[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 99 (Wednesday, May 23, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29001-29002]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-2549]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Notice of Intent to Seek Approval to Renew an Information 
Collection

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to 
request clearance of this collection. In accordance with the 
requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995 (Pub. L. 104-13), we are providing opportunity for public comment 
on this action. After obtaining and considering public comment, NSF 
will prepare the submission requesting that OMB approve clearance of 
this collection for no longer than 3 years.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by July 23, 
2007 to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date 
will be considered to the extent practicable.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Suzanne H. Plimpton, 
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson 
Boulevard, Suite 295, Arlington, Virginia 22230; telephone (703) 292-
7556; or send e-mail to [email protected]. You also may obtain a copy of 
the data collection instrument and instructions from Ms. Plimpton.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title of Collection: Medical Clearance Process for Deployment to 
Antarctica.
    OMB Number: 3145-0177.
    Expiration Date of Approval: September 30, 2007.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to renew an information 
collection for three years.

Abstract

A. Proposed Project

    All individuals who anticipate deploying to Antarctica and to 
certain regions of the Arctic under the auspices of the United States 
Antarctic Program are required to take and pass a rigorous physical 
examination prior to deploying. The physical examination includes a 
medical history, medical examination, a dental examination and for 
those persons planning to winter over in Antarctica a psychological 
examination is also required. The requirement for this determination of 
physical status is found in 42 U.S.C. 1870 (Authority) and 62 FR 31522, 
June 10, 1997 (Source), unless otherwise noted. This part sets forth 
the procedures for medical screening to determine whether candidates 
for participation in the United States Antarctic [[Page 216]] 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.

B. Use of the Information

    1. Form NSF-1422/1462/1452, National Science Foundation--Polar 
Physical Examination (Antarctica/Arctic/Official Visitors) Medical 
History, will be used by the individual to record the individual's 
family and personal medical histories. It is a five-page form that 
includes the individual's and the individual's emergency point-of-
contact's name, address, and telephone numbers. It contains the 
individual's email address, employment affiliation and dates and 
locations of current and previous polar deployments. It also includes a 
signed certification of the accuracy of the information and 
understandings of refusal to provide the information or providing false 
information. The agency's contractors' reviewing physicians and medical 
staff complete the sections of the form that indicate when the 
documents were received and whether or not the person qualified for 
polar deployment, in which season the person is qualified to deploy and 
where disqualified the reasons.
    2. Form NSF-1423/1463/1453, Polar Physical Examination--Antarctica/
Arctic/Official Visitors, will be used by the individual's physician to 
document specific medical examination results and the overall status of 
the individual's health. It is a two-page form which also provides for 
the signatures of both the patient and the examining physician, as well 
as contact information about the examining physician. Finally, it 
contains the name, address and telephone number of the agency's 
contractor that collects and retains the information.
    3. Form NSF-1426/1466/1456, National Science Foundation--Polar 
Physical Examination (Antarctica/Arctic/Official Visitors) Medical 
History

[[Page 29002]]

Interval Screening, will only be used by individuals who are under the 
age of 40 and who successfully took and passed a polar examination the 
previous season or not more than 24 months prior to current deployment 
date. It allows the otherwise healthy individual to update his or her 
medical data without having to take a physical examination every year 
as opposed to those over 40 years of age who must be examined annually.
    4. Form NSF-1465/14525/1455, Polar Dental Examination- Antarctica/
Arctic/Official Visitors, will be used by the examining dentist to 
document the status of the individual's teeth and to document when the 
individual was examined. It will also be used by the contractor's 
reviewing dentist to document whether or not the individual is dentally 
cleared to deploy to the polar regions.
    5. Form NSF 1428/1468 Medical Waivers--Antarctic/Arctic: Any 
individual who is determined to be not physically qualified for polar 
deployment may request an administrative waiver of the medical 
screening criteria. This information includes signing a Request for 
Waiver that is notarized or otherwise legally acceptable in accordance 
with penalty of perjury statutes, and obtaining an Employer Statement 
of Support. Individuals on a case-by-case basis may also be required to 
submit additional medical documentation and a letter from the 
individual's physician(s) regarding the individual's medical 
suitability for Antarctic deployment.
    6. Other information requested: In addition to the numbered forms 
and other information mentioned above, the USAP medical screening 
package includes the following:

--The Medical Risks for NSF-Sponsored Personnel Traveling to Antarctica
--The NSF Privacy Notice
--The NSF Medical Screening for Blood-borne Pathogens/Consent for HIV 
Testing
--The NSF Authorization for Treatment of Field-Team Member/Participant 
Under the Age of 18 Years. This should only be sent to the individuals 
who are under 18 years of age.
--The Dear Doctor and Dear Dentist letters, which provide specific 
laboratory and x-ray requirements, as well as other instructions.

    7. There are two other, non-medical forms included in the mailing:

--The Personal Information Form--NSF Form Number 1458 includes a 
Privacy Act notice. This form is used to collect information on current 
address and contact numbers, date and place of birth, nationality, 
citizenship, emergency point of contact information, travel dates, 
clothing sizes so that we may properly outfit those individuals who 
deploy, work-site information and prior deployment history.
--The Participant Notification--Important Notice for Participants--NSF 
Form 1457 in the United States Antarctic Program. This form provides 
information on the laws of the nations through which program 
participants must transit in route to Antarctica, regarding the 
transport, possession and use of illegal substances and the possibility 
of criminal prosecution of caught, tried and convicted.

    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information varies according to the overall health of the individual, 
the amount of time it takes to access the forms online and print them, 
the amount of research required to complete the forms, the time it 
takes to make an appointment, take the examination and schedule and 
complete any follow-up medical, dental or psychological requirements 
and the completeness of the forms submitted. The estimated time is up 
to six weeks from the time the individual receives the forms until he 
or she is notified by the contractor of their final clearance status. 
An additional period of up to eight weeks may be required for the 
individual who was disqualified to be notified of the disqualification, 
to request and receive the waiver packet, to obtain employer support 
and complete the waiver request, to do any follow-up testing, to return 
the waiver request to the contractor plus any follow-up information, 
for the contractor to get the completed packet to the National Science 
Foundation, and for the NSF to make and promulgate a decision.
    Respondents: All individuals deploying to the Antarctic under the 
auspices of the United States Antarctic Program and certain Arctic 
areas must complete these forms. There are approximately 3,000 
submissions per year, with a small percentage (c. 3%) under the age of 
40 who provide annual submissions but with less information.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Form: Responses range from 2 to 
approximately 238 responses.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 28,728 hours.
    Frequency of Responses: Individuals must complete the forms 
annually to be current within 12 months of their anticipated deployment 
dates. Depending on individual medical status some persons may require 
additional laboratory results to be current within two to six-weeks of 
anticipated deployment.
    Comments: Comments are invited on (a) Whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the Agency, including whether the information shall 
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of 
the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information on 
respondents, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology; and (d) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.

    Dated: May 16, 2007.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 07-2549 Filed 5-22-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M