2022-24916. Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has submitted the information collection request titled “Laboratory Response Network” to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. CDC previously published a “Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations” notice on March 28, 2022 to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies. CDC received one comment related to the previous notice. This notice serves to allow an additional 30 days for public and affected agency comments.

CDC will accept all comments for this proposed information collection project. The Office of Management and Budget is particularly interested in comments that:

(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]. Comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function. Direct written comments and/or suggestions regarding the items contained in this notice to the Attention: CDC Desk Officer, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20503 or by fax to [phone]. Provide written comments within 30 days of notice publication.

Proposed Project

Laboratory Response Network (LRN) (OMB Control No. 0920-0850)—Reinstatement with Change—National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

This is a request for Reinstatement with Change of a previously approved collection. Previous requests only included the biological side of the Laboratory Response Network (LRN), this request also includes the chemical side of the LRN. Additionally, there is a decrease in the estimated burden from 2,064,660 to 422,716 annual hours.

The information collected is used to ensure that the Laboratory Response Network Program Office can determine the ability of the Network to respond to a biological or chemical terrorism event. The LRN was established by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in accordance with Presidential Decision Directive 39, which outlined national anti-terrorism policies and assigned specific missions to federal departments and agencies. The LRN's mission is to maintain an integrated national and international network of laboratories that can respond to suspected acts of biological, chemical, or radiological terrorism and other public health emergencies. Federal, state and local public health laboratories join the LRN voluntarily. When laboratories join, they assume specific responsibilities and are required to provide information to the LRN Program Office at CDC. Each laboratory must submit and maintain complete information regarding the testing capabilities of the laboratory. Biennially, laboratories are required to review, verify and update their testing capability information. This information is needed so that the LRN Program Office can determine the ability of the LRN to respond to a biological or chemical terrorism event. The sensitivity of all information associated with the LRN requires that CDC obtain personal information about all individuals accessing the LRN website. Since CDC must be able to contact all laboratory personnel during an event, each laboratory staff member who obtains access to the restricted LRN website must provide his or her contact information to the LRN Program Office.

CDC requests OMB approval for an estimated 422,716 annual burden hours. Data collection is voluntary and there is no cost to respondents other than their time to participate.

Estimated Annualized Burden Hours

Type of respondents	Form name	Number of respondents	Number of responses per respondent	Average burden per response (in hours)
Public Health Laboratories	Biennial Requalification	130	1	2
Public Health Laboratories	Routine Testing Results (LRN-B)	130	25	4
Public Health Laboratories	Challenge Panel/Validation Testing Results (LRN-B)	130	2	12
Public Health Laboratories	Surge Event Testing Results (LRN-B)	130	625	4
Public Health Laboratories	BioFire Inventory Records (LRN-B)	16	1	2
Public Health Laboratories	Proficiency Testing/Characterization Results (LRN-C)	44	4	392
Public Health Laboratories	Surge Event Testing Results/Exercises (LRN-C: SPaSE, Surge, ERE)	57	3	72

Jeffrey M. Zirger,

Lead, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Scientific Integrity, Office of Science, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.