2014-24793. Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has submitted the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The notice for the proposed information collection is published to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies.

Written comments and suggestions from the public and affected agencies concerning the proposed collection of information are encouraged. Your comments should address any of the following: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy of the agencies estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses; and (e) Assess information collection costs.

To request additional information on the proposed project or to obtain a copy of the information collection plan and instruments, call [phone] or send an email to [e-mail]. Written comments and/or suggestions regarding the items contained in this notice should be directed to the Attention: CDC Desk Officer, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503 or by fax to [phone]. Written comments should be received within 30 days of this notice.

Proposed Project

Measuring the Effects of State and Local Radon Policies—New—National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the U.S. population, with only 17% of lung cancer patients surviving 5 years or more from the time of diagnosis. Radon is a radioactive gas that concentrates in homes and is well-established as the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer in smokers. Radon exposure reduction is the focus of two Healthy People 2020 objectives related to reduction of the number of people living in high-concentration radon homes and the subject of a “Call to Action” from the US Surgeon General. Despite these recommendations, it is estimated that fewer than 25% of existing U.S. homes have been tested for radon.

There are significant gaps in understanding the impact of radon control efforts, especially those in the area of policy. As of February 2013, 22 states required general disclosure of known environmental hazards (including radon) during home sale, 21 states had radon professional licensure policies, and 8 states required notification of radon risks and test results as separate documents during a home sale. Twenty-one states had no radon-related policies. To date there are no studies that assess the effect of radon-related policies on increasing awareness or testing of radon and decreasing exposure to this well-known carcinogen.

To address this gap in knowledge, CDC proposes to conduct a new study to understand how state and local radon policies affect radon awareness, testing, and mitigation. The primary focus of the study will be on how single-family homebuyers and real estate agents understand and are affected by radon policies involving home sales. This information will allow stakeholders to better understand the impact of various policies intended to prevent exposure to radon.

The study approach will involve complementary qualitative and quantitative methods whose results will guide future research and educational efforts. The main outcomes evaluated will be the effect of policies related to generic disclosure of environmental hazards at the time of home sale, notification specific to awareness of and test results for radon at the time of home sale, and radon professional certification. Participants' understanding of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lead-based paint disclosure law, which is present in all states, will be assessed to understand if general environmental awareness differs between states.

Investigators seek to interview and send questionnaires to participants from Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio, and North Carolina: Two states with home sale notification policies specific to radon (IL and MN), one state with only a generic disclosure law (OH), and one state with no environmental disclosure policy (NC). Investigators will identify counties or jurisdictions that approximate the percentage of that state's population in urban and rural locations. This will improve the ability to apply findings to other situations.

The Homebuyer Component of the study will involve information collection from 3,000 individuals (750 from each state) who purchased a single-family home in the last 12 months. Potential respondents for the Homebuyer Survey will be identified through review of publicly-available tax records of home sales and recruited through mailed invitations. The survey will ask questions regarding homebuyers' knowledge about radon and lead-based paint as well as how home sale and professional certification policies for radon and lead-based paint affected their decisions during the home buying process. Responses will be collected via mail and the internet. To improve the quality of information collected through the Homebuyer Survey, a draft instrument will be cognitively tested with up to 32 respondents before the final survey is distributed.

The Real Estate Agent Component of the study will involve focus groups with full-time real estate agents who specialize in single-family home sales and are members of a national, state, or an equivalent realtors association. Respondents will be recruited through mailed invitations to real estate offices, phone calls, and possibly outreach at local real estate agent meetings. Investigators will conduct three, one-hour focus groups of 6-8 agents per state for a total of up to 96 respondents. These recorded discussions will ask real estate agents about their and their clients' understanding of radon and lead, how/whether this understanding affected decisions during the home buying process, and whether professional certification affected decisions during the home buying process.

Understanding how these policies affect homebuyers and real estate agents will allow help stakeholders better prevent radon exposure and decrease the incidence of lung cancer in the U.S. population. This information will help provide an evidence basis for CDC's many grantees who work to understand the impact of policies in their states. OMB approval is requested for two years. Participation is voluntary and there are no costs to respondents other than their time. The total estimated annualized burden hours are 256.

Estimated Annualized Burden Hours

Type of respondents	Form name	Number of respondents	Number of responses per respondent	Average burden per response (in hrs.)
Homebuyers	Cognitive Testing Interview Guide	16	1	30/60
	Homebuyer Survey	1,500	1	8/60
Real Estate Agents	Focus Group Interview Guide	48	1	1

Leroy A. 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.