[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 20 (Monday, January 31, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5405-5407]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-1960]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request.

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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has submitted the 
following information collection requirement to OMB for review and 
clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. 
This is the second notice for public comment; the first was published 
in the Federal Register at 75 FR 64357, and no substantial comments 
were received. NSF is forwarding the proposed renewal submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance simultaneously with 
the publication of this second notice. The full submission may be found 
at: http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Comments regarding (a) 
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; (b) the accuracy of the 
agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and 
clarity of the information to be collected; (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 should be addressed to: Office of Information 
and Regulatory Affairs of OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for National 
Science Foundation, 725--17th Street, NW., Room 10235, Washington, DC 
20503, and to Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National 
Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 295, Arlington, 
Virginia 22230 or send e-mail to [email protected]. Comments regarding 
these information collections are best assured of having their full 
effect if received within 30 days of this notification. Copies of the 
submission(s) may be obtained by calling 703-292-7556.
    NSF may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless 
the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control 
number and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to 
the collection of information that such persons are not required to 
respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently 
valid OMB control number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title of Collection: Medical Clearance Process for Deployment to 
Antarctica.
    OMB Number: 3145-0177.
    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

[[Page 5406]]

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. 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 nine-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 e-mail 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 
contractor's reviewing physician and medical staff complete the 
sections of the form that indicated when the documents were received 
and whether or not the person qualified for polar deployment, in which 
season and which location qualified to deploy and where disqualified, 
the reasons.
    2. Polar Physical Examination--Antarctica/Arctic, 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. National Science Foundation Polar Physical Examination 
(Antarctica/Arctic/Official Visitors) Medical History Interval 
Screening, has been discontinued. It was previously used to document 
changes in family and personal history for those healthy individuals 
who are under age 40 and had no adverse personal medical information to 
report for the preceding year.
    4. Polar Dental Examination--Antarctica/Arctic/Official Visitors, 
will be used by the examining dentist to document the status of the 
individual's teeth and gums 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. Medical Waivers: 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 asked to submit additional medical documentation 
and a letter from the individual's physician(s) regarding the 
individual's medical condition and his or her 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 or Greenland.
     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 form will 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.
     The influenza vaccination requirement letter.
    7. There are two other, non-medical forms included in the mailing:
     The Personal Information Form--NSF Form Number 1424 
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 Notifications--Important Notice for 
Participants in the United States Antarctic or Arctic Program. These 
forms provide information on the laws, of the nations through which 
program participants must transit en route to Antarctica or Greenland, 
regarding the transport, possession and use of illegal substances and 
the possibility of criminal prosecution if 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 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, 
the method used to complete the forms 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 
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; fewer 
if the individual has previously deployed and

[[Page 5407]]

saved his or her prior year's data for future use.
    Frequency of Responses: Physical qualifications are valid for 12 
months. Individuals must complete the forms annually or not earlier 
than six months prior to their anticipated deployment date, if they are 
infrequent travelers. Depending on individual medical status some 
persons may require additional laboratory results to be current within 
two to six-weeks of anticipated deployment.
    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.

    Dated: January 25, 2011.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2011-1960 Filed 1-28-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P