[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 111 (Tuesday, June 10, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 31521-31523]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-14700]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

45 CFR Part 675


Medical Screening for NSF-Sponsored Personnel Traveling to 
Antarctica

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Final Rule with request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF), as operator and manager 
of the United States Antarctic Program (USAP), is assuming from the 
Department of the Navy the responsibility for medical screening of all 
persons who travel to Antarctica under the auspices of the USAP. This 
rule sets forth the procedures, patterned on the current Navy 
procedures, that the USAP will use in performing the medical screening.

DATES: This rule is effective July 10, 1997. Comments, however, are 
welcome at any time and will be considered in making future revisions 
or modifications to the rule.

ADDRESSES: All comments should be addressed to: Harry Mahar, Safety and 
Health Officer, at Office of Polar Programs, Room 755, National Science 
Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Harry Mahar by telephone at (703) 306-1032 (not a toll-free number) or 
by electronic mail at [email protected] through the INTERNET.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Presidential Memorandum no. 6646 (February 
5, 1982) sets forth the National Science Foundation's overall 
management responsibilities for the entire United States national 
program in Antarctica. That Memorandum instructed the NSF to maintain 
the United States Antarctic Program (USAP) as an active and influential 
presence in Antarctica designed to support the range of U.S. antarctic 
interests. It directed the NSF to draw upon the capabilities of other 
government agencies, on a cost-reimbursable basis, and commercial 
support entities in meeting its managerial role in a cost-effective 
manner.
    The NSF has utilized the Department of the Navy, as the Executive 
Agent of the Department of Defense, to provide operational and logistic 
support to the USAP, as described in an interagency

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Memorandum of Agreement dated October 3, 1985. That Memorandum of 
Agreement stipulated that the Navy would, among other services, 
medically screen all USAP personnel for travel to Antarctica and 
provide medical and dental services to USAP participants while deployed 
there.
    In conducting medical screening, the USAP uses criteria set forth 
in the U.S. Navy's Manual of the Medical Department/Bureau of Medicine 
and Surgery (Article 15-64), a Navy regulation, which was established 
over its forty year presence in Antarctica. The criteria reflect the 
demands of the harsh Antarctic environment. Depending on assignment, 
personnel may be working at terrestrial elevations as high as 12,000 
feet (3,600 meters) and at temperatures as low as -123 deg.F 
(-86 deg.C) and may be isolated for up to nine months. Moreover, 
medical facilities in Antarctica are limited, and may be distant or 
inaccessible from working or research sites. In medical emergencies, 
timely evacuation to more comprehensive medical facilities off the 
Antarctic continent may be impossible depending upon the location and 
time of deployment. Rigorous screening criteria are therefore necessary 
to identify individuals who are physically qualified and 
psychologically adapted for assignment or travel to Antarctica.
    Over the last several years, the Navy's involvement with the USAP 
has been reduced by mutual agreement, and many of the functions 
historically provided by the Navy are being transferred to other 
governmental and private sector entities. The medical care function, 
including the medical screening of USAP participants, will be 
transferred from the Navy to civilian contract support on October 1, 
1997. During the transition, the NSF will continue to utilize the same 
screening criteria previously established for the USAP.
    The NSF is publishing this final rule to prevent any discontinuity 
in the medical screening process during the transition period. Because 
this rule preserves the status quo and has no effect on any individual 
beyond those already covered by the existing Navy regulation, it is 
being issued in final form.

Determinations

    I have determined under the criteria set forth in Executive Order 
12866 that this rule is not a significant regulatory action requiring 
review by the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. In 
addition, this rule is excepted from the Administrative Procedure Act, 
5 U.S.C. 553(a)(2), because it ``relat[es] to loans, grants [or] 
benefits,'' and is related to NSF's internal management of the USAP. 
Therefore, the APA does not require publication of a proposed rule for 
public comment. The Regulatory Flexibility Act also does not apply to 
this regulation because this regulation was not required to be 
promulgated as a proposed rule by the Administrative Procedure Act 
(APA), 5 U.S.C. 553, or by any other law. Consequently, no Regulatory 
Flexibility Analysis has been or will be prepared. I have reviewed this 
rule in light of Section 2 of Executive Order 12778 and certify for the 
National Science Foundation that this rule meets the applicable 
standards provided in sections 2(a) and 2(b) of that order. Finally, I 
have determined that this rule does not require Congressional review 
before taking effect pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 804(3)(B) because it involves 
NSF's internal management of the USAP.

    Dated: May 13, 1997.
Lawrence Rudolph,
General Counsel.

List of Subjects in 45 CFR Part 675

    Antarctica, Government employees, Health and safety, Scientists.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, 45 CFR Chapter VI is 
amended by adding part 675 to read as follows:

PART 675--MEDICAL CLEARANCE PROCESS FOR DEPLOYMENT TO ANTARCTICA

Sec.
675.1  Purpose and authority.
675.2  Medical examinations.
675.3  Medical clearance criteria.
675.4  Waiver process.

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 1870.


Sec. 675.1  Purpose and authority.

    (a) This part sets forth the procedures for medical screening to 
determine whether candidates for participation in the United States 
Antarctic Program (USAP) are physically qualified and psychologically 
adapted for assignment or travel to Antarctica. Medical screening 
examinations are necessary to determine the presence of any physical or 
psychological conditions that would threaten the health or safety of 
the candidate or other USAP participants or that could not be 
effectively treated by the limited medical care capabilities in 
Antarctica.
    (b) Presidential Memorandum No. 6646 (February 5, 1982) (available 
from the National Science Foundation, Office of Polar Programs, Room 
755, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22230) sets forth the National 
Science Foundation's overall management responsibilities for the entire 
United States national program in Antarctica.


Sec. 675.2  Medical examinations.

    (a) Any individual seeking to travel to Antarctica under 
sponsorship of the United States Antarctic Program must undergo a 
medical and dental examination to determine whether the individual is 
physically qualified for deployment to Antarctica.
    (b) The medical and dental examinations may be conducted by a 
qualified licensed physician or dentist of the candidate's choosing, or 
designated by the employing organization, following instructions 
provided by the USAP. The medical examinations shall include a medical 
history, physical examination and appropriate clinical tests which 
address major organ systems for medical conditions inconsistent with 
safe deployment to Antarctica.
    (c) The candidate's physician/dentist will submit the required 
medical information on the appropriate USAP-provided forms to a USAP-
designated physician who will determine whether the individual is 
qualified for deployment to Antarctica based upon Medical Clearance 
Criteria established by the USAP. All information requested on the 
forms shall be provided.
    (d) Candidates who anticipate spending the austral winter in 
Antarctica (when evacuation may be impossible) are subject to 
additional evaluation, including a determination of psychological 
adaptability for such an isolated assignment. Psychological evaluations 
of ``winter-over'' candidates shall be performed by a qualified team of 
USAP-designated physicians/clinical psychologists.


Sec. 675.3   Medical clearance criteria.

    (a) The USAP shall establish Medical Clearance Criteria for 
determining eligibility for deployment to Antarctica. (See Medical 
Standards for Antarctic Deployment available from the National Science 
Foundation, Office of Polar Programs, Room 755.09 4201 Wilson Blvd., 
Arlington, VA 22230).
    The criteria will include examination of the following major organ 
systems:
    (1) Lungs and chest wall.
    (2) Heart and vascular system.
    (3) Abdominal organs and gastrointestinal system.
    (4) Endocrine or metabolic system.
    (5) Genitalia and urinary system.
    (6) Musculoskeletal.
    (7) Skin and cellular tissues.
    (8) Neurological Disorders.
    (9) Psychiatric or psychological.
    (10) Dental.

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    (b) The USAP may review and revise the Medical Clearance Criteria 
periodically as appropriate.


Sec. 675.4   Waiver process.

    (a) If an individual is found not physically qualified for 
deployment to Antarctica, the USAP's contractor will inform the 
individual of the determination and of the administrative waiver 
process, and will provide a waiver application package to the 
individual upon request.
    (b) The waiver applicant should send the completed waiver 
application package to the USAP's contractor which will forward the 
package to NSF's Office of Polar Programs for review and a 
determination on the appropriateness of a waiver. In making the waiver 
determination, the Office of Polar Programs may consult with other 
qualified medical personnel and may require waiver applicants to take 
further medical examinations or to furnish additional medical 
documentation in support of the waiver application.
    (c) The Director, Office of Polar Programs (or designee) will make 
a final determination, in the exercise of his or her discretion, on the 
appropriateness of a waiver on a case-by-case basis.
    (d) Individuals for whom a waiver is determined to be appropriate 
are eligible for deployment to Antarctica subject to any necessary 
limitations/restrictions identified by the Director, Office of Polar 
Programs, or designee.

[FR Doc. 97-14700 Filed 6-9-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M