This is a revisions with changes to some of the forms for a data information collection request from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (OMB #0920-0020). The Coal Workers' Health Surveillance Program (CWHSP) is a congressionally-mandated medical examination program for monitoring the health of underground coal miners, established under the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969, as amended in 1977 and 2006, PL-91-173 (the Act). The Act provides the regulatory authority for the administration of the CWHSP. This Program has been useful in providing information for protecting the health of miners (whose participation is entirely voluntary), and also in documenting trends and patterns in the prevalence of coal workers' pneumoconiosis ('black lung' disease) among miners employed in U.S. coal mines. The proposed information collection includes all four components of the Coal Workers' Health Surveillance Program (CWHSP). Those four components include: Coal Workers' X-ray Surveillance Program (CWXSP), B Reader Program, Enhanced Coal Workers' Health Surveillance Program (ECWHSP), and National Coal Workers' Autopsy Study (NCWAS). Recent surveillance analyses have confirmed that the prevalence of black lung disease is increasing, there is regional clustering of rapidly progressive pneumoconiosis cases, and coal miners have a higher risk of disease if they perform certain jobs, work in smaller mines, or are from certain geographic areas. However, cases of black lung are still being found nationwide. Importantly, young coal miners are developing the disabling and lethal forms of black lung.
This renewal reflects a decrease of 51 burden hours for this approval period due primarily to a decrease in the NCWAS specimens that are being submitted. However, there is a increase of $37,419 estimated annualized cost to the repondent population due to increased wages of the associated participating populations.
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.
Chest Radiograph Classification (CDC/NIOSH Form 2.8)