02-17075. Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Filing Objections and Requests for a Hearing on a Regulation or Order

AGENCY:

Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (the PRA), Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on requirements for filing objections and requests for a hearing on a regulation or order.

DATES:

Submit written or electronic comments on the collection of information by September 6, 2002.

ADDRESSES:

Submit electronic comments on the collection of information to http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/​scripts/​oc/​dockets/​edockethome.cfm. Submit written comments on the collection of information to the Dockets Management Branch (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. All comments should be identified with the docket number found in brackets in the heading of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

JonnaLynn P. Capezzuto, Office of Information Resources Management (HFA-250), Food and Drug Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857, 301-827-4659.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), Federal agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. “Collection of information” is defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR 1320.3(c) and includes agency requests or requirements that members of the public submit reports, keep records, or provide information to a third party. Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)) requires Federal agencies to provide a 60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, before submitting the collection to OMB for approval. To comply with this requirement, FDA is publishing notice of the proposed collection of information set forth in this document.

With respect to the following collection of information, FDA invites comments on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of FDA's functions, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of FDA's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques, when appropriate, and other forms of information technology.

Filing Objections and Requests for a Hearing on a Regulation or Order—21 CFR Part 12 (OMB Control No. 0910-0184)—Extension

Section 12.22 (21 CFR 12.22), issued under section 701(e)(2) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the act) (21 U.S.C. 371(e)(2)), sets forth the instructions for filing objections and requests for a hearing on a regulation or order under § 12.20(d) (21 CFR 12.20(d)). Objections and requests must be submitted within the time specified in § 12.20(e). Each objection, for which a hearing has been requested, must be separately numbered and specify the provision of the regulation or the proposed order. In addition, each objection must include a detailed description and analysis of the factual information and any other document, with some exceptions, supporting the objection. Failure to include this information constitutes a waiver of the right to a hearing on that objection. FDA uses the description and analysis to determine whether a hearing request is justified. The description and analysis may be used only for the purpose of determining whether a hearing has been justified under 21 CFR 12.24 and do not limit the evidence that may be presented if a hearing is granted.

Respondents to this information collection are those parties that may be adversely affected by an order or regulation.

FDA estimates the burden of this collection of information as follows:

Table 1.—Estimated Annual Reporting Burden¹

21 CFR Section	No. of Respondents	Annual Frequency per Response	Total Annual Responses	Hours per Response	Total Hours
12.22	10	1	10	20	200
1 There are no capital costs or operating and maintenance costs associated with this collection of information.

The burden estimate for this collection of information is based on past filings. Agency personnel responsible for processing the filing of objections and requests for a public hearing on a specific regulation or order, estimate approximately 10 requests are received by the agency annually, with each requiring approximately 20 hours of preparation time.

Dated: June 27, 2002.

Margaret M. Dotzel,

Associate Commissioner for Policy.