[Federal Register: February 5, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 24)]
[Notices]
[Page 6690-6691]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05fe08-34]
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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
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[[Page 6690]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2007-0140]
Notice of Request for Revision and Extension of Approval of an
Information Collection; Self-Certification Medical Statement
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Revision 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 and extension of approval of an
information collection for self-certification medical statements.
DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before April
7, 2008.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2007-0140
to submit or view comments and
to view supporting and related materials available electronically.
Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send two copies of
your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2007-0140, Regulatory Analysis and
Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118,
Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your comment refers to
Docket No. APHIS-2007-0140.
Reading Room: You may read any comments that we receive on this
docket in our reading room. The reading room 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) 690-2817 before coming.
Other Information: Additional information about APHIS and its
programs is available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on self-certification
medical statements, contact Ms. Lynn Doetschman, Human Resources
Specialist, Human Resources Division, MRPBS, APHIS, 4700 River Road
Unit 21, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-4996. For copies of more
detailed information on the information collection, contact Mrs.
Celeste Sickles, APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at (301)
734-7477.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Self-Certification Medical Statement.
OMB Number: 0579-0196.
Type of Request: Revision and extension of approval of an
information collection.
Abstract: The Marketing and Regulatory Programs (MRP) agencies of
the U.S. Department of Agriculture facilitate the domestic and
international marketing of U.S. agricultural products and protect the
health of domestic animal and plant resources. The MRP agencies are the
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS), and the Grain Inspection, Packers and
Stockyards Administration (GIPSA). Resource management and
administrative services, including human resource management, for the
three MRP agencies are provided by the MRP Business Services unit of
APHIS, which is the lead agency in providing administrative support for
MRP.
In accordance with 5 CFR part 339, Federal agencies are authorized
to obtain medical information from applicants for positions that have
approved medical standards. Medical standards may be established for
positions for which the duties are arduous or hazardous or require a
certain level of health status or fitness.
Certain positions in MRP agencies have medical standards. An
example of such a position is the agricultural commodity grader
position in AMS. Each year, AMS hires a number of agricultural
commodity graders. These employees work under dusty conditions, around
moving machinery and slippery surfaces, and in areas with high noise
levels. They have direct contact with meat and dairy products, fresh
and processed fruits and vegetables, and poultry products intended for
human consumption or cotton and tobacco products intended for human
use.
The MRP agencies require a self-certification medical statement
(SCMP) (MRP-5) from applicants for these positions regarding their
fitness for the positions. AMS is expanding the categories of employees
who will be required to complete an SCMP. The MRP agencies need this
information to determine whether the applicants can perform the duties
of the positions. Inability to collect this information would adversely
affect the MRP agencies' ability to recruit and hire qualified
individuals and carry out their missions.
We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve
our use of this information collection activity for 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
information collection, 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 information collection 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 reporting burden for this collection
of information is estimated to average 0.1666 hours per response.
Respondents: Applicants for MRP positions with approved medical
standards.
[[Page 6691]]
Estimated annual number of respondents: 600.
Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.
Estimated annual number of responses: 600.
Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 100 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 30th day of January 2008.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E8-2049 Filed 2-4-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P