Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations, 63397-63399 [2021-24994]

Agencies

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 218 (Tuesday, November 16, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63397-63399]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-24994]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-22-1318; Docket No. CDC-2021-0124]


Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public Comment and 
Recommendations

AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice with comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as part 
of its continuing effort to reduce public burden and maximize the 
utility of government information, invites the general public and other 
Federal agencies the opportunity to comment on a proposed and/or 
continuing information collection, as required by the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995. This notice invites comment on a proposed 
information collection project titled Requirement for Negative Pre-
Departure COVID-19 Test Result or Documentation of Recovery from COVID-
19 For All Airline or Other Aircraft Passengers Arriving into the 
United States from any Foreign Country and Requirement for Proof of 
COVID-19 Vaccination for Noncitizen, Nonimmigrant Air Passengers 
Arriving Into The United States From A Foreign Country. This proposed 
information collection is designed to ensure that CDC complies with 
Orders published October 25 and October 30, 2021, and to confirm that 
passengers who are coming into the United States via air travel have 
tested negative for or recently recovered from COVID-19, and that 
noncitizen, nonimmigrant passengers are fully vaccinated against COVID-
19.

DATES: CDC must receive written comments on or before January 18, 2022.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. CDC-2021-
0124 by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Jeffrey M. Zirger, Information Collection Review 
Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road 
NE, MS H21-8, Atlanta, Georgia 30329.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
and Docket Number. CDC will post, without change, all relevant comments 
to Regulations.gov.
    Please note: Submit all comments through the Federal eRulemaking 
portal (regulations.gov) or by U.S. mail to the address listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request more information on the 
proposed project or to obtain a copy of the information collection plan 
and instruments, contact Jeffrey M. Zirger, Information Collection 
Review Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton 
Road NE, MS H21-8, Atlanta, Georgia 30329; phone: 404-639-7570; Email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), Federal agencies must obtain approval from 
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of 
information they conduct or sponsor. In addition, the PRA also requires 
Federal agencies to provide a 60-day notice in the Federal Register 
concerning each proposed collection of information, including each new 
proposed collection, each proposed extension of existing collection of 
information, and each reinstatement of previously approved information 
collection before submitting the collection to the OMB for approval. To 
comply with this requirement, we are publishing this notice of a 
proposed data collection as described below.
    The OMB is particularly interested in comments that will help:
    1. Evaluate whether the proposed 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 the agency's estimate of the burden of 
the proposed 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;
    4. 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,

[[Page 63398]]

e.g., permitting electronic submissions of responses; and
    5. Assess information collection costs.

Proposed Project

    Requirement for Negative Pre-Departure COVID-19 Test Result or 
Documentation of Recovery from COVID-19 For All Airline or Other 
Aircraft Passengers Arriving into the United States from any Foreign 
Country and Requirement for Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination for 
Noncitizen, Nonimmigrant AirPassengers Arriving Into The United States 
From A Foreign Country (OMB Control No. 0920-1318, Exp. 5/31/2022)--
Revision--National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases 
(NCEZID), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    Since January 2020, the respiratory disease known as ``COVID-19,'' 
caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), has spread globally, 
including cases reported in all 50 states within the United States, 
plus the District of Columbia and all U.S. territories. As of October 
22,2021, there have been over 242,000,000 million cases of COVID-19 
globally, resulting in over 4,900,000 deaths. More than 45,000,000 
cases have been identified in the United States, with new cases 
reported daily, and over 733,000 deaths have been attributed to the 
disease. Many countries have begun widespread vaccine administration; 
however, 98 countries continue to experience high or substantial 
incidence rates (>50 cases per 100,000 people in the last seven days) 
and 65 countries, including the United States, are experiencing a high 
incidence of reported new cases at this time.\19\
    SARS-CoV-2 spreads mainly from person-to-person through respiratory 
fluids released during exhalation, such as when an infected person 
coughs, sneezes, or talks. Exposure to these respiratory fluids occurs 
in three principal ways: (1) Inhalation of very fine respiratory 
droplets and aerosol particles, (2) deposition of respiratory droplets 
and particles on exposed mucous membranes in the mouth, nose, or eye by 
direct splashes and sprays, and (3) touching mucous membranes with 
hands that have been soiled either directly by virus-containing 
respiratory fluids or indirectly by touching surfaces with virus on 
them. Spread is more likely when people are in close contact with one 
another (within about 6 feet), especially in crowded or poorly 
ventilated indoor settings. Persons who are not fully vaccinated, 
including those with asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic infections, are 
significant contributors to community SARS-CoV-2 transmission and 
occurrence of COVID-19. New variants of SARS-CoV-2 have emerged 
globally, several of which have been identified as variants of concern, 
including the Delta variant. Some variants are more transmissible and 
some may cause more severe disease, which can lead to more 
hospitalizations, and deaths among infected individuals.
    On October 25, 2021 CDC amended its January 25, 2021 Order, titled, 
``Requirement for Proof of Negative COVID-19 Test or Recovery from 
COVID-19 for All Air Passengers Arriving in the United States.'' This 
amendment updates COVID-19 testing requirements for air passengers two 
years or older boarding a flight to the United States, depending on 
COVID-19 vaccination status. Those who are fully vaccinated will need 
to provide a negative pre-departure COVID-19 test conducted with a 
specimen no more than 3 days before travel to the US, as well as proof 
of being fully vaccinated. While those who are not fully vaccinated 
will need to provide a negative pre-departure COVID-19 test conducted 
with a specimen no more than one day of before travel to the U.S.
    The Order requiring a negative COVID-19 test or documentation of 
recovery has a list of categorical exemptions that would not be subject 
to this information collection. These include, crew members of airlines 
or other aircraft operators who follow industry standard protocols for 
the prevention of COVID-19; airlines or other aircraft operators 
transporting passengers with COVID-19 pursuant to CDC authorization and 
in accordance with CDC guidance; U.S. federal law enforcement personnel 
on official orders; U.S. military personnel, including civilian 
employees, dependents, contractors, and other U.S. government employees 
when traveling on U.S. military assets; and any person who may apply 
and receive a time limited exemption for urgent humanitarian reasons.
    Also on October 25, 2021, President Biden issued a Proclamation 
``Advancing Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID-19 
Pandemic''. This Proclamation allowed CDC to issue an Order 
Implementing Proclamation on Advancing Safe Resumption of Global Travel 
During the COVID-19 Pandemic on October 25, 2021, followed by an 
amendment on October 30, 2021 which provided minimal updates and 
superseded the October 25, 2021 Order.
    This Proclamation and Order will only apply to noncitizen, 
nonimmigrants. It will not apply to any person who is a U.S. citizen, 
U.S. national, lawful permanent resident, or immigrant. The 
Proclamation also does not apply to crew members of airlines or other 
aircraft operators if they follow industry standard protocols for the 
prevention of COVID-19. Some noncitizen, nonimmigrants who are not 
fully vaccinated, as defined by the Order, may fall into a category 
that allows them to be excepted to the requirement if they can present 
to an airline or aircraft operator that they meet the criteria for that 
category, such as letters confirming registration in a vaccine clinical 
trial, or U.S. military identification.
    For information collection activities associated with these Orders, 
CDC requests OMB approval for an estimated 352,538,030 annual burden 
hours.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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                                                                     Number of    Average burden
      Type of respondent            Form name        Number of     responses per   per response    Total burden
                                                    respondents     respondent      (in hours)      (in hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air Passenger.................  Section 1 of         123,000,000               1               2     246,000,000
                                 Combined
                                 Passenger
                                 Disclosure and
                                 Attestation to
                                 the United
                                 States of
                                 America.
Noncitizen Nonimmigrant Air     Section 2 of          90,000,000               1               1      90,000,000
 Passenger.                      Combined
                                 Passenger
                                 Disclosure and
                                 Attestation to
                                 the United
                                 States of
                                 America.

[[Page 63399]]

 
Airline Desk Agent............  Combined             123,000,000               1            8/60      16,400,000
                                 Passenger
                                 Disclosure and
                                 Attestation to
                                 the United
                                 States of
                                 America.
Air Passenger.................  Request                      600               1               2           1,000
                                 Humanitarian
                                 Exemption to
                                 COVID-19 Test
                                 or
                                 Documentation
                                 of Recovery.
Noncitizen Nonimmigrant Air     Request                      600               1               2           1,000
 Passenger.                      Humanitarian or
                                 Emergency
                                 Exception to
                                 Proof of
                                 Vaccination
                                 Requirement.
Air Passenger (undergoing       Questions Asked        1,230,000               1            5/60         102,500
 compliance check).              to Air
                                 Passengers
                                 Going Through
                                 Compliance
                                 Checks.
Air Passenger (undergoing       Air Travel                 7,380               1           10/60           1,230
 compliance check with non-      Illness or
 compliant documentation).       Death
                                 Investigation
                                 or Traveler
                                 Follow-up Form.
Noncitizen Nonimmigrant Air     Air Travel               190,000               1           10/60          31,667
 Passenger (undergoing           Illness or
 compliance check and using      Death
 humanitarian or emergency       Investigation
 exception).                     or Traveler
                                 Follow-up Form.
Air Traveler (for illness or    Air Travel                 1,700               1           15/60             425
 death investigation).           Illness or
                                 Death
                                 Investigation
                                 or Traveler
                                 Follow-up Form.
Returned Inadmissible           Contact                      835               1            5/60              70
 Passenger.                      information
                                 collection for
                                 public health
                                 follow up.
Airline Representative........  Contact                      835               1           10/60             139
                                 information
                                 collection for
                                 public health
                                 follow up.
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.....................  ................  ..............  ..............  ..............     352,538,030
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Jeffrey M. Zirger,
Lead, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Scientific 
Integrity, Office of Science, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2021-24994 Filed 11-15-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P