82_FR_11197 82 FR 11164 - World Trade Center Health Program; Petition 014-Autoimmune Diseases; Finding of Insufficient Evidence

82 FR 11164 - World Trade Center Health Program; Petition 014-Autoimmune Diseases; Finding of Insufficient Evidence

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 33 (February 21, 2017)

Page Range11164-11166
FR Document2017-03336

On September 29, 2016, the Administrator of the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program received a petition to add autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, to the List of WTC-Related Health Conditions (List). Upon reviewing the information provided by the petitioner, the Administrator has determined that Petition 014 is not substantially different from Petitions 007, 008, 009, 011, and 013, which also requested the addition of autoimmune diseases, including various subtypes. The Administrator has published responses to the five previous petitions in the Federal Register and has determined that Petition 014 does not provide additional evidence of a causal relationship between 9/11 exposures and autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis. Accordingly, the Administrator finds that insufficient evidence exists to request a recommendation of the WTC Health Program Scientific/Technical Advisory Committee (STAC), to publish a proposed rule, or to publish a determination not to publish a proposed rule.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 33 (Tuesday, February 21, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 33 (Tuesday, February 21, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 11164-11166]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-03336]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

42 CFR Part 88

[NIOSH Docket 094]


World Trade Center Health Program; Petition 014--Autoimmune 
Diseases; Finding of Insufficient Evidence

AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HHS.

ACTION: Denial of petition for addition of a health condition.

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SUMMARY: On September 29, 2016, the Administrator of the World Trade 
Center (WTC) Health Program received a petition to add autoimmune 
diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, to the List of WTC-Related 
Health Conditions (List). Upon reviewing the information provided by 
the petitioner, the Administrator has determined that Petition 014 is 
not substantially different from Petitions 007, 008, 009, 011, and 013, 
which also requested the addition of autoimmune diseases, including 
various subtypes. The Administrator has published responses to the five 
previous petitions in the Federal Register and has determined that 
Petition 014 does not provide additional evidence of a causal 
relationship between 9/11 exposures and autoimmune diseases, including 
rheumatoid arthritis. Accordingly, the Administrator finds that 
insufficient evidence exists to request a recommendation of the WTC 
Health Program Scientific/Technical Advisory Committee (STAC), to 
publish a proposed rule, or to publish a determination not to publish a 
proposed rule.

DATES: The Administrator of the WTC Health Program is denying this 
petition for the addition of a health condition as of February 21, 
2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rachel Weiss, Program Analyst, 1090 
Tusculum Avenue, MS: C-46, Cincinnati, OH 45226; telephone (855)

[[Page 11165]]

818-1629 (this is a toll-free number); email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Contents

A. WTC Health Program Statutory Authority
B. Petition 014
C. Review of Scientific and Medical Information and Administrator 
Determination
D. Administrator's Final Decision on Whether To Propose the Addition 
of Autoimmune Diseases to the List
E. Approval To Submit Document to the Office of the Federal Register

A. WTC Health Program Statutory Authority

    Title I of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 
2010 (Pub. L. 111-347, as amended by Pub. L. 114-113), added Title 
XXXIII to the Public Health Service (PHS) Act,\1\ establishing the WTC 
Health Program within the Department of Health and Human Services 
(HHS). The WTC Health Program provides medical monitoring and treatment 
benefits to eligible firefighters and related personnel, law 
enforcement officers, and rescue, recovery, and cleanup workers who 
responded to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York 
City, at the Pentagon, and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania (responders), 
and to eligible persons who were present in the dust or dust cloud on 
September 11, 2001, or who worked, resided, or attended school, 
childcare, or adult daycare in the New York City disaster area 
(survivors).
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    \1\ Title XXXIII of the PHS Act is codified at 42 U.S.C. 300mm 
to 300mm-61. Those portions of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and 
Compensation Act of 2010 found in Titles II and III of Public Law 
111-347 do not pertain to the WTC Health Program and are codified 
elsewhere.
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    All references to the Administrator of the WTC Health Program 
(Administrator) in this notice mean the Director of the National 
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) or his or her 
designee.
    Pursuant to section 3312(a)(6)(B) of the PHS Act, interested 
parties may petition the Administrator to add a health condition to the 
List in 42 CFR 88.15. Within 90 days after receipt of a petition to add 
a condition to the List, the Administrator must take one of the 
following four actions described in section 3312(a)(6)(B) and 42 CFR 
88.16: (1) Request a recommendation of the STAC; (2) publish a proposed 
rule in the Federal Register to add such health condition; (3) publish 
in the Federal Register the Administrator's determination not to 
publish such a proposed rule and the basis for such determination; or 
(4) publish in the Federal Register a determination that insufficient 
evidence exists to take action under (1) through (3) above. However, in 
accordance with 42 CFR 88.16(a)(5), the Administrator is required to 
consider a new submission for a previously-evaluated health condition 
determined not to qualify for addition to the List as a valid new 
petition only if the submission presents a new medical basis--evidence 
not previously reviewed by the Administrator--for the association 
between 9/11 exposures and the condition to be added.\2\
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    \2\ 42 CFR 88.16(a)(5) further allows that a ``submission that 
provides no new medical basis and is received after the publication 
of a response in the Federal Register to a petition requesting the 
addition of the same health condition will not be considered a valid 
petition and will not be answered in a Federal Register notice. . . 
. The interested party will be informed of the . . . decision in 
writing.''
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    In addition to the regulatory provisions, the WTC Health Program 
has developed policies to guide the review of submissions and petitions 
\3\ and the analysis of evidence supporting the potential addition of a 
non-cancer health condition to the List.\4\ In accordance with the non-
cancer health condition policy, the Administrator directs the WTC 
Health Program to conduct a review of the scientific literature to 
determine if the available scientific information has the potential to 
provide a basis for a decision on whether to add the health condition 
to the List. A literature review includes a search for peer-reviewed, 
published epidemiologic studies (including direct observational studies 
in the case of health conditions such as injuries) about the health 
condition among 9/11-exposed populations; such studies are considered 
``relevant.'' Relevant studies identified in the literature search are 
further reviewed for their quantity and quality to provide a basis for 
deciding whether to propose adding the health condition to the List. 
Where the available evidence has the potential to provide a basis for a 
decision, the scientific and medical evidence is further assessed to 
determine whether a causal relationship between 9/11 exposures and the 
health condition is supported. A health condition may be added to the 
List if peer-reviewed, published epidemiologic studies (including 
direct observational studies in the case of health conditions such as 
injuries) provide substantial support \5\ for a causal relationship 
between 9/11 exposures and the health condition in 9/11-exposed 
populations. If the evidence assessment provides only modest support 
\6\ for a causal relationship between 9/11 exposures and the health 
condition, the Administrator may then evaluate additional peer-
reviewed, published epidemiologic studies, conducted among non-9/11-
exposed populations, evaluating associations between the health 
condition of interest and 9/11 agents.\7\ If that additional assessment 
adds enough support for the Administrator to determine there is 
substantial support \8\ for a causal relationship between a 9/11 agent 
or agents and the health condition, the health condition may be added 
to the List.
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    \3\ See WTC Health Program [2014], Policy and Procedures for 
Handling Submissions and Petitions to Add a Health Condition to the 
List of WTC-Related Health Conditions, May 14, http://www.cdc.gov/wtc/pdfs/WTCHPPPPetitionHandlingProcedures14May2014.pdf.
    \4\ See WTC Health Program [2016], Policy and Procedures for 
Adding Non-Cancer Conditions to the List of WTC-Related Health 
Conditions, May 11, http://www.cdc.gov/wtc/pdfs/WTCHP_PP_Adding_NonCancer_Conditions_Revision_11_May_2016.pdf.
    \5\ The substantial evidence standard is met when the Program 
assesses all of the available, relevant information and determines 
with high confidence that the evidence supports its findings 
regarding a causal association between the 9/11 exposure(s) and the 
health condition.
    \6\ The modest evidence standard is met when the Program 
assesses all of the available, relevant information and determines 
with moderate confidence that the evidence supports its findings 
regarding a causal association between the 9/11 exposure(s) and the 
health condition.
    \7\ 9/11 agents are chemical, physical, biological, or other 
agents or hazards reported in a published, peer-reviewed exposure 
assessment study of responders or survivors who were present in the 
New York City disaster area, at the Pentagon site, or at the 
Shanksville, Pennsylvania site, as those locations are defined in 42 
CFR 88.1.
    \8\ See supra note 5.
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B. Petition 014

    On September 29, 2016, the Administrator received a petition from a 
WTC Health Program member to add ``autoimmune conditions like 
Rheumatoid Arthritis'' to the List, considered Petition 014.\9\ This is 
the sixth petition to the Administrator requesting the addition of 
autoimmune diseases, including various subtypes, to the List; each of 
the first five autoimmune disease petitions were denied due to 
insufficient evidence, as described in respective Federal Register 
notices (FRNs).\10\ Petition 014 was

[[Page 11166]]

received prior to recent amendments to WTC Health Program regulations 
regarding petitions for additions to the List taking effect.\11\ The 
Petition was evaluated pursuant to the regulations and policies in 
effect at the time of its receipt \12\ and, therefore, Petition 014 was 
considered valid. Future such submissions requesting the addition of 
autoimmune diseases to the List and providing the same peer-reviewed, 
published, epidemiologic evidence, however, may not be considered valid 
in accordance with 42 CFR 88.16(a)(5), as amended.
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    \9\ See Petition 014, WTC Health Program: Petitions Received, 
http://www.cdc.gov/wtc/received.html.
    \10\ ``World Trade Center Health Program; Petition 007--
Autoimmune Diseases; Finding of Insufficient Evidence,'' 80 FR 32333 
(June 8, 2015); ``World Trade Center Health Program; Petition 008--
Autoimmune Diseases; Finding of Insufficient Evidence,'' 80 FR 39720 
(July 10, 2015); ``World Trade Center Health Program; Petition 009--
Autoimmune Diseases; Finding of Insufficient Evidence,'' 80 FR 65980 
(Oct. 28, 2015); ``World Trade Center Health Program; Petition 011--
Autoimmune Diseases; Finding of Insufficient Evidence,'' 81 FR 24047 
(April 25, 2016); and ``World Trade Center Health Program; Petition 
013--Autoimmune Disease; Finding of Insufficient Evidence,'' 81 FR 
60329 (Sept. 1, 2016).
    \11\ See ``World Trade Center Health Program; Amendments to 
Definitions, Appeals, and Other Requirements; Final Rule,'' 81 FR 
90926 (Dec. 15, 2016), effective Jan. 17, 2017.
    \12\ See 42 CFR 88.17 (2016); see also 77 FR 24628 (Apr. 25, 
2012).
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    In accordance with WTC Health Program policy, the medical basis for 
a potential addition to the List may be demonstrated by reference to a 
peer-reviewed, published epidemiologic study about the health condition 
among 9/11-exposed populations or to clinical case reports of health 
conditions in WTC responders or survivors.\13\ Petition 014 presented 
an online news article \14\ announcing the online publication of a 
study published by Webber et al. [2015], entitled ``Nested Case-Control 
Study of Selected Systemic Autoimmune Diseases in World Trade Center 
Rescue/Recovery Workers.'' \15\ Because Webber et al. [2015] is a peer-
reviewed, published epidemiologic study of autoimmune diseases among 9/
11-exposed responders and survivors, the petition was considered valid. 
Accordingly, the Program conducted a review of available scientific 
information regarding the causal association between 9/11 exposure and 
autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis.
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    \13\ See supra note 2.
    \14\ Boynes-Shuck A [2015], Why Rheumatoid Arthritis Is Plaguing 
9/11 First Responders, Healthline News, http://www.healthline.com/health-news/why-rheumatoid-arthritis-is-plaguing-9-11-first-responders-040415#1.
    \15\ Webber M, Moir W, Zeig-Owens R, et al. [2015], Nested Case-
Control Study of Selected Systemic Autoimmune Diseases in World 
Trade Center Rescue/Recovery Workers, Arthritis Rheumatol 
67(5):1369-1376.
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C. Review of Scientific and Medical Information and Administrator 
Determination

    A literature search conducted in response to Petition 007 \16\ 
included all of the autoimmune conditions in the 2015 Webber study; the 
Program conducted updates of that literature search in response to 
Petition 011 and Petition 013, looking for relevant studies published 
since the date of the previous literature search.\17\ In reviewing 
Petition 014, the Program conducted a search \18\ to update the results 
of the previous literature review for all of the types of autoimmune 
diseases identified in the 2015 Webber et al. study.\19\ The Program 
identified one new reference since the publication of the Petition 013 
FRN in September 2016, a conference abstract regarding sarcoidosis in 
9/11-exposed firefighters.\20\ Upon review, the abstract was determined 
not to be relevant because it is not a published epidemiologic study in 
a peer-reviewed scientific journal.
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    \16\ 80 FR 32333 (June 8, 2015).
    \17\ See 81 FR 24047 (April 25, 2016) and 81 FR 60329 (Sept. 1, 
2016), respectively.
    \18\ Databases searched include: CINAHL, Embase, NIOSHTIC-2, 
ProQuest Health and Safety Science Abstracts, PubMed, Scopus, 
Toxicology Abstracts, and TOXLINE.
    \19\ Rheumatoid arthritis; spondyloarthritis; inflammatory 
myositis (polymyositis and dermatomyositis); systemic lupus 
erythematosus; systemic sclerosis (scleroderma); Sjogren's syndrome; 
antiphospholipid syndrome; granulomatosis with polyangiitis 
(Wegener's); and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis 
(Churg-Strauss).
    \20\ Hena K, Yip J, Jaber N, et al. [2016], Clinical 
Characteristics of Sarcoidosis in World Trade Center (WTC) Exposed 
Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) Firefighters, Chest 
150(4S):514A.
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    The literature review did not identify any newly-published, 
relevant studies of autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid 
arthritis, in the 9/11-exposed population.\21\ Therefore, in accordance 
with the Program policy discussed above, the Program was unable to 
further evaluate Petition 014.
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    \21\ Two relevant studies identified in previous FRNs, Webber et 
al. [2015] and Webber M, Moir W, Crowson C, et al. [2016], Post-
September 11, 2001, Incidence of Systemic Autoimmune Diseases in 
World Trade Center-Exposed Firefighters and Emergency Medical 
Service Workers, Mayo Clin Proc 2016;91(1):23-32, were reviewed in 
the Petition 011 and Petition 013 FRNs and found not to have the 
potential to provide a basis for a decision on whether to propose 
adding autoimmune diseases to the List. These studies are not 
further discussed in this notice; discussions of the Administrator's 
findings with regard to these studies may be found in previous 
notices for Petition 011, 81 FR 24047 (April 25, 2016) and Petition 
013, 81 FR 60329 (Sept. 1, 2016).
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D. Administrator's Final Decision on Whether To Propose the Addition of 
Autoimmune Diseases to the List

    Finding no newly-published, relevant studies with regard to 
Petition 014, the Administrator has accordingly determined that 
insufficient evidence is available to take further action at this time, 
including either proposing the addition of autoimmune diseases, 
including rheumatoid arthritis, to the List (pursuant to PHS Act, sec. 
3312(a)(6)(B)(ii) and 42 CFR 88.16(a)(2)(ii)) or publishing a 
determination not to publish a proposed rule in the Federal Register 
(pursuant to PHS Act, sec. 3312(a)(6)(B)(iii) and 42 CFR 
88.16(a)(2)(iii)). The Administrator has also determined that 
requesting a recommendation from the STAC (pursuant to PHS Act, sec. 
3312(a)(6)(B)(i) and 42 CFR 88.16(a)(2)(i)) is unwarranted.
    For the reasons discussed above, the Petition 014 request to add 
autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, to the List of 
WTC-Related Health Conditions is denied.

E. Approval To Submit Document to the Office of the Federal Register

    The Secretary, HHS, or her/his designee, the Director, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Administrator, Agency for 
Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), authorized the 
undersigned, the Administrator of the WTC Health Program, to sign and 
submit the document to the Office of the Federal Register for 
publication as an official document of the WTC Health Program. Anne 
Schuchat, M.D., Acting Director, CDC, and Acting Administrator, ATSDR, 
approved this document for publication on February 9, 2017.

John Howard,
Administrator, World Trade Center Health Program and Director, National 
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services.
[FR Doc. 2017-03336 Filed 2-17-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4163-18-P



                                                 11164                 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 33 / Tuesday, February 21, 2017 / Proposed Rules

                                                   (1) Airbus Service Bulletin A320–53–1308,               (3) Airbus Service Bulletin A320–53–1310,             (5) Airbus Service Bulletin A320–53–1312,
                                                 dated November 4, 2015 (FR 35.1 LH side).               dated November 4, 2015 (FR 35.2 LH side).             dated November 4, 2015 (FR 35.3 LH side).
                                                   (2) Airbus Service Bulletin A320–53–1309,               (4) Airbus Service Bulletin A320–53–1311,             (6) Airbus Service Bulletin A320–53–1313,
                                                 dated November 4, 2015 (FR 35.1 RH side).               dated November 4, 2015 (FR 35.2 RH side).             dated November 4, 2015 (FR 35.3 RH side).

                                                                                       TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (g) OF THIS AD—INSPECTION THRESHOLD
                                                   Airplane accumulated total flight cycles at the effective                                               Compliance time
                                                                     date of this AD

                                                 For airplanes with 18,300 total flight cycles or less ..........    Before exceeding 18,300 total flight cycles, or within 5,300 flight cycles after the ef-
                                                                                                                       fective date of this AD, whichever occurs later.
                                                 For airplanes with more than 18,300 total flight cycles .....       Before exceeding 23,600 total flight cycles, or within 2,100 flight cycles after the ef-
                                                                                                                       fective date of this AD, whichever occurs later.



                                                 (h) Corrective Action                                     (3) Required for Compliance (RC): Except            DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
                                                    If any crack is found during any inspection          as required by paragraph (h) of this AD: If           HUMAN SERVICES
                                                 required by paragraph (g) of this AD: Before            any service information contains procedures
                                                 further flight, repair using a method                   or tests that are identified as RC, those             42 CFR Part 88
                                                 approved by the Manager, International                  procedures and tests must be done to comply
                                                 Branch, ANM–116, Transport Airplane                     with this AD; any procedures or tests that are        [NIOSH Docket 094]
                                                 Directorate, FAA; or the European Aviation              not identified as RC are recommended. Those
                                                 Safety Agency (EASA); or Airbus’s EASA                  procedures and tests that are not identified          World Trade Center Health Program;
                                                 Design Organization Approval (DOA).                                                                           Petition 014—Autoimmune Diseases;
                                                 Although the service information specified in           as RC may be deviated from using accepted
                                                                                                         methods in accordance with the operator’s             Finding of Insufficient Evidence
                                                 paragraph (g) of this AD specifies to contact
                                                 Airbus for repair instructions, and specifies           maintenance or inspection program without             AGENCY:  Centers for Disease Control and
                                                 that action as ‘‘RC’’ (Required for                     obtaining approval of an AMOC, provided               Prevention, HHS.
                                                 Compliance), this AD requires repair as                 the procedures and tests identified as RC can
                                                 specified in this paragraph. Repair of an                                                                     ACTION: Denial of petition for addition of
                                                                                                         be done and the airplane can be put back in
                                                 airplane as required by this paragraph does             an airworthy condition. Any substitutions or          a health condition.
                                                 not constitute terminating action for the               changes to procedures or tests identified as
                                                 repetitive inspections required by paragraph                                                                  SUMMARY:   On September 29, 2016, the
                                                                                                         RC require approval of an AMOC.
                                                 (g) of this AD for that airplane, unless                                                                      Administrator of the World Trade
                                                 specified otherwise in the repair instructions          (j) Related Information                               Center (WTC) Health Program received
                                                 approved by the Manager, International                                                                        a petition to add autoimmune diseases,
                                                 Branch, ANM–116, Transport Airplane                       (1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing
                                                                                                         Airworthiness Information (MCAI) EASA                 including rheumatoid arthritis, to the
                                                 Directorate, FAA; or EASA; or Airbus’s EASA
                                                                                                         Airworthiness Directive 2016–0146, dated              List of WTC-Related Health Conditions
                                                 DOA.
                                                                                                         July 20, 2016, for related information. This          (List). Upon reviewing the information
                                                 (i) Other FAA AD Provisions                                                                                   provided by the petitioner, the
                                                                                                         MCAI may be found in the AD docket on the
                                                    The following provisions also apply to this          Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by             Administrator has determined that
                                                 AD:                                                     searching for and locating Docket No. FAA–            Petition 014 is not substantially
                                                    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance                2016–9571.                                            different from Petitions 007, 008, 009,
                                                 (AMOCs): The Manager, International                                                                           011, and 013, which also requested the
                                                                                                           (2) For service information identified in
                                                 Branch, ANM–116, Transport Airplane
                                                                                                         this AD, contact Airworthiness Office—EIAS,           addition of autoimmune diseases,
                                                 Directorate, FAA, has the authority to
                                                 approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested                 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707                  including various subtypes. The
                                                 using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.             Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 5 61             Administrator has published responses
                                                 In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your              93 36 96; fax +33 5 61 93 44 51; email                to the five previous petitions in the
                                                 request to your principal inspector or local            account.airworth-eas@airbus.com; Internet             Federal Register and has determined
                                                 Flight Standards District Office, as                    http://www.airbus.com. You may view this              that Petition 014 does not provide
                                                 appropriate. If sending information directly            service information at the FAA, Transport             additional evidence of a causal
                                                 to the International Branch, send it to ATTN:           Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW.,           relationship between 9/11 exposures
                                                 Sanjay Ralhan, Aerospace Engineer,
                                                                                                         Renton, WA. For information on the                    and autoimmune diseases, including
                                                 International Branch, ANM–116, Transport
                                                 Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind                    availability of this material at the FAA, call        rheumatoid arthritis. Accordingly, the
                                                 Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057–3356;                      425–227–1221.                                         Administrator finds that insufficient
                                                 telephone 425–227–1405; fax 425–227–1149.                                                                     evidence exists to request a
                                                 Information may be emailed to: 9-ANM-116-                 Issued in Renton, Washington, on January            recommendation of the WTC Health
                                                 AMOC-REQUESTS@faa.gov. Before using                     11, 2017.                                             Program Scientific/Technical Advisory
                                                 any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate              Michael Kaszycki,                                     Committee (STAC), to publish a
                                                 principal inspector, or lacking a principal             Acting Manager, Transport Airplane                    proposed rule, or to publish a
                                                 inspector, the manager of the local flight                                                                    determination not to publish a proposed
                                                                                                         Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
                                                 standards district office/certificate holding
                                                 district office.                                        [FR Doc. 2017–03031 Filed 2–17–17; 8:45 am]           rule.
rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                    (2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any             BILLING CODE 4910–13–P                                DATES: The Administrator of the WTC
                                                 requirement in this AD to obtain corrective                                                                   Health Program is denying this petition
                                                 actions from a manufacturer, the action must                                                                  for the addition of a health condition as
                                                 be accomplished using a method approved                                                                       of February 21, 2017.
                                                 by the Manager, International Branch, ANM–
                                                 116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA; or                                                                  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                 the EASA; or Airbus’s EASA DOA. If                                                                            Rachel Weiss, Program Analyst, 1090
                                                 approved by the DOA, the approval must                                                                        Tusculum Avenue, MS: C–46,
                                                 include the DOA-authorized signature.                                                                         Cincinnati, OH 45226; telephone (855)


                                            VerDate Sep<11>2014   14:44 Feb 17, 2017   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00006   Fmt 4702   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\21FEP1.SGM   21FEP1


                                                                        Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 33 / Tuesday, February 21, 2017 / Proposed Rules                                                    11165

                                                 818–1629 (this is a toll-free number);                  Federal Register a determination that                  published epidemiologic studies
                                                 email NIOSHregs@cdc.gov.                                insufficient evidence exists to take                   (including direct observational studies
                                                 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                              action under (1) through (3) above.                    in the case of health conditions such as
                                                                                                         However, in accordance with 42 CFR                     injuries) provide substantial support 5
                                                 Table of Contents                                       88.16(a)(5), the Administrator is                      for a causal relationship between 9/11
                                                 A. WTC Health Program Statutory Authority               required to consider a new submission                  exposures and the health condition in 9/
                                                 B. Petition 014                                         for a previously-evaluated health                      11-exposed populations. If the evidence
                                                 C. Review of Scientific and Medical                     condition determined not to qualify for                assessment provides only modest
                                                     Information and Administrator                       addition to the List as a valid new                    support 6 for a causal relationship
                                                     Determination
                                                                                                         petition only if the submission presents               between 9/11 exposures and the health
                                                 D. Administrator’s Final Decision on
                                                     Whether To Propose the Addition of                  a new medical basis—evidence not                       condition, the Administrator may then
                                                     Autoimmune Diseases to the List                     previously reviewed by the                             evaluate additional peer-reviewed,
                                                 E. Approval To Submit Document to the                   Administrator—for the association                      published epidemiologic studies,
                                                     Office of the Federal Register                      between 9/11 exposures and the                         conducted among non-9/11-exposed
                                                                                                         condition to be added.2                                populations, evaluating associations
                                                 A. WTC Health Program Statutory                            In addition to the regulatory                       between the health condition of interest
                                                 Authority                                               provisions, the WTC Health Program                     and 9/11 agents.7 If that additional
                                                    Title I of the James Zadroga 9/11                    has developed policies to guide the                    assessment adds enough support for the
                                                 Health and Compensation Act of 2010                     review of submissions and petitions 3                  Administrator to determine there is
                                                 (Pub. L. 111–347, as amended by Pub.                    and the analysis of evidence supporting                substantial support 8 for a causal
                                                 L. 114–113), added Title XXXIII to the                  the potential addition of a non-cancer                 relationship between a 9/11 agent or
                                                 Public Health Service (PHS) Act,1                       health condition to the List.4 In                      agents and the health condition, the
                                                 establishing the WTC Health Program                     accordance with the non-cancer health                  health condition may be added to the
                                                 within the Department of Health and                     condition policy, the Administrator                    List.
                                                 Human Services (HHS). The WTC                           directs the WTC Health Program to
                                                 Health Program provides medical                         conduct a review of the scientific                     B. Petition 014
                                                 monitoring and treatment benefits to                    literature to determine if the available                  On September 29, 2016, the
                                                 eligible firefighters and related                       scientific information has the potential               Administrator received a petition from a
                                                 personnel, law enforcement officers,                    to provide a basis for a decision on                   WTC Health Program member to add
                                                 and rescue, recovery, and cleanup                       whether to add the health condition to                 ‘‘autoimmune conditions like
                                                 workers who responded to the                            the List. A literature review includes a               Rheumatoid Arthritis’’ to the List,
                                                 September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in                search for peer-reviewed, published                    considered Petition 014.9 This is the
                                                 New York City, at the Pentagon, and in                  epidemiologic studies (including direct                sixth petition to the Administrator
                                                 Shanksville, Pennsylvania (responders),                 observational studies in the case of                   requesting the addition of autoimmune
                                                 and to eligible persons who were                        health conditions such as injuries) about              diseases, including various subtypes, to
                                                 present in the dust or dust cloud on                    the health condition among 9/11-                       the List; each of the first five
                                                 September 11, 2001, or who worked,                      exposed populations; such studies are                  autoimmune disease petitions were
                                                 resided, or attended school, childcare,                 considered ‘‘relevant.’’ Relevant studies              denied due to insufficient evidence, as
                                                 or adult daycare in the New York City                   identified in the literature search are                described in respective Federal Register
                                                 disaster area (survivors).                              further reviewed for their quantity and                notices (FRNs).10 Petition 014 was
                                                    All references to the Administrator of               quality to provide a basis for deciding
                                                 the WTC Health Program                                  whether to propose adding the health                     5 The substantial evidence standard is met when

                                                 (Administrator) in this notice mean the                 condition to the List. Where the                       the Program assesses all of the available, relevant
                                                                                                                                                                information and determines with high confidence
                                                 Director of the National Institute for                  available evidence has the potential to                that the evidence supports its findings regarding a
                                                 Occupational Safety and Health                          provide a basis for a decision, the                    causal association between the 9/11 exposure(s) and
                                                 (NIOSH) or his or her designee.                         scientific and medical evidence is                     the health condition.
                                                    Pursuant to section 3312(a)(6)(B) of                 further assessed to determine whether a                  6 The modest evidence standard is met when the

                                                 the PHS Act, interested parties may                                                                            Program assesses all of the available, relevant
                                                                                                         causal relationship between 9/11                       information and determines with moderate
                                                 petition the Administrator to add a                     exposures and the health condition is                  confidence that the evidence supports its findings
                                                 health condition to the List in 42 CFR                  supported. A health condition may be                   regarding a causal association between the 9/11
                                                 88.15. Within 90 days after receipt of a                added to the List if peer-reviewed,                    exposure(s) and the health condition.
                                                                                                                                                                  7 9/11 agents are chemical, physical, biological, or
                                                 petition to add a condition to the List,
                                                                                                                                                                other agents or hazards reported in a published,
                                                 the Administrator must take one of the                     2 42 CFR 88.16(a)(5) further allows that a
                                                                                                                                                                peer-reviewed exposure assessment study of
                                                 following four actions described in                     ‘‘submission that provides no new medical basis        responders or survivors who were present in the
                                                 section 3312(a)(6)(B) and 42 CFR 88.16:                 and is received after the publication of a response
                                                                                                                                                                New York City disaster area, at the Pentagon site,
                                                                                                         in the Federal Register to a petition requesting the
                                                 (1) Request a recommendation of the                                                                            or at the Shanksville, Pennsylvania site, as those
                                                                                                         addition of the same health condition will not be
                                                                                                                                                                locations are defined in 42 CFR 88.1.
                                                 STAC; (2) publish a proposed rule in the                considered a valid petition and will not be              8 See supra note 5.
                                                 Federal Register to add such health                     answered in a Federal Register notice. . . . The
                                                                                                                                                                  9 See Petition 014, WTC Health Program: Petitions
                                                                                                         interested party will be informed of the . . .
                                                 condition; (3) publish in the Federal                   decision in writing.’’                                 Received, http://www.cdc.gov/wtc/received.html.
                                                 Register the Administrator’s                               3 See WTC Health Program [2014], Policy and           10 ‘‘World Trade Center Health Program; Petition

                                                 determination not to publish such a                     Procedures for Handling Submissions and Petitions      007—Autoimmune Diseases; Finding of Insufficient
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                                                 proposed rule and the basis for such                    to Add a Health Condition to the List of WTC-          Evidence,’’ 80 FR 32333 (June 8, 2015); ‘‘World
                                                                                                         Related Health Conditions, May 14, http://             Trade Center Health Program; Petition 008—
                                                 determination; or (4) publish in the                    www.cdc.gov/wtc/pdfs/WTCHPPPPetitionHandling           Autoimmune Diseases; Finding of Insufficient
                                                                                                         Procedures14May2014.pdf.                               Evidence,’’ 80 FR 39720 (July 10, 2015); ‘‘World
                                                   1 Title XXXIII of the PHS Act is codified at 42          4 See WTC Health Program [2016], Policy and         Trade Center Health Program; Petition 009—
                                                 U.S.C. 300mm to 300mm–61. Those portions of the         Procedures for Adding Non-Cancer Conditions to         Autoimmune Diseases; Finding of Insufficient
                                                 James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act          the List of WTC-Related Health Conditions, May 11,     Evidence,’’ 80 FR 65980 (Oct. 28, 2015); ‘‘World
                                                 of 2010 found in Titles II and III of Public Law 111–   http://www.cdc.gov/wtc/pdfs/WTCHP_PP_Adding_           Trade Center Health Program; Petition 011—
                                                 347 do not pertain to the WTC Health Program and        NonCancer_Conditions_Revision_11_May_                  Autoimmune Diseases; Finding of Insufficient
                                                 are codified elsewhere.                                 2016.pdf.                                                                                          Continued




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                                                 11166                 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 33 / Tuesday, February 21, 2017 / Proposed Rules

                                                 received prior to recent amendments to                  2015 Webber study; the Program                         including rheumatoid arthritis, to the
                                                 WTC Health Program regulations                          conducted updates of that literature                   List (pursuant to PHS Act, sec.
                                                 regarding petitions for additions to the                search in response to Petition 011 and                 3312(a)(6)(B)(ii) and 42 CFR
                                                 List taking effect.11 The Petition was                  Petition 013, looking for relevant studies             88.16(a)(2)(ii)) or publishing a
                                                 evaluated pursuant to the regulations                   published since the date of the previous               determination not to publish a proposed
                                                 and policies in effect at the time of its               literature search.17 In reviewing Petition             rule in the Federal Register (pursuant to
                                                 receipt 12 and, therefore, Petition 014                 014, the Program conducted a search 18                 PHS Act, sec. 3312(a)(6)(B)(iii) and 42
                                                 was considered valid. Future such                       to update the results of the previous                  CFR 88.16(a)(2)(iii)). The Administrator
                                                 submissions requesting the addition of                  literature review for all of the types of              has also determined that requesting a
                                                 autoimmune diseases to the List and                     autoimmune diseases identified in the                  recommendation from the STAC
                                                 providing the same peer-reviewed,                       2015 Webber et al. study.19 The Program                (pursuant to PHS Act, sec.
                                                 published, epidemiologic evidence,                      identified one new reference since the                 3312(a)(6)(B)(i) and 42 CFR
                                                 however, may not be considered valid                    publication of the Petition 013 FRN in                 88.16(a)(2)(i)) is unwarranted.
                                                 in accordance with 42 CFR 88.16(a)(5),                  September 2016, a conference abstract                    For the reasons discussed above, the
                                                 as amended.                                             regarding sarcoidosis in 9/11-exposed                  Petition 014 request to add autoimmune
                                                    In accordance with WTC Health                        firefighters.20 Upon review, the abstract              diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis,
                                                 Program policy, the medical basis for a                 was determined not to be relevant                      to the List of WTC-Related Health
                                                 potential addition to the List may be                   because it is not a published                          Conditions is denied.
                                                 demonstrated by reference to a peer-                    epidemiologic study in a peer-reviewed
                                                                                                         scientific journal.                                    E. Approval To Submit Document to the
                                                 reviewed, published epidemiologic
                                                                                                            The literature review did not identify              Office of the Federal Register
                                                 study about the health condition among
                                                 9/11-exposed populations or to clinical                 any newly-published, relevant studies                    The Secretary, HHS, or her/his
                                                 case reports of health conditions in                    of autoimmune diseases, including                      designee, the Director, Centers for
                                                 WTC responders or survivors.13 Petition                 rheumatoid arthritis, in the 9/11-                     Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
                                                 014 presented an online news article 14                 exposed population.21 Therefore, in                    and Administrator, Agency for Toxic
                                                 announcing the online publication of a                  accordance with the Program policy                     Substances and Disease Registry
                                                 study published by Webber et al. [2015],                discussed above, the Program was                       (ATSDR), authorized the undersigned,
                                                 entitled ‘‘Nested Case-Control Study of                 unable to further evaluate Petition 014.               the Administrator of the WTC Health
                                                 Selected Systemic Autoimmune                            D. Administrator’s Final Decision on                   Program, to sign and submit the
                                                 Diseases in World Trade Center Rescue/                  Whether To Propose the Addition of                     document to the Office of the Federal
                                                 Recovery Workers.’’ 15 Because Webber                   Autoimmune Diseases to the List                        Register for publication as an official
                                                 et al. [2015] is a peer-reviewed,                                                                              document of the WTC Health Program.
                                                 published epidemiologic study of                          Finding no newly-published, relevant                 Anne Schuchat, M.D., Acting Director,
                                                 autoimmune diseases among 9/11-                         studies with regard to Petition 014, the               CDC, and Acting Administrator,
                                                 exposed responders and survivors, the                   Administrator has accordingly                          ATSDR, approved this document for
                                                 petition was considered valid.                          determined that insufficient evidence is               publication on February 9, 2017.
                                                 Accordingly, the Program conducted a                    available to take further action at this
                                                                                                         time, including either proposing the                   John Howard,
                                                 review of available scientific
                                                                                                         addition of autoimmune diseases,                       Administrator, World Trade Center Health
                                                 information regarding the causal                                                                               Program and Director, National Institute for
                                                 association between 9/11 exposure and                     17 See 81 FR 24047 (April 25, 2016) and 81 FR        Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for
                                                 autoimmune diseases, including                          60329 (Sept. 1, 2016), respectively.                   Disease Control and Prevention, Department
                                                 rheumatoid arthritis.                                     18 Databases searched include: CINAHL, Embase,       of Health and Human Services.
                                                                                                         NIOSHTIC–2, ProQuest Health and Safety Science         [FR Doc. 2017–03336 Filed 2–17–17; 8:45 am]
                                                 C. Review of Scientific and Medical                     Abstracts, PubMed, Scopus, Toxicology Abstracts,
                                                 Information and Administrator                           and TOXLINE.
                                                                                                                                                                BILLING CODE 4163–18–P
                                                 Determination                                             19 Rheumatoid arthritis; spondyloarthritis;

                                                                                                         inflammatory myositis (polymyositis and
                                                   A literature search conducted in                      dermatomyositis); systemic lupus erythematosus;        DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
                                                 response to Petition 007 16 included all                systemic sclerosis (scleroderma); Sjogren’s
                                                 of the autoimmune conditions in the                     syndrome; antiphospholipid syndrome;
                                                                                                                                                                National Oceanic and Atmospheric
                                                                                                         granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener’s); and
                                                                                                         eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis          Administration
                                                 Evidence,’’ 81 FR 24047 (April 25, 2016); and
                                                                                                         (Churg-Strauss).
                                                 ‘‘World Trade Center Health Program; Petition
                                                 013—Autoimmune Disease; Finding of Insufficient
                                                                                                           20 Hena K, Yip J, Jaber N, et al. [2016], Clinical
                                                                                                                                                                50 CFR Part 622
                                                 Evidence,’’ 81 FR 60329 (Sept. 1, 2016).                Characteristics of Sarcoidosis in World Trade
                                                   11 See ‘‘World Trade Center Health Program;           Center (WTC) Exposed Fire Department of the City       [Docket No. 161103999–7146–01]
                                                                                                         of New York (FDNY) Firefighters, Chest
                                                 Amendments to Definitions, Appeals, and Other                                                                  RIN 0648–BG43
                                                                                                         150(4S):514A.
                                                 Requirements; Final Rule,’’ 81 FR 90926 (Dec. 15,         21 Two relevant studies identified in previous
                                                 2016), effective Jan. 17, 2017.
                                                   12 See 42 CFR 88.17 (2016); see also 77 FR 24628      FRNs, Webber et al. [2015] and Webber M, Moir W,       Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of
                                                 (Apr. 25, 2012).
                                                                                                         Crowson C, et al. [2016], Post-September 11, 2001,     Mexico, and South Atlantic; Coastal
                                                   13 See supra note 2.
                                                                                                         Incidence of Systemic Autoimmune Diseases in           Migratory Pelagic Resources in the
                                                                                                         World Trade Center-Exposed Firefighters and
                                                   14 Boynes-Shuck A [2015], Why Rheumatoid
                                                                                                         Emergency Medical Service Workers, Mayo Clin           Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region;
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                                                 Arthritis Is Plaguing 9/11 First Responders,            Proc 2016;91(1):23–32, were reviewed in the            Framework Amendment 4
                                                 Healthline News, http://www.healthline.com/             Petition 011 and Petition 013 FRNs and found not
                                                 health-news/why-rheumatoid-arthritis-is-plaguing-       to have the potential to provide a basis for a         AGENCY:  National Marine Fisheries
                                                 9-11-first-responders-040415#1.                         decision on whether to propose adding                  Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
                                                   15 Webber M, Moir W, Zeig-Owens R, et al.
                                                                                                         autoimmune diseases to the List. These studies are     Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
                                                 [2015], Nested Case-Control Study of Selected           not further discussed in this notice; discussions of
                                                 Systemic Autoimmune Diseases in World Trade             the Administrator’s findings with regard to these      Commerce.
                                                 Center Rescue/Recovery Workers, Arthritis               studies may be found in previous notices for           ACTION: Proposed rule; request for
                                                 Rheumatol 67(5):1369–1376.                              Petition 011, 81 FR 24047 (April 25, 2016) and
                                                   16 80 FR 32333 (June 8, 2015).
                                                                                                                                                                comments.
                                                                                                         Petition 013, 81 FR 60329 (Sept. 1, 2016).



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Document Created: 2018-02-01 15:04:42
Document Modified: 2018-02-01 15:04:42
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionProposed Rules
ActionDenial of petition for addition of a health condition.
DatesThe Administrator of the WTC Health Program is denying this petition for the addition of a health condition as of February 21, 2017.
ContactRachel Weiss, Program Analyst, 1090 Tusculum Avenue, MS: C-46, Cincinnati, OH 45226; telephone (855) 818-1629 (this is a toll-free number); email [email protected]
FR Citation82 FR 11164 

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