Overview
Title
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Office of Marine and Aviation Operations: Occupational Health, Safety, and Readiness Forms
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The Commerce Department wants to change some forms for checking if their ship workers are healthy and ready for work. They are asking for people's thoughts on these changes to make sure the forms are not too hard to fill out.
Summary AI
The Department of Commerce will submit a request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval of revised forms related to occupational health, safety, and readiness in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This request is part of a regular review process aimed at reducing the public's reporting burden, per the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Public comments are invited on the proposed revisions, especially regarding the changes to the Health Services Questionnaire used by NOAA to ensure comprehensive medical histories for personnel on NOAA vessels. These forms help NOAA's Office of Marine and Aviation Operations ensure that personnel are medically ready for deployment and can prevent and manage health issues in difficult operating conditions.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The Federal Register document outlines a planned submission from the Department of Commerce seeking approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for revisions to forms related to occupational health, safety, and readiness. Managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), this initiative aims to optimize the administrative processes concerning personnel medical records aboard their vessels. The request for comments is part of an effort in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 to minimize the reporting burden on the public.
General Summary
The document notes that revised forms, particularly the Health Services Questionnaire NF 57-10-01, aim to capture a more comprehensive medical history of NOAA personnel. This adjustment follows a consultation period in late 2024, with this notice extending the opportunity for public feedback by an additional 30 days. The NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO), which operates a fleet of research ships and specialized aircraft, uses these forms to ensure personnel readiness for deployment and to mitigate health disruptions in challenging environments.
Significant Issues or Concerns
One major concern is the lack of detailed information regarding the financial aspects of the proposed changes. The document does not address cost implications, which might raise questions about the cost-effectiveness of these revisions. Additionally, the phrasing around response time is vague—stating that time varies depending on the form—leaving the public without concrete understanding of how these changes will affect the time spent on completing forms.
The specifics of the changes to form NF 57-10-01 are also not thoroughly detailed. This lack of clarity may hinder the public's ability to provide informed comments and understand the impact of these changes. Furthermore, the use of numerous acronyms without explanation might confuse readers unfamiliar with NOAA's terminologies.
Public Impact
Broadly, the document impacts the public by inviting feedback on government forms that affect federal employees and others interacting with NOAA. This feedback loop is crucial for ensuring that administrative processes do not unnecessarily burden individuals or organizations.
Stakeholder Impact
For NOAA staff, particularly those engaged in marine and aviation operations, these form revisions could mean more streamlined medical readiness processes, contributing positively to personal and operational efficiency. However, without clear information or justification for the changes, there might also be concerns about increased administrative tasks or privacy issues related to more detailed medical data collection.
Specific organizations, presumably within the environmental and marine sectors, which collaborate or engage with NOAA, might also experience indirect impacts from more efficient NOAA operations. However, the document doesn't explicitly mention these potential beneficiaries, raising questions about equity or favoritism.
Conclusion
While the document represents an essential administrative step by NOAA to refine its processes, it falls short in clarity and transparency in several areas. Clearer information on financial implications, detailed explanations of form changes, and a glossary for acronyms could better aid the public and stakeholders in comprehending and engaging with this notice.
Issues
• The document does not specify any details about the potential financial implications of revising and extending the information collection. This lack of financial transparency could lead to questions about the cost-effectiveness of the changes.
• The document does not specify if there are any specific organizations or individuals who may benefit from the information collection, which raises questions about fairness or favoritism.
• The term 'response time varies based on the form' is somewhat ambiguous and may benefit from more detailed explanation to improve clarity.
• There is limited explanation of the specific changes being made to NF 57-10-01, which might make it difficult for the public to understand the necessity or impact of the changes.
• The document repeatedly uses acronyms like OMAO, NOAA, OHS, USPHS without providing a glossary or a brief explanation, which might make it challenging for laypersons to follow the content.
• The document could be more concise. It contains detailed descriptions of NOAA's operations and services that are not directly relevant to the information collection request, potentially obscuring the main purpose of the notice.
• The notice assures that changes will not affect the burden response time but lacks concrete data or analysis to support this claim.
• The legal authority cited, NAO 205-1 and 33 U.S.C. 941, is not clearly explained, which may lead to uncertainty about the legal framework governing the information collection.