Attach 8_Privacy Act Memo

Attachment 8: NIH Letter from Privacy Act Officer

DATE: April 22, 2008

TO: Michael C.R. Alavanja, DrPH

Project Officer

Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch

Epidemiology and Biostatistics Program

Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics

National Cancer Institute

FROM: NIH Privacy Act Officer

SUBJECT: Applicability of the Privacy Act: “The Agricultural Health Study: A Prospective Cohort Study of Cancer and Other Disease Among Men and Women in Agriculture (NCI)”

I have reviewed the NCI/DCEG submission to OMB requesting approval for the use of the Agricultural Health Study. I have determined that the Privacy Act will apply to this data collection which involves the collection of biologic specimens and other personally identifiable information.

At the completion of the data collection, the contractor will separate any data items that may reveal the identity of the respondent. However, the individual identifiers will be maintained. At the completion of the study, all personal identifiers will be removed from the study. The data collection is covered by NIH Privacy Act Systems of Record 09-25-0200, “Clinical, Basic and Population-based Research Studies of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), HHS/NIH/OD.”

If you have any questions, please contact my office at (301) 402-6201.

Karen M. Plá

Attachment

Cc: V. Horovitch-Kelley, NCI OMB Project Clearance Liaison Office