27 October 2009

[Federal Register: October 27, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 206)]
[Notices]               
[Page 55246]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27oc09-70]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

[Docket No. DHS-2009-0091]

 
Notice of Availability of Proposed Guidance for Protecting 
Responders' Health During the First Week Following a Wide-Area Anthrax 
Attack

AGENCY: Office of Health Affairs, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is accepting 
comments on ``Proposed Guidance for Protecting Responders' Health 
During the First Week Following a Wide-Area Anthrax Attack.''

DATES: Comments must be received by November 27, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Comments must be identified by docket number DHS-2009-0091 
and may be submitted by one of the following methods:
     Mail: David V. Adams, U.S. Department of Homeland 
Security, Office of Health Affairs, Mail Stop 0315, Washington, DC 
20528; and
     Federal Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Please note the 
Proposed Guidance is not a rulemaking and the Federal Rulemaking Portal 
is being utilized only as a mechanism for receiving comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David V. Adams, Director, Contingency 
Planning & Policy, Office of Health Affairs, Mail Stop 0315, 
Washington, DC 20528, e-mail address david.v.adams@dhs.gov, telephone 
number (202) 254-5756.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Public Participation

    DHS invites interested persons to contribute suggestions and 
comments on the document entitled ``Proposed Guidance for Protecting 
Responders' Health During the First Week Following a Wide-Area Anthrax 
Attack'' (Proposed Guidance) by submitting written data or views. 
Comments that will provide the most assistance to DHS will explain the 
reason for any recommended changes to the Proposed Guidance and include 
data, information, or authority that supports such recommended changes. 
DHS requests that commenters identify any recommended changes by page 
and line number, and/or by Figure or Table number. The Proposed 
Guidance can be viewed or downloaded at http://www.regulations.gov.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency/
organization name and docket number for this action. Regardless of the 
method used for submitting comments or material, all submissions will 
be posted, without change, to the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://
www.regulations.gov, and will include any personal information you 
provide. Therefore, submitting this information makes it public. You 
may wish to read the Privacy Act notice that is available on the 
Privacy and Use Notice link on the Administration Navigation Bar of 
www.regulations.gov.
    You may submit your comments and material by the methods specified 
in the ADDRESSES section above. Please submit your comments and any 
supporting material by only one means to avoid the receipt and review 
of duplicate submissions. If you submit comments by mail, your 
submission should be an unbound document and no larger than 8.5 by 11 
inches to enable copying and electronic document management.
    Docket: The Guidance and any comments received can be viewed at 
http://www.regulations.gov by searching the docket number referenced 
above.

II. Background

    This document provides policy recommendations for protection of the 
health of personnel responding to a wide-area anthrax attack. At the 
request of the Homeland Security Council (HSC) a Federal interagency 
working group, consisting of subject matter experts in biodefense, 
infectious diseases, and occupational health and safety, has developed 
this consensus proposed guidance regarding appropriate protective 
measures for responders in the immediate post-attack environment of an 
aerosolized anthrax attack. This proposed guidance statement reflects 
the most current understanding of the unique environment that will 
exist after a wide-area anthrax release. These recommendations will 
evolve with stakeholder input, scientific developments, and 
availability of new environmental monitoring techniques.
    The Proposed Guidance does not have the force or effect of law.
    DHS seeks comment on the Proposed Guidance document, which is 
available online at http://www.regulations.gov. Based on the comments 
received, DHS may make appropriate revisions to the Proposed Guidance 
or may leave the Proposed Guidance as is. In any event, DHS will make 
available the Final Guidance at http://www.regulations.gov. The Final 
Guidance will not have the force or effect of law.

    Dated: October 21, 2009.
Alex Garza,
Assistant Secretary and Chief Medical Officer, Office of Health 
Affairs.
[FR Doc. E9-25770 Filed 10-26-09; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 9110-9K-P