2022-06910. Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) submitted the information collection request titled “International Travel: Illness and Death Reports for Foreign Quarantine Regulations (42 CFR part 71)” 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 8, 2022 to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies. CDC received one comment in the information collection request. 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

International Travel: Illness and Death Reports for Foreign Quarantine Regulations (42 CFR part 71)—Revision—National Center for Emerging Zoonotic and Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

Section 361 of the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) (42 U.S.C. 264) authorizes the Secretary 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. Statute and the existing regulations governing foreign quarantine activities (42 CFR part 71) authorize quarantine officers and other personnel to inspect and undertake necessary control measures with respect to conveyances and persons in order to protect the public's health. Other inspection agencies, such as Customs and Border Protection (CBP), assist quarantine officers in public health screening of persons and make referrals to quarantine station staff when indicated. These practices and procedures ensure protection against the introduction and spread of communicable diseases into and within the United States with a minimum of recordkeeping and reporting procedures, as well as a minimum of interference with trade and travel.

U.S. Quarantine Stations are located at 20 ports of entry that include both airports and land border crossings where international travelers arrive. The jurisdiction of each station includes air, maritime, and/or land-border ports of entry. Quarantine Station staff work in partnership with international, federal, state, and local agencies and organizations to fulfill their mission to reduce morbidity and mortality among immigrants, refugees, travelers, expatriates, and other globally mobile populations. This work is performed to prevent the introduction, transmission, and spread of communicable diseases from foreign countries into the United States or from one State or possession to another State or possession. When an illness suggestive of a communicable disease is reported by conveyance operators or port partners ( e.g., Customs and Border Protection), Quarantine Officers respond to carry out an onsite public health assessment and collect data from the individual. This response may occur jointly with port partners. The collection of comprehensive, pertinent public health information during these responses enables Quarantine Officers to make an accurate public health assessment and identify appropriate next steps. For this reason, quarantine station staff need to systematically interview ill travelers and collect relevant health and epidemiologic information.

When Quarantine Officers are present at the port of entry, they may often respond in person to conduct assessment of an ill traveler. However, there are many instances in which a Quarantine Officer may not be able to meet a conveyance or border crosser in person, including (but not limited to) the following: The conveyance arrives at a port of entry that does not have a Quarantine Station on site; a maritime vessel is still out at sea when the report comes in; Quarantine Officers are already responding to another illness report; or the illness may be reported after hours and Quarantine Officers cannot arrive in time to meet the conveyance or border crosser without causing substantial delays to travel. If Quarantine Officers are unable to respond in-person, they provide phone consultation to port partners ( e.g., Emergency Medical Services (EMS), DHS/CBP, and maritime partners such as ship medical personnel) on the scene, to determine the public health importance of the illness. In both circumstances, an interview of the ill person(s) is required to conduct the public health assessment, whether in-person, by phone, or through a trained responder (in consultation with the Quarantine Officer).

Data collected by Quarantine staff during the initial report of illness or death, and during the follow-up using the illness or death response forms, is entered into the Quarantine Activity Reporting System (QARS). QARS is a secure internet database implemented in June 2005 to document and track the illnesses and deaths reported to Quarantine Stations that occurred on conveyances entering the United States and at land border crossings.

Previously this information collection also included information collections related to regulating importations of animals and human remains, and animal products. CDC plans to consolidate and submit an information collection related to importations into a new and separate information collection request. CDC is also pausing approval of the Air Travel Illness or Death Investigation Form previously approved in this package, since it is currently approved under OMB Control 0920-1318.

CDC requests OMB approval for an estimated 3,595 annual burden hours. There are no costs to respondents other than their time.

Estimated Annualized Burden Hours

Type of respondents	Form name	Number of respondents	Number of responses per respondent	Average burden per response (in hours)
Maritime Vessel Operator	42 CFR 71.21(a) report of illness or death from ships—Maritime Conveyance Illness or Death Investigation Form Sections 1-4	500	1	10/60
Maritime Vessel Operator	42 CFR 71.21(a) report of illness or death from ships—Maritime Conveyance Illness or Death Investigation Form Section 5	100	1	5/60
Maritime Vessel Operator	Cumulative Influenza/Influenza-Like Illness (ILI)	3,000	1	2/60
Maritime Vessel Operator	42 CFR 71.35 Report of death/illness during stay in port (No Form)	5	1	30/60
Pilot in command	42 CFR 71.21(b) Death/Illness reports from aircrafts (No form)	79,500	1	2/60
Traveler	Land Travel Illness or Death Investigation Form	3,000	1	15/60
Isolated or Quarantined individuals	42 CFR 71.33 Report by persons in isolation or surveillance (No Form)	11	1	3/60

Jeffrey M. Zirger,

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