[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 222 (Monday, November 18, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69090-69092]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-27485]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[60 Day-14-0636]
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, call 404-639-7570
and
[[Page 69091]]
send comments to LeRoy Richardson, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D74, Atlanta,
GA 30333 or send an email to [email protected].
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: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Secure Public Health Emergency Response Communications Network (Epi-X)
(OMB Control No. 0920-0636, exp. 5/31/2014)--Revision--Office of Public
Health Preparedness and Response (OPHPR), Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC).
Background and Brief Description
From 2009-2012, CDC conducted incident specific, public health
emergency response operations on average of six public health incidents
a year with an average emergency response length of 50 days for each
incident. The effectiveness and efficiency of CDC's response to any
public health incident depends on information at the agency's disposal
to characterize and monitor the incident, make timely decisions, and
take appropriate actions to prevent or reduce the impact of the
incident.
Available information in anticipation of, during and following
public health incident responses is often incomplete, is not easily
validated by state and local health authorities, and is sometimes
conflicting. This lack of reliable information often creates a high
level of uncertainty with potential negative impacts on public health
response operations. Secure communications with CDC's state, local,
territorial, and tribal public health partners is essential to resolve
conflicting information, validate incident status, and establish and
maintain situational awareness. Reliable, secure communications are
essential for the agency to gain and maintain accurate situational
awareness, make informed decisions, and to respond in the most
appropriate manner possible in order to minimize the impact of an
incident on the public health of the United States.
This generic Information Collection Request (ICR) is being revised
to: (1) Remove verbiage limiting data collection to activation of the
Incident Management Structure, (2) broaden categories under which data
may be collected to increase its utilization, and (3) provide clarity
regarding the data elements.
(Epi-X) is CDC's Web-based communication system for securely
communicating in immediate anticipation of, during and following public
health emergencies that have multi-jurisdictional impacts and
implications. The incidents of September 11, 2001 illustrated the need
for an encrypted and secure communications system that would permit CDC
to communicate urgently with partners at the state and local levels,
and to notify them 24/7, when necessary. Similarly, Epi-X was
specifically designed to provide public health decision-makers at the
state and local levels a secure, reliable tool for communicating
sensitive, unusual, or urgent public health incidents to neighboring
jurisdictions as well as to CDC.
CDC has recognized a need to expand the use of Epi-X to collect
specific response related information in anticipation of, during and
following public health emergencies. Proposed data collection
instruments under this generic ICR will be designed to ensure ready
access to public health and disease epidemiology information.
Authorized officials from state and local health departments
affected by the public health incident will be informed of this data
collection first through an Epi-X Facilitator, who will work closely
with Epi-X program staff and the Epi-X Information Collection Request
Liaison to ensure that Epi-X incident specific information collections
are understood. The survey instruments will contain specific questions
relevant to the current and ongoing public health incident and response
activities.
Respondents will receive the survey instrument(s) as an official
CDC email, which is clearly labeled, ``Epi-X Emergency Public Health
Incident Information Request.'' The email message will be accompanied
by a link to an Epi-X Forum discussion Web page. Respondents can
provide their answers to the survey questions by posting information
within the discussion. The total estimated burden for the generic
information collection is 73,200 hours for three years.
There are no costs to respondents except their time.
Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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Average
Number of Number burden per Total burden
Type of respondent Form name respondents responses per response (in hours
respondent hours)
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State Epidemiologists......... Epi-X Emergency 50 104 1 5,200
Public Health
Incident
Information
Request.
County Health................. Epi-X Emergency 1,600 12 1 19,200
Officials..................... Public Health
Incident
Information
Request.
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Total..................... ................ .............. .............. .............. 24,400
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[[Page 69092]]
LeRoy Richardson,
Chief, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Scientific
Integrity, Office of the Associate Director for Science, Office of the
Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2013-27485 Filed 11-15-13; 8:45 am]
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