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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 5 (Wednesday, January 8, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1499-1500]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-00159]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30Day-25-24FS]

Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has submitted the information 
collection request titled ``Needle Exchange Utilization Survey 
(NEXUS)'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and 
approval. CDC previously published a ``Proposed Data Collection 
Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations'' notice on May 28, 
2024, to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies. CDC 
received one comment related to the previous notice. This notice serves 
to allow an additional 30 days for public and affected agency comments.
    CDC will accept all comments for this proposed information 
collection project. The Office of Management and Budget is particularly 
interested in comments that:
    (a) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    (b) Evaluate the accuracy of the agencies estimate of the burden of 
the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
    (c) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected;
    (d) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, including, through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submission of responses; and
    (e) Assess information collection costs.
    To request additional information on the proposed project or to 
obtain a copy of the information collection plan and instruments, call 
(404) 639-7570. Comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular 
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function. Direct 
written comments and/or suggestions regarding the items contained in 
this notice to the Attention: CDC Desk Officer, Office of Management 
and Budget, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20503 or by fax to (202) 
395-5806. Provide written comments within 30 days of notice 
publication.

Proposed Project

    Needle Exchange Utilization Survey (NEXUS)--New--National Center 
for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP), Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    The opioid crisis in the U.S. has led to steep increases in 
overdose, Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) incidence, and HIV clusters and 
outbreaks among people who inject drugs (PWID). These alarming trends 
indicate an urgent need to strengthen interventions to prevent 
morbidity and mortality and transmission of infectious disease among 
PWID. Syringe services programs (SSPs) are evidence-based, highly 
effective prevention programs that have expanded in many areas in the 
United States to respond to the increasing needs of providing HIV and 
HCV prevention and other health and social services to PWID and their 
communities. Due to an increase in HCV and HIV related to injection 
drug use (IDU), it is now critical to understand current patterns of 
IDU for the prevention of these infectious diseases and other injection 
related harms. Data to inform these prevention efforts are needed 
nationally, particularly from non-urban settings that have experienced 
increases in IDU and where current surveillance activities are non-
existent or limited.
    The purpose of the Needle Exchange Utilization Survey (NEXUS) is to 
develop a surveillance system to monitor drug use, prevention 
behaviors, and the infectious disease consequences of drug use in 6-15 
select urban and non-urban areas of the U.S. that the opioid crisis has 
impacted. Such a surveillance system is needed to inform prevention 
efforts and policy. The specific objectives of the project are to 
assess the following among persons who inject drugs who are recruited 
in SSPs and their peers who use drugs through peer-driven recruitment: 
(1) drug use and sexual behaviors, injection risk networks, receipt of 
prevention services, and barriers to prevention and care; and (2) the 
prevalence of HIV and HCV infections.

[[Page 1500]]

    CDC requests OMB approval for an estimated 3,126 total annualized 
burden hours. Participation is voluntary and there are no costs to the 
respondents other than their time.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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                                                                                     Number of    Average burden
              Respondent                          Form               Number of     responses per   per response
                                                                    respondents     respondent        (hours)
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Persons Screened......................  Eligibility Screening              5,400               1            5/60
                                         Form English.
Persons Screened......................  Eligibility Screening                600               1            5/60
                                         Form Spanish.
Persons who give permission...........  Model Project Consent              4,050               1            5/60
                                         Form English.
Persons who give permission...........  Model Project Permission             450               1            5/60
                                         Form Spanish.
Eligible Participants.................  NEXUS Survey English....           4,050               1           30/60
Eligible Participants.................  NEXUS Survey Spanish....             450               1           30/60
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Jeffrey M. Zirger,
Lead, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Public Health 
Ethics and Regulations, Office of Science, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2025-00159 Filed 1-7-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P
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