National Environmental Assessment Reporting System (NEARS)

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Form 0920-0980 NEARS Manager Interview Form and Instruction	Modified
Form 0920-0980 NEARS Data Recording and Manager Interview Web Entry Form and Instruction	Modified
Form 0920-0980 NEARS Data Recording Form Form and Instruction	Modified
Form 0920-0980 NEARS e-Learning Form and Instruction	Modified
Form 0920-0980 NEARS Food Safety Program Training (Webinar) Form and Instruction	Modified
NEARS-description of changes.docx Supplementary Document	2019-08-27
Privacy Act Checklist_NEARS.docx Supplementary Document	2019-06-10
Att9_Research Determination Form.pdf Supplementary Document	2019-05-23
Att3_DfntnofCntrbtngFctrstoFdbrn IllnssOutbrks.docx Supplementary Document	2019-05-23
Att2.60dayFRN.pdf Supplementary Document	2019-05-23
Att1B_Authorizing Legislation 21USC2201.pdf Supplementary Document	2019-05-23
Att1A_Authorizing Legislation 42USC241.pdf Supplementary Document	2019-05-23
SSB_NEARS_20190515 updated.docx Supporting Statement B	2019-08-27
SSA_NEARS_20190515 final.docx Supporting Statement A	2019-05-23

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
221097	NEARS Manager Interview Form and Instruction	Modified
221096	NEARS Data Recording and Manager Interview Web Entry Form and Instruction	Modified
221095	NEARS Data Recording Form Form and Instruction	Modified
221094	NEARS e-Learning Form and Instruction	Modified
221093	NEARS Food Safety Program Training (Webinar) Form and Instruction	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 0920-0980	ICR Reference No: 201905-0920-008
Status: Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201604-0920-009
Agency/Subagency: HHS/CDC	Agency Tracking No: 0920-0980
Title: National Environmental Assessment Reporting System (NEARS)
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved with change	Conclusion Date: 08/28/2019
	Date Received in OIRA: 06/12/2019
Terms of Clearance: Previous terms continue: Approved consistent with the understanding that anticipated merger of the NEARS and NORS will occur by December, 201p. If this merger will entail any changes to the collection methods of information submited to NEARS, the Agency will submit ICR revision or Non-substantive Change requests as necessary for OMB review. CDC also commits to a briefing on the merger as well as the updates on the creation of the mobile web application

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	08/31/2022	36 Months From Approved	08/31/2019
Responses	1,900	0	1,750
Time Burden (Hours)	1,350	0	2,125
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: Reducing the number of foodborne illness outbreaks requires identification and understanding of the environmental factors that cause these outbreaks. CDC has developed the National Voluntary Environmental Assessment Information System (NVEAIS) to obtain data from environmental assessments routinely conducted by food safety program officials in response to foodborne illness outbreaks will be reported. The data reported will provide timely information on the causes of outbreaks, including environmental factors associated with outbreaks. The goals of this Revision are, 1) to have NVEAIS be renamed as the National Environmental Assessment Reporting System (NEARS), 2) increase the requested burden hours based on the addition of new e-learning materials for respondents (Attachment 5, Section A.12 and A.15), 3) to introduce a minor change to a data collection form (Attachment 6, Section A.2); and 4) to revise the project timeline (Section A.16).

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 21 USC 2201 Name of Law: Food Safety Modernization Act
   US Code: 42 USC 241 Name of Law: PHSA
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	84 FR 8101	03/06/2019
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	84 FR 26874	06/10/2019
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 5

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
NEARS Food Safety Program Training (Webinar)	0920-0980	Food Safety Training Program
NEARS Data Recording Form	0920-0980	Data Recording Form
NEARS Data Recording and Manager Interview Web Entry	0920-0980	Data Reporting Web Screenshots
NEARS e-Learning	0920-0980	Environmental Assessment Training
NEARS Manager Interview	0920-0980	Manager Interview

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	1,900	1,750	0	150	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	1,350	2,125	0	-775	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Reduction Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Short Statement: Estimates of annualized burden hours have been decreased from 2,125 hours to 1,350 hours, resulting in a decrease of 775 hours. This decrease primarily results from a reduction in the estimated number of program staff who will take the NEARS food safety training. Records indicate that most current NEARS participants have already taken the training; only new participants or the few current participants who have not yet taken the training will take the training. There is an increase in the number of responses based on the estimated number of outbreaks. As detailed in the SSA, the NEARS instruments were revised based on feedback from NEARS users, and from data analysis.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $1,705,000

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? Yes Part B of Supporting Statement

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

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Common Form ICR:  No

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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:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(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;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

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.

Certification Date: 06/12/2019

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