SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), federal agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. In addition, the PRA also requires federal agencies to provide a 60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each new proposed collection, each proposed extension of existing collection of information, and each reinstatement of previously approved information collection before submitting the collection to the OMB for approval. To comply with this requirement, we are publishing this notice of a proposed data collection as described below.

The OMB is particularly interested in comments that will help:

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, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

3. Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected;

4. 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 submissions of responses; and

5. Assess information collection costs.

Proposed Project

World Trade Center Health Program Enrollment, Appeals & Reimbursement (OMB Control No. 0920-0891, Exp. 5/31/2028)—Revision—National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) seeks OMB approval for a revision of an ongoing information collection, World Trade Center Health Program Enrollment, Appeals & Reimbursement (OMB Control No. 0920-0891, Exp. 5/31/2028). In accordance with the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010, individuals seeking enrollment in the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program as responders or survivors may apply to the Program. Title I of the Zadroga Act (Pub. L. 111-347, as amended by Pub. L. 114-113 and Pub. L. 116-59), added Title XXXIII to the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act), establishing the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The Director of NIOSH serves as the Administrator of the WTC Health Program for most purposes, with certain payment functions carried out by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

As established by the Zadroga Act, the WTC Health Program is a federal limited benefit health care program providing 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, 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). The WTC Health Program has been authorized for 75 years (through 2090).

In December 2022, Congress amended the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300mm-51(c)) to include a Research Cohort for Emerging Health Impacts on Youth (individuals who were 21 years of age or younger on September 11, 2001). This act instructs the WTC Health Program Administrator to establish this research cohort. In this Revision, NIOSH requests OMB approval of revisions to the web-based Youth Research Cohort (YRC) portal, which will be used to engage potential future cohort participants and facilitate Program's efforts to educate potential participants about the YRC. In this Revision, total annualized burden will decrease from 14,332 hours to 11,332 (−3,000 hours). This Revision decreases the amount of time expected for potential YRC participants to provide the requested information by replacing the previous Youth Research Cohort Registration Portal form with a new Youth Research Cohort Information Form. Burden hours are further reduced by eliminating the previous Youth Research Cohort Registration HIPAA Authorization Form which previously asked potential YRC participants to provide protected health information.

CDC requests OMB approval for an estimated 11,332 annual burden hours. There are no additional costs to respondents other than their time to participate.

91 FR 24242