This study is
approved until December 31, 2009 to collect exploratory data on
EPA's AQI program. As noted in the supporting statement, "this
study is exploratory in nature and is not intended to be used as a
formal program evaluation or to obtain generalizable estimates;
however, EPA expects that it will provide some useful insights on
the current AQI program." OMB concurs with this goal for the
study.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
12/31/2009
36 Months From Approved
3,375
0
0
828
0
0
0
0
0
EPA supports the Air Quality Index
(AQI), a program that uses data from air quality monitors to
forecast pollution levels and to notify the public of health
hazards associated with air pollution. EPA is interested in
assessing the public's awareness, knowledge and both stated and
actual behavioral response to AQI warnings. To address this need,
EPA wishes to conduct the National-Scale Activity Surveys (N-SAS)
to gather information on perceptions, awareness, attitudes, and
stated and actual behaviors in response to AQI warnings. EPA is
requesting permission from OMB to conduct a survey of 1,600
individuals age 35 or older who meet minimal activity requirements
living in eight U.S. cities. The data will be collected through a
web-based survey of members from Knowledge Network's web panel. The
N-SAS consists of a series of nine surveys. A screening survey at
the beginning and a debriefing survey at the end will provide
information on the research participants, their awareness and
knowledge of air pollution and the AQI, risk perceptions regarding
health effects, and reported behaviors on high ozone days. After
the screening survey, research participants will be administered a
set of seven activity diaries administered on both high and low
ozone days to collect information on actual behavior. The
information obtained from N-SAS will be used by EPA to assess
hypotheses for the N-SAS research participants regarding the extent
of awareness of and knowledge about the AQI; the effects of the AQI
on behavior in these eight cities; the correlation between
awareness, knowledge, stated behavior on high pollution days and
data on behavior reported in the activity diaries; and differences
in behavior, awareness and knowledge among N-SAS research
participants. In addition to assessing the effectiveness of
AQI-based ozone warnings, the data will also be used to supplement
the limited data available to develop exposure profiles for older
Americans.
EO: EO
13450 Name/Subject of EO: Improving Government Program
Performance
This is a new information
collection request, which seeks to conduct the National-Scale
Activity Surveys (N-SAS) to gather information on perceptions,
awareness, attitudes, and stated and actual behaviors in response
to AQI warnings.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
2293ssb01_final.doc
National-Scale Activity Survey - Debriefing