Request for Public Comment on the Draft Hazard Review: Wildland Fire Smoke Exposure Among Farmworkers and Other Outdoor Workers, 74960-74961 [2024-20763]
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 178 / Friday, September 13, 2024 / Notices
would be inequitable or harmful to
competition’’).
87 In the matter of Nestlé Holdings, Inc., et
al., C–4082, 2005 WL 1786402, at *3 (F.T.C.
July 15, 2005).
88 In the matter of the Readers’ Digest
Ass’n. No. C–2075, 102 F.T.C. 1268, 1971 WL
128725, at *2 (Sept. 30, 1983).
89 Statement of Motives, P. de la C. 2440
(‘‘Act 228’’) (as translated) at 2.
90 See Ximena Benavides, Disparate Health
Care In Puerto Rico: A Battle Beyond
Statehood, 23 Univ. of Penn. J. of Law and
Social Change 163, 175 (2020).
91 Id.
92 Id.
93 Id.
94 NCPA, Local Pharmacies on the Brink,
New Survey Reveals, https://ncpa.org/
newsroom/newsreleases/2024/02/27/localpharmacies-brink-new-survey-reveals (Feb.
27, 2024).
95 NCPA, NCPA Report for February 2024
Survey of Independent Pharmacy Owners/
Managers, https://ncpa.org/sites/default/
files/2024-02/Feb2024DIRsurvey.Exec%20Summary.pdf (Feb.
2024).
96 NCPA, Local Pharmacies on the Brink,
New Survey Reveals, at 1 https://ncpa.org/
newsroom/newsreleases/2024/02/27/localpharmacies-brink-new-survey-reveals (Feb.
27, 2024).
97 Id.
98 Id.
99 Oct. 24, 2016 Letter to Sen. Orrin Hatch
and Jose B. Carrión III, https://
www.finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/
Puerto%20Rico%20Community
%20Pharmacies%20Association%20
(Late%20-%20Submission%201).pdf (Oct.
24, 2016).
100 Id. at 2.
101 Id.
102 RURAL HEALTH RESEARCH
GATEWAY, Research Alert: Sept. 1, 2022,
https://www.ruralhealthresearch.org/alerts/
504#:∼:text=Between%202003%20
and%202021%2C%20the,percent%20
during%20the%20same%20period (last
accessed June 19, 2024).
103 RUPRI CENTER FOR RURAL HEALTH
POLICY ANALYSIS, Update on Rural
Independently Owned Pharmacy Closures in
the United States, 2003–2021, https://rupri.
publichealth.uiowa.edu/publications/
policybriefs/2022/Independent%20Pharmacy
%20Closures.pdf (last accessed June 19,
2024).
104 See notes 78 and 79, supra. See also
‘‘Letter to Pharmacy Benefit Managers,
Medicare Part D Plans, Medicaid Managed
Care Plans, and Private Insurance Plans,’’
https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/
cms-letter-plansand-pharmacy-benefitmanagers (Dec. 13, 2023); see also, Sens.
Wyden, Crapo Call for Swift Passage of
Bipartisan PBM Reforms, https://
www.finance.senate.gov/chairmans-news/
wyden-crapo-call-for-swift-passageofbipartisan-pbm-reforms (Mar. 14, 2024).
105 In Re Toys ‘R Us, Petition to Modify
Order, FTC File No. 131–0052, Docket C–
4405, at 4, located at https://www.ftc.gov/
sites/default/files/documents/cases/
140109toysruspetition.pdf (Jan. 3, 2014).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:53 Sep 12, 2024
Jkt 262001
106 In Re Toys ‘R Us, Modified Order, FTC
File No. 131–0052, Docket C–4405, at 4,
located at https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/
documents/cases/140415toysrusorder.pdf
(Apr. 11, 2014).
107 Id. at 4.
108 See In the Matter of Occidental
Petroleum Corp., 101 F.T.C. 373, 1974 WL
175259, at *1.
109 In the Matter of Pendleton Woolen
Mills, Inc., 122 F.T.C. 267, 270, FTC Docket
No. C–2985 (1996).
110 In the Matter of Onkyo U.S.A. Corp.,
122 F.T.C. 325, 326. FTC Docket No. C–3092
(1996).
111 In the Matter of Nat’l Fire Hose Corp.,
No. C–2935, 1978 WL 206076, at *10 (F.T.C.
Nov. 1, 1978).
112 See n. 8, supra.
113 See Analysis of Agreement Containing
Consent Order To Aid Public Comment to In
the Matter of Coopharma, File No. 101–0079
at 4 (August 21, 2012). It should also be
noted that the Commission has recognized
the enactment of and applicable of Act 228
‘‘when negotiating with any Payor in
compliance with Act 228.’’ See In the Matter
of Cooperativa de Médicos Oftalmólogos de
Puerto Rico, No. C–4603 at 4 (Decision and
Order, Mar. 3, 2017). Moreover, Act 228
covers all of the conduct which is addressed
in the Order, and, in fact goes further than
the Order in prohibiting specific conduct. By
way of specific example, 26 P.R. Laws § 3107
explicitly states that any ‘‘threats to boycott,
go on strike or other coordinated action by
the providers shall be subject to oversight by
the Antitrust Affairs Office of the Department
of Justice, in order to determine whether the
same is in violation of the provisions of this
chapter or the Antitrust Act.’’ The section
further authorizes the imposition of civil
and/or criminal liability on any Health Care
Cooperative engaged in such conduct.
[FR Doc. 2024–20811 Filed 9–12–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6750–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention
[Docket No. CDC–2024–0065, NIOSH–352–
A]
Request for Public Comment on the
Draft Hazard Review: Wildland Fire
Smoke Exposure Among Farmworkers
and Other Outdoor Workers
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS).
ACTION: Request for comment.
AGENCY:
The National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH) in the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC), an
Operating Division of the Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS),
requests public comment and technical
SUMMARY:
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review on the draft Hazard Review:
Wildland Fire Smoke Exposure Among
Farmworkers and Other Outdoor
Workers.
Electronic or written comments
must be received by November 12, 2024.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments,
identified by docket number CDC–
2024–0065 and docket number NIOSH–
352–A, by either of the following
methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal:
https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
• Mail: National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health, NIOSH
Docket Office, 1090 Tusculum Avenue,
MS C–34, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226–1998.
Instructions: All information received
in response to this notice must include
the agency name and docket number
(CDC–2024–0065; NIOSH–352–A). All
relevant comments, including any
personal information provided, will be
posted without change to https://
www.regulations.gov. Do not submit
comments by email. CDC does not
accept comments by email. For access to
the docket to read the draft Hazard
Review document or comments
received, go to https://
www.regulations.gov.
DATES:
R.
Todd Niemeier, Ph.D., National Institute
for Occupational Safety and Health,
MS–C15, 1090 Tusculum Avenue,
Cincinnati, OH 45226. Telephone: (513)
533–8166.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NIOSH is
requesting public comment and
technical review of the draft Hazard
Review: Wildland Fire Smoke Exposure
Among Farmworkers and Other Outdoor
Workers, which is accessible in the
docket (CDC–2024–0065; NIOSH–352–
A). The final document will be edited,
so comments that focus on the technical
content are requested. The final
document will be used as the scientific
evidence base to inform the
development of supplementary
educational materials for workers,
employers, and other relevant audiences
to support the implementation of the
recommendations. Therefore, comments
that focus on the understandability,
accessibility, and feasibility of the
recommendations are requested. To
facilitate the review of this document,
NIOSH requests that responses to the
following specific questions be
considered:
1. How could the outdoor worker
populations who may be exposed to
wildland fire smoke be more completely
characterized in Chapter 2? Please
provide supporting references.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
E:\FR\FM\13SEN1.SGM
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khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 178 / Friday, September 13, 2024 / Notices
2. How could this document better
identify and characterize the health
hazards of exposures to wildland fire
smoke based on the available scientific
literature in Chapter 3? Is there
additional scientific information to be
considered regarding the adverse health
endpoints associated with exposure to
wildland fire smoke? Please provide
scientific references to support your
response as necessary.
3. What additional information
should NIOSH consider adding or how
should NIOSH modify the discussion of
exposure assessment methods for
wildland fire smoke (based on PM2.5
airborne concentration, and when
desired, other airborne exposures) to
measure outdoor worker exposures in
Chapter 4? What are the barriers to
employers to implement these
recommended methods? Please provide
scientific evidence to support your
response as necessary.
4. How can the recommendation in
Chapter 4 to use the air quality index
(AQI) for PM2.5 to define exposure
control categories be better explained
and supported from both a scientific
and health communications standpoint?
Please provide scientific evidence to
support your response as necessary.
5. What additional information
should NIOSH consider to improve the
strategies identified in Chapter 5 for
controlling exposure to wildland fire
smoke (e.g., engineering controls, work
practices, personal protective
equipment) to make them more effective
and reduce barriers to implementation?
What additional controls could be
considered to protect outdoor workers
from wildland fire smoke? Please
provide scientific evidence to support
your response as necessary.
6. Do the recommendations in
Chapter 5 adequately address the
protection of potentially disadvantaged
or at-risk outdoor workers, such as
persons with pre-existing health
conditions (e.g., asthma, cardiovascular
disease), migrant workers, persons of
lower socioeconomic status, and elderly
or minor workers? If not, how could the
recommendations be changed to better
protect these populations? Are there
additional recommendations to consider
to protect these at-risk workers?
7. How could the recommendations in
Chapter 5 better address accessibility
and feasibility for outdoor workers and
employers?
8. What are the potential barriers to
the understandability of the
recommendations in Chapter 5 for
outdoor workers and employers? When
developing supplementary educational
materials to support the implementation
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:53 Sep 12, 2024
Jkt 262001
of these recommendations, how can
NIOSH best address those barriers?
9. What other research needs should
be considered in addition to those
included in Chapter 6, Research Needs?
Please provide a scientific justification
for additional research needs.
The draft Hazard Review was
developed to provide the scientific
rationale for characterizing hazards of
exposure to wildland fire smoke for
outdoor workers. The draft Hazard
Review also provides recommendations
and guidance for minimizing exposures
and potential health effects associated
with wildland fire smoke for outdoor
workers.
After the comments received on the
draft Hazard Review are considered and
addressed, the final Hazard Review will
be posted on the NIOSH website.
Background: The purpose of the
Hazard Review document is to provide
an overview of the relevant health
effects literature and present evidencebased recommendations to protect
outdoor workers, including farm
workers, construction workers, oil and
gas workers, park rangers, emergency
responders, and others from the adverse
health effects of occupational exposure
to wildland fire smoke. On March 14,
2024, CDC/NIOSH published a Request
for Information (RFI) in the Federal
Register (89 FR 18638). The Federal
Register notice announced plans to
develop a Hazard Review document that
summarizes the scientific literature
about the health effects from exposures
to wildland fire smoke and provides
recommendations to protect outdoor
workers [NIOSH 2024]. In response to
the RFI, NIOSH received 10 comment
submissions, all of which were
reviewed and considered during the
development of this draft Hazard
Review. The RFI and comments
received are accessible in the docket
(CDC–2024–0019, NIOSH–352). In
addition to requesting information from
the public, the Hazard Review
development process involved review
and assessment of the scientific
literature about exposures to wildland
fire smoke, potential health effects,
outdoor worker populations at risk, and
development or update of
recommendations to protect outdoor
workers. The information presented in
this draft Hazard Review represents the
scientific rationale and the current
methodology about approaches to assess
and control the hazards of wildland fire
smoke to outdoor workers. Scientific
information related to wildland fire
smoke presented in the draft Hazard
Review covers the following topics:
• Background on wildland fire smoke
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
74961
• History of NIOSH and other
government organizations’ related
activity
• Chemical and physical properties of
the smoke
• Population of outdoor workers with
potential exposure
• Routes of worker exposure
• Health equity
• Health effects of exposure
• Exposure assessment
• Controlling workplace exposures
• Medical surveillance and medical
monitoring
• Research needs
Reference
NIOSH [2024]. National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health; Outdoor
workers exposed to wildland fire smoke;
Request for information. 89 FR 18638.
https://www.federalregister.gov/
documents/2024/03/14/2024-05403/
national-institute-for-occupationalsafety-and-health-outdoor-workersexposed-to-wildland-fire-smoke.
Dated: September 9, 2024.
John J. Howard,
Director, National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, Department of Health and
Human Services.
[FR Doc. 2024–20763 Filed 9–12–24; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention
Notice of Award of a Sole Source
Cooperative Agreement To Fund
Northwestern Provincial Health Office
in Zambia
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC), located
within the Department of Health and
Human Services (HHS), announces the
award of approximately $4,450,000, for
Year 1 funding to Northwestern
Provincial Health Office (NWPHO) in
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NWPHO with CDC Technical Assistance
and financial support to maintain and
sustain the province’s overall oversight
and quality assurance for the
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surveillance, and laboratory services as
well as to identify and mitigate
emerging disease threats for people
SUMMARY:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 178 (Friday, September 13, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74960-74961]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-20763]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[Docket No. CDC-2024-0065, NIOSH-352-A]
Request for Public Comment on the Draft Hazard Review: Wildland
Fire Smoke Exposure Among Farmworkers and Other Outdoor Workers
AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS).
ACTION: Request for comment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH) in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an
Operating Division of the Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS), requests public comment and technical review on the draft Hazard
Review: Wildland Fire Smoke Exposure Among Farmworkers and Other
Outdoor Workers.
DATES: Electronic or written comments must be received by November 12,
2024.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number CDC-
2024-0065 and docket number NIOSH-352-A, by either of the following
methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Mail: National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health, NIOSH Docket Office, 1090 Tusculum Avenue, MS C-34, Cincinnati,
Ohio 45226-1998.
Instructions: All information received in response to this notice
must include the agency name and docket number (CDC-2024-0065; NIOSH-
352-A). All relevant comments, including any personal information
provided, will be posted without change to https://www.regulations.gov.
Do not submit comments by email. CDC does not accept comments by email.
For access to the docket to read the draft Hazard Review document or
comments received, go to https://www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: R. Todd Niemeier, Ph.D., National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, MS-C15, 1090 Tusculum
Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45226. Telephone: (513) 533-8166.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NIOSH is requesting public comment and
technical review of the draft Hazard Review: Wildland Fire Smoke
Exposure Among Farmworkers and Other Outdoor Workers, which is
accessible in the docket (CDC-2024-0065; NIOSH-352-A). The final
document will be edited, so comments that focus on the technical
content are requested. The final document will be used as the
scientific evidence base to inform the development of supplementary
educational materials for workers, employers, and other relevant
audiences to support the implementation of the recommendations.
Therefore, comments that focus on the understandability, accessibility,
and feasibility of the recommendations are requested. To facilitate the
review of this document, NIOSH requests that responses to the following
specific questions be considered:
1. How could the outdoor worker populations who may be exposed to
wildland fire smoke be more completely characterized in Chapter 2?
Please provide supporting references.
[[Page 74961]]
2. How could this document better identify and characterize the
health hazards of exposures to wildland fire smoke based on the
available scientific literature in Chapter 3? Is there additional
scientific information to be considered regarding the adverse health
endpoints associated with exposure to wildland fire smoke? Please
provide scientific references to support your response as necessary.
3. What additional information should NIOSH consider adding or how
should NIOSH modify the discussion of exposure assessment methods for
wildland fire smoke (based on PM2.5 airborne concentration,
and when desired, other airborne exposures) to measure outdoor worker
exposures in Chapter 4? What are the barriers to employers to implement
these recommended methods? Please provide scientific evidence to
support your response as necessary.
4. How can the recommendation in Chapter 4 to use the air quality
index (AQI) for PM2.5 to define exposure control categories
be better explained and supported from both a scientific and health
communications standpoint? Please provide scientific evidence to
support your response as necessary.
5. What additional information should NIOSH consider to improve the
strategies identified in Chapter 5 for controlling exposure to wildland
fire smoke (e.g., engineering controls, work practices, personal
protective equipment) to make them more effective and reduce barriers
to implementation? What additional controls could be considered to
protect outdoor workers from wildland fire smoke? Please provide
scientific evidence to support your response as necessary.
6. Do the recommendations in Chapter 5 adequately address the
protection of potentially disadvantaged or at-risk outdoor workers,
such as persons with pre-existing health conditions (e.g., asthma,
cardiovascular disease), migrant workers, persons of lower
socioeconomic status, and elderly or minor workers? If not, how could
the recommendations be changed to better protect these populations? Are
there additional recommendations to consider to protect these at-risk
workers?
7. How could the recommendations in Chapter 5 better address
accessibility and feasibility for outdoor workers and employers?
8. What are the potential barriers to the understandability of the
recommendations in Chapter 5 for outdoor workers and employers? When
developing supplementary educational materials to support the
implementation of these recommendations, how can NIOSH best address
those barriers?
9. What other research needs should be considered in addition to
those included in Chapter 6, Research Needs? Please provide a
scientific justification for additional research needs.
The draft Hazard Review was developed to provide the scientific
rationale for characterizing hazards of exposure to wildland fire smoke
for outdoor workers. The draft Hazard Review also provides
recommendations and guidance for minimizing exposures and potential
health effects associated with wildland fire smoke for outdoor workers.
After the comments received on the draft Hazard Review are
considered and addressed, the final Hazard Review will be posted on the
NIOSH website.
Background: The purpose of the Hazard Review document is to provide
an overview of the relevant health effects literature and present
evidence-based recommendations to protect outdoor workers, including
farm workers, construction workers, oil and gas workers, park rangers,
emergency responders, and others from the adverse health effects of
occupational exposure to wildland fire smoke. On March 14, 2024, CDC/
NIOSH published a Request for Information (RFI) in the Federal Register
(89 FR 18638). The Federal Register notice announced plans to develop a
Hazard Review document that summarizes the scientific literature about
the health effects from exposures to wildland fire smoke and provides
recommendations to protect outdoor workers [NIOSH 2024]. In response to
the RFI, NIOSH received 10 comment submissions, all of which were
reviewed and considered during the development of this draft Hazard
Review. The RFI and comments received are accessible in the docket
(CDC-2024-0019, NIOSH-352). In addition to requesting information from
the public, the Hazard Review development process involved review and
assessment of the scientific literature about exposures to wildland
fire smoke, potential health effects, outdoor worker populations at
risk, and development or update of recommendations to protect outdoor
workers. The information presented in this draft Hazard Review
represents the scientific rationale and the current methodology about
approaches to assess and control the hazards of wildland fire smoke to
outdoor workers. Scientific information related to wildland fire smoke
presented in the draft Hazard Review covers the following topics:
Background on wildland fire smoke
History of NIOSH and other government organizations' related
activity
Chemical and physical properties of the smoke
Population of outdoor workers with potential exposure
Routes of worker exposure
Health equity
Health effects of exposure
Exposure assessment
Controlling workplace exposures
Medical surveillance and medical monitoring
Research needs
Reference
NIOSH [2024]. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health;
Outdoor workers exposed to wildland fire smoke; Request for
information. 89 FR 18638. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/03/14/2024-05403/national-institute-for-occupational-safety-and-health-outdoor-workers-exposed-to-wildland-fire-smoke.
Dated: September 9, 2024.
John J. Howard,
Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and
Human Services.
[FR Doc. 2024-20763 Filed 9-12-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P
