81 FR 88700 - 60 Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: American Healthy Homes Survey II

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 236 (December 8, 2016)

The proposed information collection requirement concerning an American Healthy Homes Survey II in homes across the country will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Department is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 236 (Thursday, December 8, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 88700-88701]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-29447]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. 5914-N-03]


60 Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: American 
Healthy Homes Survey II

AGENCY: Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes, HUD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The proposed information collection requirement concerning an 
American Healthy Homes Survey II in homes across the country will be 
submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, as 
required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Department is soliciting 
public comments on the subject proposal.

DATES: Comments Due Date: February 6, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding 
this proposal. Comments should refer to the proposal by name and/or OMB 
Control Number and should be sent to: Ms. Ashley Mack, Reports Liaison 
Officer, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street 
SW., Room 8236, Washington, DC 20410.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Ashley, (202) 402-7595 (this is 
not a toll-free number), or [email protected], for copies of the 
proposed information collection instruments and other available 
documents electronically or on paper.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department is submitting the proposed 
information collection to OMB for review, as required by the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995, (44 U.S.C. chapter 35, as amended).
    This Notice is soliciting comments from members of the public and 
affected agencies concerning the proposed collection of information to: 
(1) 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; (2) 
Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information; (3) Enhance

[[Page 88701]]

the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; 
and (4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond; including through the use of appropriate automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., 
permitting electronic submission of responses.
    Title of Proposal: American Healthy Homes Survey II.
    OMB Control Number: Pending.
    Need for the Information and Proposed Use: Lead is a highly toxic 
heavy metal that adversely affects virtually every organ system in the 
body. Young children are particularly susceptible to its effects, with 
nervous system development and lower IQ the most serious. Lead 
poisoning remains one of the top childhood environmental health 
problems today. The most current national survey of young children's 
blood lead levels, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 
(NHANES) conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
(CDC) (2007-2010), shows that about 535,000 young children have 
elevated blood lead levels (Note: The CDC changed to a lower 
``reference value'' of 5 [mu]g/dl to define an elevated blood lead 
level (EBLL) in 2012, increasing the number of children to be 
considered as having an EBLL, including for this analysis.) The most 
common source of lead exposure for children today is deteriorating lead 
paint in older housing and the contaminated dust and soil it generates. 
The National Survey of Lead and Allergens in Housing (NSLAH), conducted 
by HUD and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in 
1998-2000, estimated that 37.9 million homes had lead-based paint and 
24.0 million homes had significant lead-based paint hazards; the 
American Healthy Homes Survey (AHHS I, 2005-6), conducted by HUD and 
the Environmental Protection Agency, found that 37.1 million homes had 
lead-based paint, and that 23.2 million homes had significant lead-
based paint hazards.
    With the more recent of these surveys being over a decade old, new 
information is needed to identify the extent of progress toward 
achieving the goal of the President's Task Force on Environmental 
Health Risks and Safety Risks to Children of eliminating lead paint 
hazards in housing where children under six live, and help target 
control strategies toward achieving the goal.
    Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by episodes 
of airway inflammation and narrowing. It is generally accepted that 
asthma results from the interaction between genetic susceptibility and 
environmental exposures. Exposure to indoor allergy-producing 
substances (allergens) is believed to play an important role in the 
development and exacerbation of asthma. NSLAH (1998-2000) found that 
most U.S. homes had detectable levels of dust mite allergen associated 
with allergic sensitization and asthma. AHHS I (2005-2006) found 
allergens, pesticides and mold in homes nationwide. Dust mite, dog and 
cat allergen levels at and above the allergen concentration threshold 
level that can result in the development of allergic sensitivity or 
asthma symptoms in susceptible individuals were widespread in housing. 
Mouse and cockroach allergens were also found. This AHHS II will 
collect allergy-related samples only for pesticide and mold analyses.
    Such airborne chemicals as carbon monoxide, airborne particulate 
matter, and formaldehyde, such chemicals on surfaces as pesticides, and 
such unintentional injury factors as housing conditions associated with 
falls, fires and poisons, are known to have adverse health or safety 
effects. National residential prevalence estimates for these factors 
are generally unavailable, limiting the ability of HUD and other 
agencies to develop data-driven control strategies.
    Results from this survey will provide current information needed 
for regulatory and policy decisions and enable an assessment of 
progress in making the U.S. housing stock safe.
    This information will be used to revise policy and guidance 
targeting the housing with the greatest needs for evaluation and 
control of lead and additional housing-related safety and health 
hazards.
    Agency Form Number: None.
    Members of Affected Public: Homeowners and rental housing tenants.
    Total Burden Estimate (First Year):
    Number of respondents: 600.
    Frequency of response: 1.
    Hours per response: 4.0.
    Total Estimated Burden Hours: 2,400.
    Status of the Proposed Information Collection: New request.

    Dated: December 2, 2016.
Jon L. Gant,
Director, Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes.
[FR Doc. 2016-29447 Filed 12-7-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4210-67-P