Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration

Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: Comment Request

In compliance with the requirement for opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects (section 3506(c)(2)(A) of Title 44, United States Code, as amended by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) publishes periodic summaries of proposed projects being developed for submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. To request more information on the proposed project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and draft instruments, call the HRSA Reports Clearance Officer on (301) 443-1129.

Comments are invited on: (a) The proposed collection of information for the proper performance of the functions of the agency; (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.

Proposed Project: The Smallpox Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (OMB No. 0915-0282)—Extension

The Smallpox Emergency Personnel Protection Act (SEPPA) authorized the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish the Smallpox Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, which provides benefits and/or compensation to certain persons harmed as a direct result of receiving smallpox covered countermeasures, including the smallpox vaccine, or as a direct result of contracting vaccinia through certain accidental exposures.

The benefits available under the Program include compensation for unreimbursed medical care and lost employment income, and survivor death benefits. To be considered for Program benefits, requesters (i.e., smallpox vaccine recipients, vaccinia contacts, survivors, or the representatives of the estates of deceased smallpox vaccine recipients or vaccinia contacts), or persons filing on their behalf as their representatives, must file a Request Form and the documentation required to show that they are eligible for Program benefits. This documentation will vary somewhat depending on whether the requester is filing as a smallpox vaccine recipient, a vaccinia contact, a survivor, or a representative of an estate.

All requesters must submit medical records sufficient to demonstrate that a covered injury was sustained by a smallpox vaccine recipient or a vaccinia contact.

The estimated annual burden is as follows:

Form

Number of

respondents

Responses per

respondent

Total

responses

Hours per

response

Total

Burden

hours

Request Form

25

1

25

5

125

Certification

25

1

25

1

25

Total

25

25

150

Send comments to Susan G. Queen, Ph.D., HRSA Reports Clearance Officer, Room 10-33, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this notice.

Dated: April 11, 2007.

Caroline Lewis,

Acting Associate Administrator for Administration and Financial Management.

[FR Doc. E7-7304 Filed 4-17-07; 8:45 am]

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