[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 223 (Tuesday, November 21, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 55344]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-25205]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 223 / Tuesday, November 21, 2017 / 
Notices  

[[Page 55344]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2017-0088]


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

ACTION: Revision to 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 to and extension of approval of an 
information collection associated with the regulations permitting 
applicants to self-certify certain medical statements when applying for 
positions with the Federal Government.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
January 22, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2017-0088.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2017-0088, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, 
APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1238.
    Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may 
be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2017-
0088 or in our reading room, which 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) 799-7039 before coming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the regulations 
related to the use of the Self-Certification Medical Statement, contact 
Ms. Beverly Cassidy, Human Resources Policy Specialist, Human Resources 
Division, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 40, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; 
(301) 851-2918. For copies of more detailed information on the 
information collection, contact Ms. Kimberly Hardy, APHIS' Information 
Collection Coordinator, at (301) 851-2483.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Self-Certification Medical Statement.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0196.
    Type of Request: Revision to and extension of approval of an 
information collection.
    Abstract: The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Marketing and 
Regulatory Programs (MRP) facilitates the domestic and international 
marketing of U.S. agricultural products and protects the health of 
domestic animal and plant resources. Resource management and 
administrative services, including human resources management, for MRP 
agencies are provided by the MRP Business Services unit of the Animal 
and Plant Health Inspection Service.
    MRP agencies are authorized by the regulations in 5 CFR 339 and 29 
CFR 1630 to obtain medical information from applicants for positions 
that have approved medical standards due to duties that are arduous, 
hazardous, or require a certain level of health status or fitness. 
These agencies have positions with duties that extend beyond sedentary 
and require specific medical standards and/or physical requirements to 
be performed successfully and safely. The medical qualifications 
standards for appointment to the covered positions listed in the MRP 
Medical Examination Requirements Charts are justified on the basis that 
the duties are arduous or hazardous, require a certain level of health 
status and fitness, and the nature of the positions involves a high 
degree of responsibility towards the public.
    MRP uses the Self-Certification Medical Statement and documentation 
provided by applicants to evaluate and verify an applicant's abilities 
to perform the duties of the job. The inability to collect this 
information would adversely affect MRP's ability to make employment 
decisions and determinations regarding an applicant's physical fitness 
to safely and efficiently perform assigned duties.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of these information collection activities, as described, for 
an additional 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 
collection of information, 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 collection of information 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 burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 0.167 hours per response.
    Respondents: Members of the public applying for positions with MRP.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 606.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 607.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 102 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 15th day of November 2017.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-25205 Filed 11-20-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P