00-21990. Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations

In compliance with the requirement of Section 3506 (c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is providing opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects. To request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and instruments, call the CDC Reports Clearance Office at [phone].

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques for other forms of information technology. Send comments to Anne O'Connor, CDC Reports Clearance Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D24, Atlanta, GA 30333. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this notice.

Proposed Project

National Sexually Transmitted Disease Morbidity Surveillance System—Extension—(0920-0011)—The National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHSTP). The reports used for this surveillance system provide ongoing surveillance data on national sexually transmitted disease morbidity. The data are used by health care planners at the national, state, and local (including selected metropolitan and territorial health departments) levels to develop and evaluate STD prevention and control programs. In addition, there are many other users of the data including scientists, researchers, educators, and the media. Sexually transmitted disease (STD) data gathered in these reports are used to produce national statistics published in the annual STD Surveillance Report, MMWR articles, and serve as a progress report to meet objectives in Healthy People 2000: Mid-course Review and 1995 Revisions. It is important to note that these reporting forms are in the process of being phased out and replaced by electronic, line-listed STD data collected in the National Electronic Telecommunications System for Surveillance (NETSS). The annual cost to respondents is estimated at $12,627 based on an estimated hourly salary of $15.25 for health department personnel responsible for completing these forms:

Forms	Number of respondents	Number of responses/ respondent	Average burden (in hours)	Total burden (in hours)
CDC 73.688 *	36	4	1	144
CDC 73.688 **	27	4	1	108
CDC 73.998	36	12	35/60	252
CDC 73.2638	36	3		324
Total				828
* State-level reporting: Respondents for the state-specific CDC 73.688 forms now include 26 state health departments (originally, respondents included 50 states, but 24 states have now discontinued hardcopy reporting and send all STD data as electronic line-listed records through NETSS), seven large city health departments and three outlying areas.
** City-level reporting: The health departments for the 26 states and one of the outlying regions (Puerto Rico) also prepare and submit reports for additional large cities within their jurisdictions.

Dated: August 23, 2000.

Nancy Cheal,

Acting Associate Director for Policy Planning, and Evaluation Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).