[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 95 (Monday, May 18, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28220-28222]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-11997]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2015-0017]


Notice of Request for a New Information Collection: Certificates 
of Medical Examination

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, the Food Safety and 
Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing its intention to collect 
certificates of medical examination to determine whether or not an 
applicant for an FSIS Food Inspector, Consumer Safety Inspector, or 
Veterinary Medical Officer in-plant position meets the Office of 
Personnel Management (OPM) approved medical qualification standards.

DATES: Submit comments on or before July 17, 2015.

ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this 
information collection. Comments may be submitted by one of the 
following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: This Web site provides the 
ability to type short comments directly into the

[[Page 28221]]

comment field on this Web page or attach a file for lengthier comments. 
Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions at 
that site for submitting comments.
     Mail, including CD-ROMs, etc.: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Docket 
Clerk, Patriots Plaza 3, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Mailstop 3782, 
Room 8-163A, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
     Hand- or courier-delivered submittals: Deliver to Patriots 
Plaza 3, 355 E Street SW., Room 8-163A, Washington, DC 20250-3700
    Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must 
include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2015-0017. Comments 
received in response to this docket will be made available for public 
inspection and posted without change, including any personal 
information, to http://www.regulations.gov.
    Docket: For access to background documents or comments received, go 
to the FSIS Docket Room at Patriots Plaza 3, 355 E Street SW., Room 8-
164, Washington, DC 20250-3700 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday 
through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gina Kouba, Paperwork Reduction Act 
Coordinator, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., Room 6067, South Building, Washington, DC 
20250; (202)690-6510.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Certificates of Medical Examination.
    Type of Request: New information collection.
    Abstract: FSIS has been delegated the authority to exercise the 
functions of the Secretary of Agriculture (7 CFR 2.18, 2.53) as 
specified in the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 601, et 
seq.), the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA) (21 U.S.C. 451, et 
seq.), and the Egg Products Inspection Act (EPIA) (21 U.S.C. 1031, et 
seq.). FSIS protects the public by verifying that the nation's 
commercial supply of meat, poultry, and processed egg products is safe, 
wholesome, and correctly labeled and packaged.
    Annually, the occupants of in plant positions in FSIS inspect more 
than 8 billion birds and more than 130 million head of livestock. 
Veterinary Medical Officers, Food Inspectors, and Consumer Safety 
Inspectors check animals before and after slaughter, preventing 
diseased animals from entering the food supply, and examining carcasses 
for visible defects that can affect safety and quality. Consumer Safety 
Inspectors work in processed product inspection, assuring products are 
processed under sanitary conditions, are not adulterated, and are 
truthfully labeled. Inspection activities of Veterinary Medical 
Officers, Food Inspectors, and Consumer Safety Inspectors are carried 
out in over 6,000 privately owned establishments nationwide.
    The duties performed by in-plant inspection personnel can be 
arduous, requiring standing and walking 8-9 hours daily, often on 
slippery and hazardous surfaces. Work is typically performed in high 
humidity and, depending on weather conditions, warm or cold 
temperatures. The work involves frequent contact with animal tissues, 
animal body fluids, chemical sanitation rinses and water.
    FSIS plans to request a new information collection to collect 
certificates of medical examination to determine whether or not an 
applicant for a Food Inspector, Consumer Safety Inspector, or 
Veterinary Medical Officer in-plant position meets the Office of 
Personnel Management (OPM)-approved medical qualification standards for 
the position. These new forms ensure accurate collection of the 
required data. The OPM-approved medical qualification standards apply 
only to positions in FSIS, not positions in other Federal agencies.
    When requesting that applicants for the positions listed above 
undergo the medical examination, a representative of FSIS will notify 
the applicants in writing of the reasons for the examination, the 
process, and the consequences of the failure to report for an 
examination or provide medical documentation. Any physical condition 
which would hinder an individual's full, efficient, and safe 
performance of his or her duties will be considered disqualifying for 
employment, except when convincing evidence is presented that the 
individuals can perform the essential functions of the job efficiently 
and without hazard to themselves or others.
    In accordance with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the 
Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008, FSIS will make 
reasonable accommodations for the known physical or mental limitations 
of qualified individuals with disabilities unless the accommodation 
would impose an undue hardship on the operation of FSIS.
    FSIS has made the following estimates on the basis of an 
information collection assessment.
    Estimate of Burden: FSIS estimates that it will take each 
respondent 90 minutes to complete the form.
    Respondents: FSIS Applicants for Food Inspector, Consumer Safety 
Inspector, and Veterinary Medical Officer in plant positions.
    Estimated No. of Respondents: 500 respondents.
    Estimated No. of Annual Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 750 hours.
    Copies of this information collection assessment can be obtained 
from Gina Kouba, Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, Food Safety and 
Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 Independence SW., Room 6077, South 
Building, Washington, DC 20250, (202)690-6510.
    Comments are invited on: (a) whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of FSIS's 
functions, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of FSIS's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information, including 
through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or 
other technological collection techniques, or other forms of 
information technology. Comments may be sent to both FSIS, at the 
addresses provided above, and the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office 
of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 
Washington, DC 20253.
    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.

Additional Public Notification

    Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy 
development is important. Consequently, FSIS will announce this Federal 
Register publication on-line through the FSIS Web page located at: 
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/federal-register.
    FSIS also will make copies of this publication available through 
the FSIS Constituent Update, which is used to provide information 
regarding FSIS policies, procedures, regulations, Federal Register 
notices, FSIS public meetings, and other types of information that 
could affect or would be of interest to our constituents and 
stakeholders. The Update is available on the FSIS Web page. Through the 
Web page, FSIS

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is able to provide information to a much broader, more diverse 
audience. In addition, FSIS offers an email subscription service which 
provides automatic and customized access to selected food safety news 
and information. This service is available at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/subscribe. Options range from recalls to export 
information, regulations, directives, and notices. Customers can add or 
delete subscriptions themselves, and have the option to password 
protect their accounts.

USDA Non-Discrimination Statement

    No agency, officer, or employee of the USDA shall, on the grounds 
of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual 
orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, 
income derived from a public assistance program, or political beliefs, 
exclude from participation in, deny the benefits of, or subject to 
discrimination any person in the United States under any program or 
activity conducted by the USDA.

How to File a Complaint of Discrimination

    To file a complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program 
Discrimination Complaint Form, which may be accessed online at http://www.ocio.usda.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2012/Complain_combined_6_8_12.pdf, or write a letter signed by you or your 
authorized representative.
    Send your completed complaint form or letter to USDA by mail, fax, 
or email:
    Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of 
Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410, 
Fax: (202) 690-7442, Email: [email protected].
    Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for 
communication (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.), should contact 
USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

    Done at Washington, DC on: May 13, 2015.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2015-11997 Filed 5-15-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P