[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 80 (Friday, April 25, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23013-23015]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-09418]


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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: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 
(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), and as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, the National Science Foundation 
(NSF) is inviting the general public and other Federal agencies to 
comment on this proposed continuing information collection. This is the 
second notice for public comment; the first was published in the 
Federal Register at 78 FR 68479, November 14, 2013, and no substantial 
comments were received. NSF is forwarding the proposed submission to 
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance simultaneously 
with the publication of this second notice. This collection adds five 
new questions to the Medical History section of the forms. Three 
questions are related to Tuberculosis and were added to give medical 
examiners better information on which to base further testing, 
including whether to expose participants to additional doses of 
radiation. Two questions are related to diving. They were added to 
inform the medical examiners and healthcare providers of any pre-
existing medical issues for those engaging in scientific diving in the 
Polar Regions. The full submission may be found at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.

DATES: 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.

ADDRESSES: Written 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

[[Page 23014]]

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 20403, and to Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports 
Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, 
Suite 1265, Arlington, VA 22230 or send email to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne H. Plimpton, NSF Reports 
Clearance Officer at (703) 292-7556 or send email to [email protected]. 
Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may 
call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339, 
which is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year 
(including federal holidays).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    1. Title of Collection: Medical Clearance Process for Deployment to 
the Polar Regions (specified regions in the Arctic and all locations in 
the Antarctic under the auspices of the U.S. Antarctic Program).
    OMB Control No.: 3145-0177.
    2. Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to renew an information 
collection for three years
    3. Abstract:
    (a) Proposed Project: All individuals who anticipate deploying to 
Antarctica under the auspices of the U.S. Antarctic Program or to 
certain regions of the Arctic under NSF/Geosciences Division of Polar 
Programs Arctic Program (Arctic Program) are required to take and pass 
a rigorous physical examination prior to deploying. The physical 
examination includes a personal 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 U.S. 
Antarctic [[Page 216]] or Arctic Program are physically qualified and 
psychologically adapted for assignment or travel to either of these 
Polar Regions. Examinations are necessary to determine the presence of 
any physical, dental or psychological (when applicable) conditions that 
would threaten the health or safety of the candidate or other U.S. 
Antarctic or Arctic Program participants or that could not be 
effectively treated by the limited medical care capabilities in the 
polar regions.
    (b) Presidential Memorandum No. 6646 (February 5, 1982) (available 
from the National Science Foundation, Division of Polar Programs, Room 
755, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22230) sets forth the National 
Science Foundation's overall management responsibilities for the entire 
U.S. national program in Antarctica.
    4. Use of the Information: All of the information requested on the 
forms in the proposed packet will be used to screen out individual 
participant's whose physical qualifications for traveling to and 
working in the harsh environments of the Polar Region(s) to which 
assigned do not meet the requirements specified in NSF Polar Medical 
Screening Guidelines. The information on the forms includes the 
traveler's personal and emergency points of contact, deployment 
information (location, dates, employer, job titles), personal medical 
history, and social behavior (alcohol and tobacco use). This 
information helps inform the medical providers of the participant's 
current within 12 months and past physical, dental and in some cases, 
psychological conditions to assist in determining their suitability for 
deployment and work in the extreme environments of the Polar Regions. 
Additionally, each person is given a personalized list of laboratory 
testing requirements with instructions to the doctors and dentists 
performing the examinations (including accompanying forms for them to 
complete) that will inform the medical decision makers. The packet also 
contains acknowledgement and consent documents that individuals need to 
read and sign or initial. These include: Important notices regarding 
potential penalties for engaging in illegal activities in countries 
being transited en route to Antarctica, medical risks of traveling to 
the Polar Regions, medical screening for blood-borne pathogens and a 
medical treatment consent form for minors deploying to the Polar 
Regions. The medical packet also includes a set of waiver documents for 
those individuals who do not meet the requirements of the Polar Medical 
Screening Guidelines but would like to be granted an administrative 
waiver for the identified medically disqualifying condition. The 
information collected in the waiver packet is used to ensure the 
individual knows and understands the reason for the disqualification 
and the employer is aware of the employee's disqualification and they 
both believe the individual can still participate in the program 
without unnecessarily risking his or her health and safety or that of 
others. The information is used by the medical providers to make 
recommendations to NSF regarding the feasibility of granting or denying 
the waiver. The information is used by NSF to determine whether a 
waiver is warranted.
    5. Format of the Forms: The renewal forms have been converted to 
electronic format with a computer-generated unique control and tracking 
number. This number will be sequentially assigned by a database called 
Pipeline and will appear at the top of each page of the electronic 
version, which will also pre-populate the participant's name and date 
of birth on each page. Previous submissions of these forms included two 
sets: one for the Antarctic and one for the Arctic participants, with 
no distinguishable difference in actual medical information collected. 
The differences were in specific locations of deployment and in the 
number and titles assigned to the forms to make it easier for the 
participants. Additionally, the previous medical packet included 11 
different forms (mostly numbered consecutively) plus mandatory reading 
materials and instructions to the participants and to their personal 
physicians. The current submission has combined the previous 1400 
series Antarctic and Arctic forms into one set with one form number to 
be used by all non-uniformed participants regardless of the Polar 
Region to which the individual will be deploying. The new form 
consolidates all of the information (except the waiver packet) from the 
previous forms into one continuous 14-page form (NSF Form 1700) with a 
separate six-page mandatory reading packet. The forms will be available 
on NSF U.S. Antarctic Program's Web site: http: //usap.gov; and on CH2M 
Hill Polar Services', NSF prime support contractor for the Arctic 
Program, Web site: http:// cpspolar.com/medical/medical-forms and by 
written or telephonic request to the prime support contractors 
subcontractor, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston--Polar 
Medical Operations; or from NSF Geosciences Division of Polar Programs 
(PLR). These forms are intended to be controlled and completed 
electronically and individuals will be encouraged to do so; but, 
participants may obtain and complete the forms by hand or typewriter, 
if they prefer. No version of the completed forms may be submitted

[[Page 23015]]

electronically due to insecure email transmissions; but individuals may 
complete the forms, save and retrieve the data on their personal 
computers. The waiver packet consists of four pages (the employee's 
application and release of liability statement and the employer's 
endorsement and release of liability statement). It is in paper form 
and is only sent to those individuals who are found not physical 
qualified and who specifically request to be considered for a waiver 
(less than 2%). It is not made available for download from any of the 
Web sites previously cited.
    6. Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection 
of information varies according to the amount of time the participant 
takes to read the instructions and mandatory reading material, 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 and the time involved in providing 
additional information, when it is needed. The estimated processing 
time is up to six weeks from the time the individual receives the forms 
until he or she is notified by the contractor of his or her 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 plus any follow-up 
information to the contractor, for the contractor to forward the 
completed packet to NSF, and for NSF to make and promulgate a decision.
    In addition to NSF Forms, the contractor prepares and sends a 
tailored transmittal email to each participant, based on the 
participant's employing organization. This email transmits (1) the 
medical forms; (2) mandatory reading materials and provides specific 
instructions for the participants and their personal physicians to 
follow; and (3) an unnumbered personalized checklist of all laboratory, 
shots and specialized exam requirements specific to that individual.
    7. Respondents: All individuals deploying to the Antarctic and 
certain Arctic areas under the auspices of the U.S. Antarctic Program 
or the Arctic Program must complete these forms. There are 
approximately 3,300 submissions per year.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Form: There is only one form with 
several parts. Responses range from 2 to approximately 238 responses 
per Part.
    8. Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: The total annual 
burden in hours, broken down by form varies according to the 
individual's ready access to the required information. However, a 
minimum of 6,600 hours annually is required if all requested 
information is available at the time the individuals fill out the forms 
and if all individuals use the electronic version of the form to 
provide the data. The form is programmed not to print until all data 
fields have been answered. An additional 27,000 hours is required to 
gather the data; read all the mandatory and instructional materials; 
make and keep examination appointments; and travel to and from those 
appointments.
    9. Frequency of Responses: Individuals must complete the forms 
annually to be current within 12 months of their anticipated 
redeployment dates. Depending on an individual's medical status some 
persons may require additional laboratory results to be current within 
two to six-weeks of anticipated deployment.

    Dated: April 22, 2014.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-09418 Filed 4-24-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P