[Federal Register: October 16, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 200)]
[Notices]               
[Page 63926-63927]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16oc02-82]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-03-03]

 
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 for opportunity for public comment on 
proposed data collection projects, the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC) will publish periodic summaries of proposed 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 Officer on (404) 498-1210.
    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 or other 
forms of information technology. Send comments to Seleda Perryman, CDC 
Assistant Reports Clearance Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D24, 
Atlanta, GA 30333. Written comments should be received within 60 days 
of this notice.

Proposed Project

    Survey Development: Child Stress and Toxics--New--Agency for Toxic 
Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). ATSDR is mandated pursuant to 
the 1980 Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and 
Liability Act (CERCLA) and its 1986 amendments, the Superfund 
Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA), to serve the public by using 
the best science, taking responsive public health actions, and 
providing trusted health information to prevent harmful exposures and 
disease related to toxic substances. For the past 6 years, ATSDR has 
worked with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the 
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA), 
state health departments, and local communities on the issue of 
psychosocial stress due to the presence of toxic hazards. A significant 
amount of research has focused on adult psychosocial stress in 
communities affected by hazardous substances. Comparatively little is 
known about levels of psychosocial stress among children or other 
susceptible populations in these settings.
    There is a critical need to develop a research instrument to screen 
children who live in communities at or near hazardous waste sites for 
elevated stress levels. The instrument will facilitate the 
establishment of group norms for levels of stress in children and is 
not intended to provide clinical or diagnostic information on 
individual children.
    The purposes of this project are to: (1) Develop and pilot-test a 
scale to assess levels and sources of psychosocial stress in children 
who live in communities at or near hazardous waste sites, (2) modify 
the scale based on pilot-test results, (3) validate the scale on 
children living in communities near hazardous waste sites, and (4) 
provide an evidence base for planning and conducting interventions in 
affected communities.
    In year one, we will pilot test the scale in at least 100 children 
in two age groups (5th and 9th grade levels) at one or more test sites. 
We will also conduct semi-structured interviews or focus groups to 
determine whether additional variables need to be included in the 
scale. During the second and third years of the project, we will use 
the scale to screen up to 4,700 children in communities at or near 
hazardous waste sites. We will then, hopefully, be able to plan 
effective interventions and to further predict and explain levels of 
stress in children living around hazardous waste sites. There is no 
cost to respondents.

[[Page 63927]]



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                                                                     Number of    Average burden/
                   Respondents                       Number of      responses/     response  (in   Total burden
                                                    respondents     respondent        hours)        (in hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Children 10-17 years old........................           5,000               1           30/60           2,500
                                                 -----------------
    Total.......................................  ..............  ..............  ..............           2,500
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Dated: October 8, 2002.
Nancy E. Cheal,
Acting Associate Director for Policy, Planning, and Evaluation, Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 02-26205 Filed 10-15-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P