[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 121 (Friday, June 24, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37808-37809]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-13497]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments 
are requested regarding (1) 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) the 
accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of 
the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) 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.
    Comments regarding this information collection received by July 25, 
2022 will be considered. Written comments and recommendations for the 
proposed information collection should be submitted within 30 days of 
the publication of this notice on the following website 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information 
collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for 
Public Comments'' or by using the search function An agency 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.
    The vaccination requirement issued pursuant to E.O. 14043, is 
currently the subject of a nationwide injunction. While that injunction 
remains in place, Department of Agriculture will not process requests 
for a medical exception from the COVID-19 vaccination requirement 
pursuant to E.O. 14043. Department of Agriculture will also not request 
the submission of any medical information related to a request for an 
exception from the vaccination requirement pursuant to E.O. 14043 while 
the injunction remains in place. But Department of Agriculture may 
nevertheless receive information regarding a medical exception. That is 
because, if Department of Agriculture were to receive a request for an 
exception from the COVID-19 vaccination requirement pursuant to E.O. 
14043 during the pendency of the injunction, Department of Agriculture 
will accept the request, hold it in abeyance, and notify the employee 
who submitted the request that implementation and enforcement of the 
COVID-19 vaccination requirement pursuant to E.O. 14043 is currently 
enjoined and that an exception therefore is not necessary so long as 
the injunction is in place. In other words, during the pendency of the 
injunction, any information collection related to requests for medical 
exception from the COVID-19 vaccination requirement pursuant to E.O. 
14043 is not undertaken to implement or enforce the COVID-19 
vaccination requirement.

Department of Agriculture

    Title: Request for a Medical Exemption to the COVID-19 Vaccination 
Requirement
    OMB Control Number: 0503-0027
    Summary of Collection: Section 2 of E.O. 14043 mandates that each 
agency ``implement, to the extent consistent with applicable law, a 
program to require COVID-19 vaccination for all of its Federal 
employees, with exceptions only as required by law.'' This medical 
exemption form is necessary for USDA to determine legal exemptions to 
the vaccine requirement under the Rehabilitation Act. This includes the 
requisite confidentiality requirements, subject to the applicable 
Rehabilitation Act standards, and maintenance of supporting documents.
    Need and Use of the Information: This information is being 
requested to promote the safety of the Federal workforce, the safety of 
Federal buildings, and others on site at agency facilities or those 
interacting with the public consistent with the COVID-19 Workplace 
Safety: Agency Model Safety Principles established by the Safer Federal 
Workforce Task Force and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention. To request a medical exemption from the COVID-19 
vaccination requirement, an employee

[[Page 37809]]

must provide documentation from their medical provider.
    Description of Respondents: Federal Employees and Medical 
Providers.
    Number of Respondents: 2,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 333.

Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2022-13497 Filed 6-23-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-P