2022-03782. Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY:

The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (USD(P&R)), Department of Defense (DoD).

ACTION:

60-Day information collection notice.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness announces a proposed public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

DATES:

Consideration will be given to all comments received by April 25, 2022.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments, identified by docket number and title, by any of the following methods:

Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

Mail: DoD cannot receive written comments at this time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Comments should be sent electronically to the docket listed above.

Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name, docket number and title for this Federal Register document. The general policy for comments and other submissions from members of the public is to make these submissions available for public viewing on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov as they are received without change, including any personal identifiers or contact information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

To request more information on this proposed information collection or to obtain a copy of the proposal and associated collection instruments, please write to Defense Human Resources Activity, 4800 Mark Center Drive, Suite 08F05, Alexandria, VA 22350, LaTarsha Yeargins, 571-372-2089.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The vaccination requirement issued pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14043, is currently the subject of a nationwide injunction. While that injunction remains in place, the DoD will not process requests for a medical exception from the COVID-19 vaccination requirement pursuant to E.O. 14043. DoD 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 DoD may nevertheless receive information regarding a medical exception. That is because, if DoD 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, DoD 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.

Title; Associated Form; and OMB Number: Request for a Medical Exemption or Delay to the COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement; DD Form 3176; OMB Control Number 0704-0619.

Needs and Uses: Consistent with E.O. 14043, of September 9, 2021, “Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees”, and included within the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force Guidance mandating all Federal employees be vaccinated by November 22, 2021, the DoD has established specific safety protocols for individuals fully vaccinated and not fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Individuals who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by November 22, 2021, or who choose not to provide this information will be required to comply with applicable OMB. DoD is seeking approval of DD Form 3176, “Request for a Medical Exemption or Delay to the COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement,” which will be completed by employees who seek a medical exemption. The DD Form 3176 will be used by DoD staff and provided to employees to ensure they submit adequate information to support the exemption request. This form will also ensure the information collected is consistent among the components and minimize the need to seek additional evidence. Rendered decisions should be in accordance with guidelines established by the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force Guidance.

Affected Public: Individuals or households.

Annual Burden Hours: 15,000 hours.

Number of Respondents: 180,000.

Responses per Respondent: 1.

Annual Responses: 180,000.

Average Burden per Response: 5 minutes.

Frequency: On occasion.

Dated: February 16, 2022.

Aaron T. Siegel,

Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.