[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 119 (Thursday, June 24, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33300-33301]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-13435]



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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

[30Day-21-0062]


Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Agency 
for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has submitted the 
information collection request titled ``Supplemental Measurements for 
Exploratory Research Regarding Exposure During Activities Conducted on 
Synthetic Turf Fields with Tire Crumb Rubber Infill'' to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. ATSDR previously 
published a ``Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public Comment and 
Recommendations'' notice on February 12, 2021 to obtain comments from 
the public and affected agencies. ATSDR received one comment related to 
the previous notice. This notice serves to allow an additional 30 days 
for public and affected agency comments.
    ATSDR 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

    Supplemental Measurements for Exploratory Research Regarding 
Exposure During Activities Conducted on Synthetic Turf Fields with Tire 
Crumb Rubber Infill (OMB Control No. 0923-0062, Exp. Date 10/31/2021)--
Extension--Office of Community Health and Hazard Assessment, Agency for 
Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).

Background and Brief Description

    ATSDR is requesting a two-year extension for the research study, 
titled ``Supplemental Measurements for Exploratory Research Regarding 
Exposure During Activities Conducted on Synthetic Turf Fields with Tire 
Crumb Rubber Infill.'' (OMB Control No. 0923-0062, expiration date 10/
31/2021). ATSDR is seeking Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) clearance to 
extend the data collection period due to delays encountered with the 
COVID-19 pandemic.
    Currently in the United States, there are more than 12,000 
synthetic turf fields in use. While the Synthetic Turf Council has set 
guidelines for the content of crumb rubber used as infill in synthetic 
turf fields, manufacturing processes result in differences among types 
of crumb rubber. Additionally, the chemical composition may vary highly 
between different processes and source materials and may vary even 
within granules from the same origin.
    The research protocol, Collections Related to Synthetic Turf Fields 
with Crumb Rubber Infill, has been conducted previously under two 
information collection requests (ICRs): Activity 1 under OMB Control 
No. 0923-0054 (expiration date 01/31/2017) and Activities 2 and 3 under 
OMB Control No. 0923-0058 (expiration date 08/13/2018), which were 
limited to collections from August to October, 2017. Activities 2 and 3 
aimed to evaluate and characterize the human exposure potential to 
constituents in crumb rubber infill among a convenience sample of 60 
field users (Activity 2) and to collect biological specimens (blood and 
urine) from 45 participants (Activity 3). Due to the limited enrollment 
and collection period, the target Activity 2 and Activity 3 sample 
sizes were not met in 2017.
    The current request seeks to conduct supplemental measurements to 
expand the exploratory analysis conducted under OMB 0923-0058. The 
current request allows for further investigation of patterns observed 
in the preliminary data from the 2017 pilot-scale exposure measurements 
of individuals playing on synthetic turf fields with crumb rubber 
infill and includes collecting data from a small number of individuals 
who play on grass fields.
    In December 2020, ATSDR submitted a change request to OMB to 
incorporate COVID-19 prevention and protection measures. The change 
request was approved on 2/22/2021. The COVID-19 prevention and 
protection measures will be implemented before data collection begins.
    The current study is a larger-scale supplemental assessment of 
exposure potential for individuals who use/play on synthetic turf 
fields with tire crumb rubber infill. The study includes persons who 
use synthetic turf with crumb rubber infill (e.g., facility users) and 
who routinely perform activities that would result in a high level of 
contact to crumb rubber. The study also includes persons who use 
natural grass fields. This allows for evaluation of potential high-end 
exposures to constituents in synthetic turf among this group of users 
and for comparison to individuals who do not play on synthetic turf 
fields with tire crumb rubber infill. The respondents are administered 
a detailed questionnaire on activity patterns on synthetic turf with 
crumb rubber infill. This instrument allows ATSDR to characterize 
exposure scenarios, including the nature and duration of potential 
exposures. Additionally, we are collecting urine samples pre- and post-
activity. The urine samples will be analyzed for polyaromatic 
hydrocarbons and then archived for future analysis.
    For the extension request, there are no changes to the instruments, 
the total burden hours, and to the total number of respondents. The 
research study aims to screen a total of 220 participants for 
eligibility. The sample size for synthetic turf field users is 150 and 
50 for the

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natural grass field users. The total burden hours for the research 
study is 184 hours among all of the 220 respondents. There is no cost 
to the respondents other than their time in the study.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Number of      Avg. burden
          Type of respondents                   Form name            Number of     responses per   per response
                                                                    respondents     respondent       (in hrs.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adult/Adolescent Facility Users.......  Eligibility Screening                110               1            5/60
                                         Script.
                                        Adult and Adolescent                 100               1           30/60
                                         Questionnaire.
                                        Exposure Measurement                 100               1           20/60
                                         Form.
Parents/Guardians of Youth/Child        Eligibility Screening                110               1            5/60
 Facility Users.                         Script.
                                        Youth and Child                      100               1           30/60
                                         Questionnaire.
Youth/Child Facility Users............  Exposure Measurement                 100               1           20/60
                                         Form.
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Jeffrey M. Zirger,
Lead, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Scientific 
Integrity, Office of Science, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2021-13435 Filed 6-23-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-70-P