Notice2026-01615
Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
January 27, 2026
Issuing agencies
Health and Human Services DepartmentCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 17 (Tuesday, January 27, 2026)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 17 (Tuesday, January 27, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3504-3506]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-01615]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[30Day-26-0980]
Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has submitted the information
collection request titled ``National Environmental Assessment Reporting
System (NEARS)'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for
review and approval. CDC previously published a ``Proposed Data
Collection Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations'' notice on
October 2, 2025 to obtain comments from the public and affected
agencies. CDC received one anonymous comment related to the previous
notice. This notice serves to allow an additional 30 days for public
and affected agency comments.
CDC will accept all comments for this proposed information
collection project. The Office of Management and Budget is particularly
interested in comments that:
(a) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency,
including whether the information will have practical utility;
(b) Evaluate the accuracy of the agencies estimate of the burden of
the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used;
(c) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected;
(d) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those
who are to respond, including, through the use of appropriate
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting
electronic submission of responses; and
(e) Assess information collection costs.
To request additional information on the proposed project or to
obtain a copy of the information collection plan and instruments, call
(404) 639-7570. Comments and recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of
this notice to <a href="http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a>. Find this particular
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function. Direct
written comments and/or suggestions regarding the items contained in
this notice to the Attention: CDC Desk Officer, Office of Management
and Budget, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20503 or by fax to (202)
395-5806. Provide written comments within 30 days of notice
publication.
Proposed Project
National Environmental Assessment Reporting System (NEARS) (OMB
Control No. 0920-0980, Exp. 2/28/2026)--Revision--National Center for
Environmental Health (NCEH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC).
Background and Brief Description
CDC is requesting OMB approval for the National Environmental
Assessment Reporting System (NEARS) to collect data from outbreak
environmental assessments routinely conducted by local, state,
territorial, or tribal food safety programs during foodborne outbreak
investigations. Prior to the development of NEARS, environmental
assessment data were not collected at the national level. The data
reported through this surveillance system provides timely information
on the causes of outbreaks, including environmental factors associated
with outbreaks, and are essential to environmental public health
regulators' efforts to respond more effectively to outbreaks and
prevent future, similar outbreaks.
NEARS was developed by the Environmental Health Specialists Network
(EHS-Net), a collaborative network of CDC, the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and
state and local food safety programs. The network consists of
environmental health specialists (EHS), epidemiologists, and
laboratorians. EHS-Net developed a standardized protocol for
identifying, reporting, and analyzing data relevant to foodborne
illness outbreak environmental assessments. While conducting
environmental assessments during foodborne outbreak investigations is
routine for food safety program officials, reporting information from
the environmental assessments to CDC is not routine. Local, state,
federal,
[[Page 3505]]
territorial, and tribal food safety programs are the primary
respondents for this data collection. One official from each
participating program will report environmental assessment data on
outbreaks. These programs are typically located in public health or
agriculture agencies. In the U.S., there are approximately 3,000 such
agencies. Not every one of these agencies will register in NEARS or
respond every year.
It is not possible to determine exactly how many outbreaks will
occur in the future, nor where they will occur. Forty programs reported
outbreaks to NEARS from 2021-2024. Based on our experience over those
years, we expect a maximum of six additional sites (two per year) to
register with and report data to NEARS over the next PRA cycle, for a
total of 46 reporting programs. We also expect each program to report
an average of six outbreaks annually, for a total of 276 outbreaks
annually.
The activities associated with NEARS that require a burden estimate
consist of registration, training, observing and reporting the data,
and interviewing managers and reporting the data. Food safety programs
interested in participating in NEARS must first register to use the
system, which takes about 10 minutes. We anticipate six new programs to
join in the next three years, resulting in two new programs per year.
Therefore, the total estimated annual burden associated with
registration is one hour (10 minutes x 2 programs = 0.3 hours rounded
to one hour).
The second activity is the training for the new food safety program
personnel participating in NEARS. These staff will be encouraged to
attend a Microsoft Teams (i.e., webinar) training session on using the
NEARS data entry system, conducted by CDC staff. We estimate the burden
of this training to be a maximum of two hours. Respondents will only be
required to take this training one time. Assuming two new programs
annually and about five staff being trained at each participating
program, the total estimated annual burden associated with this
training is 20 hours (2 programs x 5 staff x 2 hours).
New food safety program personnel participating in NEARS will also
be encouraged to complete CDC's Environmental Assessment Training
Series (EATS). This e-Learning course provides training to staff on how
to use a systems approach in foodborne illness outbreak environmental
assessments. We estimate the burden of this training to be a maximum of
10 hours. Respondents will only take this training one time. Assuming a
maximum participation of up to two new programs annually and
approximately five staff being trained at each program, the estimated
annual burden associated with this training is 100 hours (2 programs x
5 staff x 10 hours).
Program respondents (one official from each participating program)
will record environmental assessment data on pen and paper for each
establishment associated with an outbreak. Most outbreaks are
associated with only one establishment; however, some are associated
with multiple establishments. We estimate a maximum of four
establishments will be associated with any given outbreak. Recording
for each assessment will take about 25 minutes. The annual burden for
this activity is 460 hours (276 outbreaks x 4 establishments x 25
minutes).
Program respondents will conduct a manager interview with each
establishment associated with an outbreak and initially record the data
with pen and paper. Each interview will take about 20 minutes. The
annual burden for this activity is 368 hours (276 outbreaks x 4
establishments x 20 minutes). Respondents will also report this
environmental assessment and manager interview data into the NEARS web-
based system. This data entry is expected to take approximately 25
minutes for the environmental assessment data and 20 minutes for each
manager interview (assuming a maximum of four). The annual burden for
this activity is 207 hours (276 outbreaks x 45 minutes). Retail food
managers interviewed are another group of respondents. Again, assuming
a maximum number of 276 outbreaks, the estimated annual burden is 368
hours (276 outbreaks x 4 establishments x 20 minutes each).
CDC requests OMB approval for an estimated 1,524 annual burden
hours. There is no cost to respondents other than their time.
Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average
Number of Number of burden per
Type of respondents Form name respondents responses per response
respondent (in hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Food safety program personnel........... NEARS registration......... 2 1 10/60
NEARS introduction training 10 1 2
NEARS e-learning 10 1 10
(screenshots).
NEARS environmental 46 24 25/60
assessment (recording
form).
NEARS manager interview 46 24 20/60
form.
NEARS web entry 46 6 45/60
(screenshots).
Retail food personnel................... NEARS manager interview 1,104 1 20/60
form.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 3506]]
Jeffrey M. Zirger,
Lead, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Public Health
Ethics and Regulations, Office of Science, Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2026-01615 Filed 1-26-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P
</pre></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on January 27, 2026.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.