[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 114 (Wednesday, June 14, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31317-31319]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-14492]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
[Announcement 571]
Prevention of Silicosis in Surface Miners
Introduction
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the
availability of fiscal year (FY) 1995 funds for a cooperative agreement
program for prevention of silicosis in surface miners.
The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the
health promotion and disease prevention objectives of Healthy People
2000, a PHS-led national activity to reduce morbidity and mortality and
improve the quality of life. This announcement is related to the
priority area of Occupational Safety and Health (Objective 10.11). (For
ordering a copy of Healthy People 2000, see the Section Where to Obtain
Additional Information.)
Authority
This program is authorized under sections 20(a) and 22(e)(7) of the
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 669(a) and
671(e)(7)) and Section 501(g) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act
(30 U.S.C. 951(g)).
Smoke-Free Workplace
The PHS strongly encourages all grant recipients to provide a
smoke-free workplace and promote the nonuse of all tobacco products,
and Public Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits smoking
in certain facilities that receive Federal funds in which education,
library, day care, health care, and early childhood development
services are provided to children.
Eligible Applicants
Applications may be submitted by public and private, non-profit and
for-profit organizations and governments
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and their agencies. Thus, universities, colleges, research
institutions, hospitals, other public and private organizations, State
and local governments or their bona fide agents, federally recognized
Indian tribal governments, Indian tribes or Indian tribal
organizations, and small, minority- and/or women-owned businesses are
eligible to apply.
Availability of Funds
Approximately $85,000 is available in FY 95 to fund one award. It
is expected that the awards will begin on or about September 30, 1995,
and will be made for a 12-month budget period within a project period
of up to three years. Funding estimates may vary and are subject to
change.
Continuation awards within the project period will be made on the
basis of satisfactory progress and the availability of funds.
Purpose
The purpose of this project is to contribute to silicosis
prevention efforts as follows:
1. Identification of high silicosis-risk metal/nonmetal and coal
surface mine drilling workers/operations and development of a plan to
assess the effectiveness of the 1970 engineering control-based metal-
nonmetal surface mine drilling standard in preventing silicosis. (Phase
I)
2. Assessment of training effectiveness in a limited number of
metal/nonmetal and coal surface mine drilling operations for purposes
of targeting operations for intervention surveillance (e.g., work
practices, maintenance, engineering controls). (Phase II)
3. Follow-up surveillance to evaluate the effectiveness of the
interventions. (Phase III)
Program Requirements
In conducting activities to achieve the purpose of this program,
the recipient will be responsible for the activities under A.
(Recipient Activities), and CDC/NIOSH will be responsible for the
activities listed under B. (CDC/NIOSH Activities).
A. Recipient Activities
1. Design a study to identify high silicosis-risk populations of
metal/nonmetal and coal surface mine drillers; including small and
large employers, contractors, unionized and nonunionized operations.
2. Identify a sample of present or former surface mine drillers who
have been diagnosed with silicosis; provide ``case study'' reports.
3. Evaluate current work practices and exposure conditions at a
variety of operations. This evaluation should include an assessment of
the effectiveness of current training efforts, maintenance programs,
engineering controls and driller work practices.
4. Recommend new or modified training efforts, maintenance
programs, engineering controls or driller work practices which will
reduce worker exposures to silica.
5. Evaluate the effectiveness of interventions which are
implemented.
6. Publish results of the study.
B. CDC/NIOSH Activities
1. Provide scientific, epidemiologic, engineering, environmental,
and clinical technical assistance (as needed) to the recipient for
successful completion of this project.
2. Assist in the development of the overall plan or study design
for this project.
3. Collaborate with the recipient on the methods for collection,
tabulation, analysis, and publication of data related to the project.
4. In consultation with Mine Safety and Health Administration
(MSHA) obtain and provide available information on MSHA sampling
results, MSHA survey data, training videos, etc.
5. May provide (within the limits of available funding, manpower
restraints and privacy/regulatory considerations) health screening
(chest radiographs) for a limited number of targeted surface miners.
6. Assist in the design and implementation of the evaluation plan
for the project.
Evaluation Criteria
Applications will be reviewed and evaluated according to the
following criteria:
1. The qualifications and efficient use of current and proposed
project personnel, with assurance of a major time commitment of the
program director to the program. Technical qualifications of importance
include, but are not limited to, experience in conducting
investigations of the mining industry, knowledge of the technical
aspects of drilling, and experience with worker education and training
(to include evaluations of worker training program effectiveness).
(35%)
2. The adequacy of the applicant's facilities and resources for
purposes of evaluating surface mine driller training. Important
qualifications include program/facility history of developing and
implementing worker training programs. (10%)
3. The adequacy of the project plan or methodology. The proposed
plan and methods should demonstrate a clear understanding and
application of the goals and objectives for this program. Novel
approaches and ideas that contribute to attainment of the program's
goals and objectives are encouraged. Important components include the
method of identification of high silicosis-risk surface mine drilling
operations and the plan for assessment of effectiveness of the
intervention strategies being used. How closely the project's
objectives fit the objectives for which applications were invited.
(40%)
4. Efficient use of resources and uniqueness of program. Evidence
of collaboration with outside organizations (e.g., labor, universities,
government agencies) using shared resources towards common goals and
the demonstrated ability to solicit and receive financial resources
from outside the organization. (15%)
5. Budget and justification. (not scored)
The budget will be evaluated to the extent that it is reasonable,
clearly justified, and consistent with the intended use of the funds.
Executive Order 12372 Review
This program is not subject to the Executive Order 12372,
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.
Public Health System Reporting Requirements
This program is not subject to the Public Health System Reporting
Requirements.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number
The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number for this program
is 93.283.
Other Requirements
Paperwork Reduction Act
Projects that involve the collection of information from ten or
more individuals and funded by this cooperative agreement will be
subject to review and approval by the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act.
Human Subjects
If the proposed project involves research on human subjects, the
applicant must comply with the Department of Health and Human Services
Regulations, 45 CFR part 46, regarding the protection of human
subjects. Assurance must be provided to demonstrate the project will be
subject to initial and continuing review by an appropriate
institutional review
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committee. The applicant will be responsible for providing assurance in
accordance with the appropriate guidelines and form provided in the
application kit.
In addition to other applicable committees, Indian Health Service
(IHS) institutional review committees also must review the project if
any component of IHS will be involved or will support the research. If
any American Indian community is involved, its tribal government must
also approve that portion of the project applicable to it.
Application Submission and Deadline
The original and two copies of the application PHS Form 5161-1
(Revised 7/92, OMB Number 0937-0189) must be submitted to Henry S.
Cassell, III, Grants Management Officer, Grants Management Branch,
Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), 255 East Paces Ferry Road, NE., Room 300, Mailstop E-
13, Atlanta, GA 30305, on or before July 26, 1995.
1. Deadline: Applications shall be considered as meeting the
deadline if they are either:
(a) Received on or before the deadline date; or
(b) Sent on or before the deadline date and received in time for
submission to the objective review group. (Applicants must request a
legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark or obtain a legibly dated
receipt from a commercial carrier or U.S. Postal Service. Private
metered postmarks shall not be acceptable as proof of timely mailing.)
2. Late Applications: Applications which do not meet the criteria
in 1.(a) or 1.(b) above are considered late applications. Late
applications will not be considered in the current competition and will
be returned to the applicant.
Where To Obtain Additional Information
A complete program description and information on application
procedures are contained in the application package. Business
management technical assistance may be obtained from Oppie Byrd, Grants
Management Specialist, Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants
Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 255 East
Paces Ferry Road, NE., Room 300, Mailstop E-13, Atlanta, GA 30305,
telephone (404) 842-6546.
Programmatic technical assistance may be obtained from Joseph
Cocalis, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers
for Disease and Control Prevention (CDC), 1095 Willowdale Road,
Mailstop H-120, Morgantown, WV 26505-2888, telephone (304) 285-5754.
Please refer to Announcement 571 when requesting information and
submitting an application.
Potential applicants may obtain a copy of Healthy People 2000 (Full
Report, Stock No. 017-001-00474-0) or Healthy People 2000 (Summary
Report, Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) referenced in the Introduction
Section through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing
Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325, telephone (202) 512-1800.
Dated: June 8, 1995.
Diane D. Porter,
Acting Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 95-14492 Filed 6-13-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-19-P
