The National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) play a vital role in mitigating chemical-related risks to public health. Both agencies are responsible for assessing, minimizing, and monitoring risks to public health, and are tasked with providing trusted, accurate health information to the public. Given that both agencies are under the same leadership, information collected to inform health communications will be of value to both agencies. The Office of Communications (OC) seeks a one-year OMB-approval for an initiative to increase the effectiveness of the agencies' communications related to unintentional and intentional chemical releases. To inform the development of messages and materials, the OC would like to understand the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of key professional audiences who are involved in the immediate aftermath of chemical emergencies. In consultation with Subject Matter Experts, the Office of Communications prioritized the following professional audiences for this research: first responders, emergency department personnel, environmental and public health professionals, and Poison Control Center directors and staff. This information collection also seeks to characterize the information needs and preferences of these audiences. This information collection seeks approval to obtain data using two qualitative data collection methods: focus groups that will take place remotely using Webinar technology, and in-depth telephone interviews. To help ensure that participants have experience responding to chemical emergencies, we will recruit from five states with the highest number of such emergencies, and within those states, from areas where the highest number of incidents have occurred. There are no costs to respondents other than their time. The total estimated annual burden hours are 138 hours.
US Code:
42 USC 9626(a)
Name of Law: CERCLA and Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA)
US Code:
42 USC 9604(i)(1)(E), (7), (9), (15)
Name of Law: Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980
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.
SupStaB_111913.docx
Att11b_CDC_RsrchDet.pdf
Att9d_RecAgncy_Agree_Form.doc
Att12_FocGrps_Scrn_Shots.pptx
Interview Guide for State Environmental Health Professionals