[Federal Register: March 19, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 52)]
[Notices]
[Page 12798-12799]
[DOCID:fr19mr07-62]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OA-2006-0080; FRL-8289-2]

Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for
Review and Approval; Comment Request; Valuing Reduced Asthma Episodes
for Adults and Children--Focus Groups; EPA ICR No. 2215.01

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)(44 U.S.C.
3501 et seq.), this document announces that an Information Collection
Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) for review and approval. This is a request for a new collection.
The ICR, which is abstracted below, describes the nature of the
information collection and its estimated burden and cost.

DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before April 18,
2007.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OA-
2006-0080, to (1) EPA online using http://www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), by e-mail to<EMAIL_ADDRESS>or by mail to: EPA Docket

Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Environmental
Information (OEI) Docket, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave.,
NW., Washington, DC 20460, and (2) OMB by mail to: Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget
(OMB), Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th Street, NW.,
Washington DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Chris Dockins, Office of Policy,
Economics and Innovation, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code
1809T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington DC 20460; telephone
number<PHONE_NUMBER>; fax number<PHONE_NUMBER>; e-mail address:
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has submitted the following ICR to OMB
for review and approval according to the procedures prescribed in 5 CFR
1320.12. On February 3, 2006 (71 FR 5834), EPA sought comments on this
ICR pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA received one non-substantial
comment during the comment period. Any additional comments on this ICR
should be submitted to EPA and OMB within 30 days of this notice.
    EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID
No. EPA-HQ-OA-2006-0080, which is available for online viewing at
http://www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at the Office of

Environmental Information (OEI) Docket in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/
DC), EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC.
The EPA/DC Public Reading Room is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday
through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the
Reading Room is<PHONE_NUMBER>, and the telephone number for the Office
of Environmental Information (OEI) Docket is<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    Use EPA's electronic docket and comment system at
http://www.regulations.gov, to submit or view public comments, access the

index listing of the contents of the docket, and to access those
documents in the docket that are available electronically. Once in the
system, select ``docket search,'' then key in the docket ID number
identified above. Please note that EPA's policy is that public
comments, whether submitted electronically or in paper, will be made
available for public viewing at http://www.regulations.gov as EPA receives

them and without change, unless the comment contains copyrighted
material, CBI, or other information whose public disclosure is
restricted by statute. For further information about the electronic
docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov.

    Title: Valuing Reduced Asthma Episodes for Adults and Children--
Focus Groups.
    ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 2215.01.
    ICR Status: This ICR is for a new information collection activity.
An Agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to
respond to, a collection of information, unless it displays a currently
valid OMB control number. The OMB control numbers for EPA's regulations
in title 40 of the CFR, after appearing in the Federal Register when
approved, are listed in 40 CFR part 9, are displayed either by
publication in the Federal Register or by other appropriate means, such
as on the related collection instrument or form, if applicable. The
display of OMB control numbers in certain EPA regulations is
consolidated in 40 CFR part 9.
    Abstract: Asthma is one of the most common chronic illnesses in the
United States, particularly among children. The disease is
characterized by recurring episodes of symptoms like cough, shortness
of breath, and wheezing. Epidemiological studies suggest that ambient
air pollution may contribute to exacerbation of these episodes. Acute
asthma episodes are a leading cause of work and school absence and
contribute to the economic burden of the disease. The policies and
programs of many public and private entities including EPA may affect
the frequency and severity of asthma episodes, but economic analysis of
these programs is hindered by inadequate information about the economic
benefits of reduced asthma episodes. The proposed surveys would gather
information to support estimation of willingness to pay (WTP) to avoid
acute episodes of asthma exacerbation for adults and children.
    The survey research has three main objectives. The first is to
estimate WTP to reduce frequency of asthma episodes. The second is to
examine how the ``attributes'' of asthma episodes, such as their
frequency, severity and symptoms, affect WTP. The third is to provide
some evidence on the WTP to reduce the severity of asthma episodes,
while

holding frequency constant. WTP would be estimated in the context of
the severity of the individual's asthma and the activities taken to
manage the disease. The results will help to provide researchers and
policy analysts with evidence on the potential benefits of actions
policies that influence acute asthma episodes.
    Through a cooperative agreement from EPA (R-83062801-0),
researchers at the University of Central Florida (UCF) have designed
and are proposing to conduct two surveys of adult individuals. One
survey would be administered to a sample of adults with physician-
diagnosed asthma who have experienced asthma symptoms during the 12
months preceding the survey. One survey focuses on eliciting adults'
WTP to reduce the asthma episodes that they experience. A related
survey would be administered to a sample of parents of children with
physician-diagnosed asthma who have experienced asthma symptoms during
the 12 months preceding the survey. In this case, the focus is on
eliciting parents' WTP to reduce the asthma episodes that their
children experience.
    The purpose of the proposed ICR is to gain approval for the conduct
of a series of focus groups and individual interviews as part of the
survey development process. Focus groups and cognitive interviews are a
crucial component in the survey development process as they allow
survey developers to identify problematic approaches, terminology, and
graphics in the survey instrument. A total of 50 interviews are
anticipated, including focus group responses and individual interviews.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 2
hours per response. Burden means the total time, effort, or financial
resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or
disclose or provide information to or for a Federal agency. This
includes the time needed to review instructions; develop, acquire,
install, and utilize technology and systems for the purposes of
collecting, validating, and verifying information, processing and
maintaining information, and disclosing and providing information;
adjust the existing ways to comply with any previously applicable
instructions and requirements; train personnel to be able to respond to
a collection of information; search data sources; complete and review
the collection of information; and transmit or otherwise disclose the
information.
    The only burden imposed by the interviews on respondents will be
the time required to participate in focus group discussions and answer
interview questions. The survey developers estimate that this will
require an average of 2 hours per respondent. With a total of 50
respondents this requires a total of 100 hours. Based on an average
hourly rate of $27.31, including employer costs of all employee
benefits, the survey developers expect that the average per-respondent
cost for the pilot survey will be $54.62 and the corresponding one-time
total cost to all respondents will be $2,731.00 (Employer costs per
hour worked for employee compensation and costs as a percent of total
compensation: Civilian workers, total compensation, December 2006
http://stats.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.t02.htm). Since this information

collection is voluntary and does not involve any special equipment,
respondents will not incur any capital or operation and maintenance
(O&M) costs.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Individuals or Households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 50.
    Frequency of Response: One-time.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 100.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $2,731.00, includes $0 annualized
capital or O&M costs.

    Dated: March 12, 2007.
Oscar Morales,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
 [FR Doc. E7-4931 Filed 3-16-07; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-P


[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 31 (Thursday, February 18, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10116-10117]
[FR Doc No: 2021-03292]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

[Internal Agency Docket No. FEMA-4496-DR; Docket ID FEMA-2021-0001]

Massachusetts; Amendment No. 1 to Notice of a Major Disaster
Declaration

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration
for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (FEMA-4496-DR), dated March 27,
2020, and related determinations.

DATES: This change occurred on January 14, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dean Webster, Office of Response and
Recovery, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 500 C Street SW,
Washington, DC 20472,<PHONE_NUMBER>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) hereby gives notice that pursuant to the authority vested in the
Administrator, under Executive Order 12148, as amended, Paul F. Ford,
of

FEMA is appointed to act as the Federal Coordinating Officer for this
disaster.
    This action terminates the appointment of W. Russell Webster as
Federal Coordinating Officer for this disaster.

    The following Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Numbers
(CFDA) are to be used for reporting and drawing funds: 97.030,
Community Disaster Loans; 97.031, Cora Brown Fund; 97.032, Crisis
Counseling; 97.033, Disaster Legal Services; 97.034, Disaster
Unemployment Assistance (DUA); 97.046, Fire Management Assistance
Grant; 97.048, Disaster Housing Assistance to Individuals and
Households In Presidentially Declared Disaster Areas; 97.049,
Presidentially Declared Disaster Assistance--Disaster Housing
Operations for Individuals and Households; 97.050, Presidentially
Declared Disaster Assistance to Individuals and Households--Other
Needs; 97.036, Disaster Grants--Public Assistance (Presidentially
Declared Disasters); 97.039, Hazard Mitigation Grant.

Robert J. Fenton,
Senior Official Performing the Duties of Administrator, Federal
Emergency Management Agency.
[FR Doc. 2021-03292 Filed 2-17-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-23-P