[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 5, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6690-6691]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-2049]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 24 / Tuesday, February 5, 2008 / 
Notices  

[[Page 6690]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2007-0140]


Notice of Request for Revision and Extension of Approval of an 
Information Collection; Self-Certification Medical Statement

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Revision and extension of approval of an information 
collection; comment request.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's 
intention to request a revision and extension of approval of an 
information collection for self-certification medical statements.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before April 
7, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2007-0140 to submit or view comments and 
to view supporting and related materials available electronically.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send two copies of 
your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2007-0140, Regulatory Analysis and 
Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, 
Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your comment refers to 
Docket No. APHIS-2007-0140.
    Reading Room: You may read any comments that we receive on this 
docket in our reading room. The reading room is located in Room 1141 of 
the USDA South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to 
help you, please call (202) 690-2817 before coming.
    Other Information: Additional information about APHIS and its 
programs is available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on self-certification 
medical statements, contact Ms. Lynn Doetschman, Human Resources 
Specialist, Human Resources Division, MRPBS, APHIS, 4700 River Road 
Unit 21, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-4996. For copies of more 
detailed information on the information collection, contact Mrs. 
Celeste Sickles, APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 
734-7477.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Self-Certification Medical Statement.
    OMB Number: 0579-0196.
    Type of Request: Revision and extension of approval of an 
information collection.
    Abstract: The Marketing and Regulatory Programs (MRP) agencies of 
the U.S. Department of Agriculture facilitate the domestic and 
international marketing of U.S. agricultural products and protect the 
health of domestic animal and plant resources. The MRP agencies are the 
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS), and the Grain Inspection, Packers and 
Stockyards Administration (GIPSA). Resource management and 
administrative services, including human resource management, for the 
three MRP agencies are provided by the MRP Business Services unit of 
APHIS, which is the lead agency in providing administrative support for 
MRP.
    In accordance with 5 CFR part 339, Federal agencies are authorized 
to obtain medical information from applicants for positions that have 
approved medical standards. Medical standards may be established for 
positions for which the duties are arduous or hazardous or require a 
certain level of health status or fitness.
    Certain positions in MRP agencies have medical standards. An 
example of such a position is the agricultural commodity grader 
position in AMS. Each year, AMS hires a number of agricultural 
commodity graders. These employees work under dusty conditions, around 
moving machinery and slippery surfaces, and in areas with high noise 
levels. They have direct contact with meat and dairy products, fresh 
and processed fruits and vegetables, and poultry products intended for 
human consumption or cotton and tobacco products intended for human 
use.
    The MRP agencies require a self-certification medical statement 
(SCMP) (MRP-5) from applicants for these positions regarding their 
fitness for the positions. AMS is expanding the categories of employees 
who will be required to complete an SCMP. The MRP agencies need this 
information to determine whether the applicants can perform the duties 
of the positions. Inability to collect this information would adversely 
affect the MRP agencies' ability to recruit and hire qualified 
individuals and carry out their missions.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of this information collection activity for 3 years.
    The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments from the public 
(as well as affected agencies) concerning our information collection. 
These comments will help us:
    (1) Evaluate whether the collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, including 
whether the information will have practical utility;
    (2) Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the burden of the 
information collection, including the validity of the methodology and 
assumptions used;
    (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and
    (4) Minimize the burden of the information collection on those who 
are to respond, through use, as appropriate, of automated, electronic, 
mechanical, and other collection technologies, e.g., permitting 
electronic submission of responses.
    Estimate of burden: The public reporting burden for this collection 
of information is estimated to average 0.1666 hours per response.
    Respondents: Applicants for MRP positions with approved medical 
standards.

[[Page 6691]]

    Estimated annual number of respondents: 600.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 600.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 100 hours. (Due to 
averaging, the total annual burden hours may not equal the product of 
the annual number of responses multiplied by the reporting burden per 
response.)
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of 
public record.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 30th day of January 2008.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E8-2049 Filed 2-4-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P