Health Effects of Microbial Pathogens in Recreational Waters; National Epidemiological and Environmental Assessment of Recreational (NEEAR) Water Study (Renewal)
ICR 200812-2080-001 · OMB 2080-0068 · Historical Active
Health Effects of Microbial Pathogens in Recreational Waters; National Epidemiological and Environmental Assessment of Recreational (NEEAR) Water Study (Renewal)
Extension without change of a currently approved collection
This study will be conducted and the information collected by the Epidemiology and Biomarkers Branch, Human Studies Division, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.(EPA) Participation of adults and children in this collection of information is strictly voluntary. This information is being collected as part of a research program consistent with the Section 3(a)(v)(1) of the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act of 2000 and the strategic plan for EPA's Office of Research and development and the Office of Water. The purpose of this study is to examine the health effects associated with swimming exposure at beach sites designated as recreational areas.
The Beaches Act and ORD's strategic plan has identified research on effects of microbial pathogens in recreational waters as a high-priority research area with particular emphasis on developing new water quality indicator guidelines for recreational waters. The EPA has broad legislative authority to establish water quality criteria and to conduct research to support these criteria. This data collection is for a series of epidemiological studies to evaluate exposure to and effects of microbial pathogens in marine and fresh recreational waters as part of the EPA's research program on exposure and health effects of microbial pathogens in recreational waters. Health effects data collection was previously conducted in a pilot study, four freshwater coastal sites, and three marine sites under OMB number 2080-0068. The results will be used to help inform the development of new national water quality and monitoring guidelines. The questionnaire health data will be compared with routinely collected water quality measurements. The analysis will focus on determining whether any water quality parameters are associated with increased prevalence of swimming-related health effects.
Because of increased pressure to expeditiously complete the study, the study team may complete more than two beaches per year, thus increasing the number of participants enrolled in the study annually. In the last renewal information collection request (ICR), the tables in Sections 6(a) and 6(c) reflect the estimated respondent burden and agency burden and cost for 2-3 beaches (1-2 beaches per year). This renewal burden estimate reflects 2-3 beaches per year for the next three years. This change substantially increased the number of respondents expected annually.
The increase in total respondents for the 3-year period is 42,000 (or approximately 14,000 annually.)
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.