[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 137 (Tuesday, July 19, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42991-42992]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-15318]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2022-0018]


Notice of Request To Revise an Approved 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 revise the 
approved information collection regarding certificates of medical 
examination. There has been an increase in hiring and an increase in 
applications for Reasonable Accommodation. As a result, the Agency has 
increased the burden estimate by 733 hours. FSIS has also discontinued 
use of the Leave Bank Program form. The approval for this information 
collection will expire on November 20, 2022.

DATES: Submit comments on or before September 19, 2022.

ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this 
Federal Register notice. Comments may be submitted by one of the 
following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: This website provides 
commenters the ability to type short comments directly into the comment 
field on the web page or to attach a file for lengthier comments. Go to 
https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions at that 
site for submitting comments.
     Mail: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, 1400 Independence 
Avenue SW, Mailstop 3758, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
     Hand- or Courier-Delivered Submittals: Deliver to 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
    Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must 
include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2022-0018. Comments 
received in response to this docket will be made available for public 
inspection and posted without change, including any personal 
information, to https://www.regulations.gov.
    Docket: For access to background documents or comments received, 
call (202) 205-0495 to schedule a time to visit the FSIS Docket Room at 
1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-3700.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gina Kouba, Office of Policy and 
Program Development, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, Mailstop 3758, South Building, Washington, DC 
20250-3700; (202) 720-5627.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Certificates of Medical Examination.
    OMB Number: 0583-0167.
    Type of Request: Request to revise an approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: FSIS has been delegated the authority to exercise the 
functions of the Secretary (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.). These 
statutes mandate that FSIS protect the public by verifying that meat, 
poultry, and egg products are safe, wholesome, unadulterated, and 
properly labeled and packaged.
    The current information collection approval includes two FSIS forms 
that are completed by healthcare providers for medication 
certification. First, FSIS uses Form 4339-1, ``Certificate of Medical 
Examination (with Medical History)'' to determine whether an applicant 
for a Food Inspector, Consumer Safety Inspector, or Veterinary Medical 
Officer in-plant position meets the medical qualification standards for 
the position approved by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The 
certificates of medical examination 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

[[Page 42992]]

positions listed above undergo the medical examination, a 
representative of FSIS notifies 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 that would hinder an individual's full, 
efficient, and safe performance of his or her duties is considered 
disqualifying for employment, except when the individual presents 
convincing evidence that he or she can perform the essential functions 
of the job efficiently and without hazard.
    Second, FSIS uses Form 4306-5, ``Medical Documentation for 
Employee's Reasonable Accommodation Request,'' to help determine 
whether the Agency will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified 
individuals. In accordance with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the 
Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008, FSIS makes 
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 requires 
medical information from a health care provider to determine whether 
the person's condition rises to the level of disability under the law 
and to determine whether the limitations can be effectively 
accommodated.
    There has been an increase in hiring and an increase in 
applications for Reasonable Accommodation. As a result, the Agency has 
increased the burden estimate by 733 hours. FSIS has also discontinued 
use of FSIS Form 4630-7 ``Confidential Medical Information,'' because 
the Leave Bank Program now accepts a Department of Labor form. The 
approval for this information collection will expire on November 20, 
2022.
    FSIS has made the following estimates based upon an information 
collection assessment:
    Estimate of Burden: FSIS estimates that it will take each 
respondent an average of 90 minutes to complete the FSIS Form 4339-1, 
10 minutes to complete the FSIS Form 4306-5, and 15 minutes to complete 
the FSIS Form 4630-8.
    Respondents: Health Care Providers.
    Estimated Total Number of Annual Respondents: 1,250 respondents.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,524 hours.
    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. Copies of this information collection assessment can be 
obtained from Gina Kouba, Office of Policy and Program Development, 
Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, 
Mailstop 3758, South Building, Washington, DC 20250-3700; (202) 720-
5627.
    Comments are invited on: (a) whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of FSIS' functions, 
including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the 
accuracy of FSIS' estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information, including the validity of the method 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 (OMB), Washington, DC 20253.

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: 
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/federal-register.
    FSIS will also announce and provide a link to this Federal Register 
publication 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 Constituent Update is available on 
the FSIS web page. Through the web page, FSIS can 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: https://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

    In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its 
Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or 
administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on 
race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including 
gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital 
status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance 
program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil 
rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA 
(not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing 
deadlines vary by program or incident.
    Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of 
communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, 
audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible 
Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or 
contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. 
Additionally, program information may be made available in languages 
other than English.
    To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA 
Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint and 
at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in 
the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a 
copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992.
    Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil 
Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410; (2) 
fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected].
    USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Paul Kiecker,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2022-15318 Filed 7-18-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P