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 Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [60-Day-12-11EC]
 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 404-639-7570 or send comments to Ron Otten, at 1600 Clifton 
                    ( print page 17067)
                    Road, MS-D74, Atlanta, GA 30333 or send an email to 
                    *omb@cdc.gov*. *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. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this notice. Proposed Project Epidemiologic Study of Health Effects Associated With Low Pressure Events in Drinking Water Distribution Systems—New—National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases—Office of Infectious Diseases—Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Background and Brief Description In the United States (U.S.), drinking water distribution systems are designed to deliver safe, pressurized drinking water to our homes, hospitals, schools and businesses. However, the water distribution infrastructure is 50-100 years old in much of the U.S. and an estimated 240,000 water main breaks occur each year. Failures in the distribution system such as water main breaks, cross-connections, back-flow, and pressure fluctuations can result in potential intrusion of microbes and other contaminants that can cause health effects, including acute gastrointestinal and respiratory illness. Approximately 200 million cases of acute gastrointestinal illness occur in the U.S. each year, but we lack reliable data to assess how many of these cases are associated with drinking water. Further, data are even more limited on the human health risks associated with exposure to drinking water during and after the occurrence of low pressure events (such as water main breaks) in drinking water distribution systems. A study conducted in Norway from 2003-2004 found that people exposed to low pressure events in the water distribution system had a higher risk for gastrointestinal illness. A similar study is needed in the United States. The purpose of this data collection is to conduct an epidemiologic study in the U.S. to assess whether individuals exposed to low pressure events in the water distribution system are at an increased risk for acute gastrointestinal or respiratory illness. This study would be, to our knowledge, the first U.S. study to systematically examine the association between low pressure events and acute gastrointestinal and respiratory illnesses. Study findings will inform the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), CDC, and other drinking water stakeholders of the potential health risks associated with low pressure events in drinking water distribution systems and whether additional measures (e.g., new standards, additional research, or policy development) are needed to reduce the risk for health effects associated with low pressure events in the drinking water distribution system. We will conduct a cohort study among households that receive water from five water utilities across the U.S. The water systems will be geographically diverse and will include both chlorinated and chloraminated systems. These water utilities will provide information about low pressure events that occur during the study period using a standardized form (approximately 12 events per utility). Utilities will provide address listings of households in areas exposed to the low pressure event and comparable households in an unexposed area to CDC staff, who will randomly select participants and send them an introductory letter and questionnaire. Consenting household respondents will be asked about symptoms and duration of any recent gastrointestinal or respiratory illness, tap water consumption, and other exposures including international travel, daycare attendance or employment, consumption of under-cooked or unpasteurized food, animal contacts, and recreational water exposures. Study participants may choose between two methods of survey response: A mail-in paper survey and a web-based survey. Participation in this study will be voluntary. No financial compensation will be provided to study participants. The study duration is anticipated to last 24 months. An estimated 5,200 individuals will be contacted and we anticipate 2,080 utility customers (18 years of age or older) will consent to participate in this study. We will conduct a pilot study (duration 3 months) prior to launching the full epidemiologic study. An estimated 1,000 individuals will be contacted and we anticipate 400 adults (18 years of age or older) will consent to participate in the pilot study. The total estimated annualized hours associated with this study, including the pilot, is expected to be 467. There are no costs to respondents other than their time. Estimate of Annualized Burden Hours
Type of respondents
Form name
Number of 
                             respondents
Number of responses per respondent
Average 
                             burden per  
                             respondent  
                             (in hours)
Total burden 
                             (in hours)Full Study:Households
Introductory letter
2,600
1
1/60
44Web-based questionnaire
624
1
12/60
125Paper-based questionnaire
416
1
12/60
84Utility employees
Household Listing
5
6
15/60
6Water sample collection
5
6
1
30Low pressure event form
5
6
4
120Pilot Study Households
Introductory letter
500
1
1/60
8Web-based questionnaire
120
1
12/60
24Paper-based questionnaire
80
1
12/60
16Utility employees
Household Listing
1
2
15/60
1Water sample collection
1
2
1
2Low pressure event form
1
2
4
8Total (Full & Pilot)




467
 Dated: March 19, 2012. Ron A. Otten, Director, Office of Scientific Integrity, Office of the Associate Director for Science (OADS), Office of the Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.


[FR Doc. 2012-7020 Filed 3-22-12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4163-18-P