2022-02400. Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review  

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    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has submitted the information collection request titled Coal Workers' Health Surveillance Program (CWHSP) 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 September 14, 2021 to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies. CDC did not receive comments 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., Start Printed Page 6558 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 (404) 639-7570. 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 (202) 395-5806. Provide written comments within 30 days of notice publication.

    Proposed Project

    Coal Workers' Health Surveillance Program (CWHSP) (OMB Control No. 0920-0020, Exp. 3/31/2022)—Extension—National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

    Background and Brief Description

    The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is submitting an Information Collection Request (ICR) to revise the data collection instruments being utilized within the Coal Workers' Health Surveillance Program (CWHSP). This request incorporates all components of the CWHSP. Those components include: Coal Workers' X-ray Surveillance Program (CWXSP), B Reader Program, Enhanced Coal Workers' Health Surveillance Program (ECWHSP), Expanded Coal Workers' Health Surveillance Program, and National Coal Workers' Autopsy Study (NCWAS). The CWHSP is a congressionally-mandated medical examination program for monitoring the health of coal miners and was originally established under the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 with all subsequent amendments (the Act). The Act provides the regulatory authority for the administration of the CWHSP. This Program, which operates in accordance with 42 CFR part 37, is useful in providing information for protecting the health of and also in documenting trends and patterns in the prevalence of coal workers' pneumoconiosis (`black lung' disease) among U.S. coal miners. HHS proposes to revise the CWHSP regulations (42 CFR part 37) by amending existing regulatory text to allow compensation for pathologists who perform autopsies on coal miners at a market rate, on a discretionary basis as needed for public health purposes. These changes to 42 CFR 37 have necessitated this revision ICR.

    The total estimated annualized burden hours of 11,741 is based on the following collection instruments:

    • Coal Mine Operator Plan (2.10) and Coal Contractor Plan (2.18)—Under 42 CFR part 37, every coal operator and coal contractor in the U.S. must submit a plan approximately every 4 years, providing information on how they plan to notify their miners of the opportunity to obtain the medical examination. Completion of this form with all requested information (including a roster of current employees) takes approximately 30 minutes.
    • Radiographic Facility Certification Document (2.11)—X-ray facilities seeking NIOSH approval to provide miner radiographs under the CWHSP must complete an approval packet including this form which requires approximately 30 minutes for completion.
    • Miner Identification Document (2.9)—Miners who elect to participate in the CWHSP must fill out this document which requires approximately 20 minutes. This document records demographic and occupational history, as well as information required under the regulations in relation to the examinations.
    • Chest Radiograph Classification Form (2.8)—NIOSH utilizes a radiographic classification system developed by the International Labour Office (ILO) in the determination of pneumoconiosis among coal miners. Physicians (B Readers) fill out this form regarding their interpretations of the radiographs (each image has at least two separate interpretations, and approximately 7% of the images require additional interpretations). Based on prior practice it takes the physician approximately 3 minutes per form.
    • Physician Application for Certification (2.12)—Physicians taking the B Reader examination are asked to complete this registration form which provides demographic information as well as information regarding their medical practices. It typically takes the physician about 10 minutes to complete this form.
    • Spirometry Facility Certification Document (2.14)—This form is analogous to the Radiographic Facility Certification Document (2.11) and records the spirometry facility equipment/staffing information. Spirometry facilities seeking NIOSH approval to provide miner spirometry testing under the CWHSP must complete an approval packet which includes this form. It is estimated that it will take approximately 30 minutes for this form to be completed at the facility.
    • Respiratory Assessment Form (2.13)—This form is designed to assess respiratory symptoms and certain medical conditions and risk factors. It is estimated that it will take approximately 5 minutes for this form to be administered to the miner by an employee at the facility.
    • Spirometry Results Notification Form (2.15)—This form is used to: Collect information that will allow NIOSH to identify the miner in order to provide notification of the spirometry test results; assure that the test can be done safely; record certain factors that can affect test results; provide documentation that the required components of the spirometry examination have been transmitted to NIOSH for processing; and conduct quality assurance audits and interpretation of results. It is estimated that it will take the facility approximately 20 minutes to complete this form.
    • Pathologist Invoice—Under the NCWAS, the invoice submitted by the pathologist must contain a statement that the pathologist is not receiving any other compensation for the autopsy. Each participating pathologist may use their individual invoice as long as this statement is added. It is estimated that only 5 minutes is required for the pathologist to add this statement to the standard invoice that they routinely use.
    • Pathologist Report—Under the NCWAS the pathologist must submit information found at autopsy, slides, blocks of tissue, and a final diagnosis indicating presence or absence of pneumoconiosis. The format of the autopsy reports is variable depending on the pathologist conducting the autopsy. Since an autopsy report is routinely completed by a pathologist, the only additional burden is the specific request for a clinical abstract of terminal illness and final diagnosis relating to pneumoconiosis. Therefore, only 5 minutes of additional burden is estimated for the pathologist's report.

    • Consent, Release and History Form (2.6)—This form documents written authorization from the next-of-kin to perform an autopsy on the deceased miner. A minimum of essential information is collected regarding the deceased miner including an occupational history and a smoking history. From past experience, it is Start Printed Page 6559 estimated that 15 minutes is required for the next-of-kin to complete this form.

    • Authorization for Payment of Autopsy Form (2.19)—Revised 42 CFR part 37.204 outlines a need for a physician pathologist to obtain written authorization from NIOSH and agreement regarding payment amount for services specified in § 37.202 (a) by completing the Authorization for Payment of Autopsy form and submitting it to the CWHSP for authorization prior to completing an autopsy on a coal miner. This is a new form. It will be completed by the pathologist who intends on conducting an autopsy and the form will collect: Demographic information on the deceased miner, characteristics of the miner's pneumoconiosis (if known by the pathologist), demographic and medical licensure information from the requesting pathologist, and proposed payment amount to complete the autopsy in accordance with § 37.203. It is estimated that 15 minutes is required for the pathologist to complete this form. The total estimated burden hours is 11,741.

    Estimated Annualized Burden Hours

    Type of respondentForm nameNo. of respondentsNo. of responses per respondentAverage burden per response (in hours)
    Coal Mine Operator2.10220130/60
    Coal Mine Contractor2.18160130/60
    Radiograph Facility Supervisor2.1120130/60
    Coal Miner2.98,500120/60
    Coal Miner—RadiographNo form required8,500115/60
    B Reader Physician2.8101,7603/60
    Physicians taking the B Reader Examination2.12220110/60
    Spirometry Facility Supervisor2.1415130/60
    Spirometry Facility Employee2.138,50015/60
    Spirometry Technician2.158,500120/60
    Coal Miner—SpirometryNo form required8,500115/60
    Pathologist2.194115/60
    PathologistInvoice—No standard form415/60
    PathologistPathology Report—No standard form415/60
    Next-of-kin for deceased miner2.64115/60
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    Jeffrey M. Zirger,

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

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    [FR Doc. 2022-02400 Filed 2-3-22; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 4163-18-P

Document Information

Published:
02/04/2022
Department:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
2022-02400
Pages:
6557-6559 (3 pages)
Docket Numbers:
30Day-22-0020
PDF File:
2022-02400.pdf