2024-05770. 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 “Airline and Traveler Information Collection: Domestic Manifests and the Passenger Locator Form” 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 January 16, 2024, 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., 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

Airline and Traveler Information Collection: Domestic Manifests and the Passenger Locator Form (OMB Control No. 0920–1181, Exp. 3/31/2024)—Revision—National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

The rapid speed and tremendous volume of domestic, international, and transcontinental travel, commerce, and human migration enable infectious disease threats to disperse worldwide in 24 hours—less time than the incubation period of most communicable diseases. These and other forces intrinsic to modern technology and ways of life favor the emergence of new communicable diseases and the reemergence or increased severity of known communicable diseases.

Stopping a communicable disease outbreak—whether it is naturally occurring or intentionally caused—requires the use of the most rapid and effective public health tools available. Basic public health practices, such as collaborating with airlines in the identification and notification of potentially exposed contacts, are critical tools in the fight against the introduction, transmission, and spread of communicable diseases in the United States.

The collection of timely, accurate, and complete conveyance and traveler information enables CDC to notify State, local, and Territorial health departments in order for them to make contact with individuals who may have been exposed to a communicable disease during travel and identify appropriate next steps.

Section 361 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 264) authorizes the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to make and enforce regulations necessary to prevent the introduction, transmission, or spread of communicable diseases from foreign countries into the United States, or from one State or possession into any other State or possession. Regulations that implement Federal quarantine authority are currently promulgated in 42 CFR parts 70 and 71. Part 71 contains regulations to prevent the introduction, transmission, and spread of communicable diseases into the States and possessions of the United States, while part 70 contains regulations to prevent the introduction, transmission, or spread of communicable diseases from one State into another.

Passenger and crew manifests contain certain information for travelers on an aircraft and are generally collected from airlines when a communicable disease is confirmed after the air travel has been completed. Manifests include locating and contact information, as well as information concerning where passengers sat while aboard the aircraft. The specific list of data elements included in the domestic manifest order is:

• Full name (last, first, and, if available, middle or others);
• Date of birth;
• Sex;
• Country of residence;
• If a passport is required; passport number, passport country of issuance, and passport expiration date;
• If a travel document, other than a passport is required, travel document type, travel document number, travel document country of issuance and travel document expiration date;
• Address while in the United States (number and street, city, State, and zip code), except that U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents will provide address of permanent residence in the U.S. (number and street, city, State, and zip code; as applicable);
• Primary contact phone number to include country code;
• Secondary contact phone number to include country code;
• Email address;
• Airline name;
• Flight number;
• City of departure;
• Departure date and time;
• City of arrival;
• Arrival date and time; and
• Seat number for all passengers

CDC also requests seat configuration for the requested contact area (example: AB/aisle/CDE/aisle/FG, bulkhead in front of row 9), identification on the manifest of the crew and what zone crew were assigned to, the identification of any babies-in-arms, and finally CDC requests the total number of passengers on board if measles is the cause of the investigation, due to the highly infectious nature of the disease.

CDC then uses this passenger and crew manifest information to coordinate with State and local health departments so they can follow up with residents who live or are currently located in their jurisdiction. In most cases, the manifests are issued for air travel, and State and local health departments or IHR NFPs are responsible for the contact investigations; airlines may take responsibility for the follow-up of crew members. In rare cases, CDC may use the manifest data to perform the contact investigation directly.

CDC requests OMB approval for an estimated 3,240 annual burden hours. There are no costs 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)
Airline Medical Officer or Equivalent/Airline Administrative or Safety Manager	Domestic Manifest Order Template	500	1	6
Airline Administrative or Safety Manager	Informal Manifest Request	25	1	6
Traveler	Public Health Passenger Locator Form: limited onboard exposure (International Flights)	545	1	5/60
Traveler	Public Health Passenger Locator Form: limited onboard exposure (Domestic Flights)	545	1	5/60

Jeffrey M. Zirger,

Lead, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Public Health Ethics and Regulations, Office of Science, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.