the claimant, and closes the record 
on data used for the dose reconstruction. Signing this form does not 
indicate that the claimant agrees with the outcome of the dose 
reconstruction. The dose reconstruction results will be supplied to the 
claimant and to the DOL, the agency that will utilize them as one part 
of its determination of whether the claimant is eligible for 
compensation under the Act.
    There is no cost to respondents other than their time. The total 
estimated annualized burden hours are 4,900.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Number of
                      Instrument type                           Number of       responses per    Average burden
                                                               respondents       respondent        (in hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Initial interview.........................................             4,200                 1                 1
Conclusion Form...........................................             8,400                 1              5/60
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



[[Page 6415]]

    Dated: January 30, 2009.
Maryam I. Daneshvar,
Acting Reports Clearance Officer, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. E9-2612 Filed 2-6-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P