Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[INFO-99-37]

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 the CDC 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 Seleda Perryman, CDC

Assistant Reports Clearance Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D24,

Atlanta, GA 30333. Written comments should be received within 60 days

of this notice.

Proposed Project

National Coal Workers' Autopsy Study Consent Release and History

Form--(0920-0021)--Extension--National Institute for Occupational

Safety and Health (NIOSH)--Under the Federal Coal Mine Health & Safety

Act of 1977, PL91-173 (amended the Federal Coal Mine & Safety Act of

1969), the Public Health Service has developed a nationwide autopsy

program (NCWAS) for underground coal miners. The Consent Release and

History Form is primarily used to obtain written authorization from the

next-of-kin to perform an autopsy on the deceased miner. The study is a

service program to aid surviving relatives in establishing eligibility

for black lung compensation. Because a basic reason for the post-mortem

exam is research (both epidemiological and clinical), included are a

minimum of essential information regarding the deceased miner, his

occupational history, and his smoking history. The data collected will

be used by the staff at NIOSH for research purposes in defining the

diagnostic criteria for coal workers' pneumoconiosis (black lung) and

will be correlated with pathologic changes and x-ray findings.

It is estimated that only 5 minutes is required for the pathologist

to put a statement on the invoice affirming that no other compensation

is received for the autopsy. From past experience, it is estimated that

15 minutes is required for the next-of-kin to complete form CDC/NIOSH

2.6. In as much as an autopsy report is routinely completed by a

pathologist, the only additional burden is the specific request of

abstract of terminal illness and final diagnosis relating to

pneumoconiosis. Therefore, only 5 minutes of additional burden is

estimated for the autopsy report.

Respondent Costs

25 Burden Hours (Pathologists) @ $60/hour = $ 1,500

37.5 Burden Hours (Next-of-Kin) @ $12/hour = $ 450

Total: $ 1,950

The total cost to respondents is estimated at $1,950.

Data Collection:

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

Number of Avg. burden of

Respondents Number of responses/ response (In Total burden

respondents respondent hrs.) (In hrs.)

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

Pathologist Invoice............................. 150 1 5/60 12.5

Report.......................................... 150 1 5/60 12.5

Next-of-Kin..................................... 150 1 15/60 37.5

Total..................................... .............. .............. .............. 62.5

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

Dated: September 14, 1999.

Nancy Cheal,

Acting Associate Director for Policy, Planning and Evaluation, Centers

for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

[FR Doc. 99-24367 Filed 9-17-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4163-18-P