[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 102 (Friday, May 28, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28834-28836]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-11351]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30Day-21-21CT]


Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) submitted the information 
collection request 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'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for review and approval. CDC previously published a ``Proposed Data 
Collection Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations'' notice on 
February 12, 2021 to obtain comments from the public and affected 
agencies. This collection accompanies a CDC Order of the same name. CDC 
received two comments related to the previous notice. This notice 
serves to allow an additional 30 days for public and affected agency 
comments.
    CDC will accept all comments for this proposed information 
collection project. The Office of Management and Budget is particularly 
interested in comments that:
    (a) 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;
    (b) Evaluate the accuracy of the agencies estimate of the burden of 
the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
    (c) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected;
    (d) 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, e.g., permitting 
electronic submission of responses; and
    (e) Assess information collection costs.
    To request additional information on the proposed project or to 
obtain a copy of the information collection plan and instruments, call 
(404) 639-7570. Comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should

[[Page 28835]]

be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information 
collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for 
Public Comments'' or by using the search function. Direct written 
comments and/or suggestions regarding the items contained in this 
notice to the Attention: CDC Desk Officer, Office of Management and 
Budget, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20503 or by fax to (202) 
395-5806. Provide written comments within 30 days of notice 
publication.

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 (OMB Control No. 0920-1318, Exp. 5/31/2021)--Extension--
National Center for Emerging Zoonotic and Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    This information collection accompanies the Notice and Order named 
above. Pursuant to 42 CFR 71.20 and as set forth in greater detail 
below, this Notice and Order prohibit the introduction into the United 
States of any airline passenger departing from the any foreign country 
unless the passenger:
    (1) Has a negative pre-departure test result for COVID-19 
(Qualifying Test), or (2) written or electronic documentation of 
recovery from COVID-19 in the form of a positive viral test result and 
a letter from a licensed health care provider or public health official 
stating that the passenger has been cleared for travel (Documentation 
of Recovery).
    The negative test must be a viral test that was conducted on a 
specimen collected during the three days preceding the flight's 
departure from a foreign country. Passengers must retain written or 
electronic documentation reflecting the Qualifying Test, or 
Documentation of Recovery, presented to the airline and produce such 
documentation upon request to any U.S. government official or a 
cooperating state or local public health authority.
    Pursuant to 42 CFR 71.31(b), the Order constitutes a controlled 
free pratique to any airline with an aircraft arriving into the United 
States from any foreign country. Pursuant to the controlled free 
pratique, the airline must comply with the following conditions in 
order to receive permission for the aircraft to enter and disembark 
passengers in the United States:
    <bullet> Airline or other aircraft operator must verify that every 
passenger--two years of age or older--onboard the aircraft has attested 
to receiving a negative Qualifying Test result or to having recovered 
from COVID-19 after previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, and being cleared to 
travel by a licensed health care provider or public health official.
    <bullet> Airline or other aircraft operator must confirm that every 
passenger onboard the aircraft has documentation of a negative 
Qualifying Test result or Documentation of Recovery from COVID-19.
    Certain exemptions and waivers do apply, and are as follows:
    <bullet> Crew members of airlines or other aircraft operators, 
provided that they follow industry standard protocols for the 
prevention of COVID-19 as set forth in relevant Safety Alerts for 
Operators (SAFOs) issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
    <bullet> Airlines or other aircraft operators transporting 
passengers with COVID-19 pursuant to CDC authorization and in 
accordance with CDC guidance.
    <bullet> Federal law enforcement personnel on official orders who 
are traveling for the purpose of carrying out a law enforcement 
function, provided they are covered under an occupational health and 
safety program in accordance with CDC guidance. Those traveling for 
training or other business purposes remain subject to the requirements 
of this Order.
    <bullet> U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) personnel, including 
military personnel and civilian employees, dependents, contractors 
(including whole aircraft charter operators), and other U.S. government 
employees when traveling on DOD assets, provided that such individuals 
are under competent military or U.S. government travel orders and 
observing DOD precautions to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 as 
set forth in Force Protection Guidance Supplement 14--Department of 
Defense Guidance for Personnel Traveling During the Coronavirus Disease 
2019 Pandemic (December 29, 2020) including its testing guidance.
    <bullet> Individuals and organizations for which the issuance of a 
humanitarian exemption is necessary based on both; (1) exigent 
circumstances where emergency travel is required to preserve health and 
safety (e.g., emergency medical evacuations), and (2) where pre-
departure testing cannot be accessed or completed before travel. 
Additional conditions may be placed on those granted such exemptions, 
including but not limited to, observing precautions during travel, 
providing consent to post-arrival testing, and/or self-quarantine after 
arrival in the United States, as may be directed by federal, state, 
territorial, tribal or local public health authorities to reduce the 
risk of transmission or spread.
    CDC is also performing random compliance checks to help ensure 
documentation, such as test results, meet the requirement of the Order 
and may collect some contact information in the event some public 
health follow up action is needed at the time of arrival. Additionally, 
some outbound air passengers flying to foreign countries may be denied 
entry to their destination country and may not be able to get a COVID-
19 test before boarding a plane back to the United States. CDC works 
with airlines to receive passenger contact information of these 
returned air passengers in case public health follow up is needed.
    CDC requests approval for an estimated 197,919,951 annual burden 
hours. The estimated respondent cost is $9,297,175,813. CDC anticipates 
certain cost burdens to respondents and record keepers due to the 
requirements. These costs fall into the following categories:
    [cir] Traveler testing and ancillary costs: $30,789,500,000.
    [cir] Traveler deferred travel costs: $116,327,500.
    [cir] Airline staff costs for digitizing attestations: $55,036,667.
    [cir] Airline costs to store attestations: $3,350 to $2,925,000 a 
year depending on size of airline and number of travelers.

[[Page 28836]]



                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                      Average
                                                                     Number of       Number of      burden per
         Type of respondent                   Form name             respondents    responses per   response (in
                                                                                    respondent        hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Traveler (3rd Party Disclosure)....  Attestation of a negative        95,000,000               1               2
                                      COVID-19 test/
                                      Documentation indicating
                                      clearance for travel by a
                                      licensed healthcare
                                      provider or public health
                                      official.
Airline Desk Agent.................  Attestation of a negative        95,000,000               1            5/60
                                      COVID-19 test/
                                      Documentation indicating
                                      clearance for travel by a
                                      licensed healthcare
                                      provider or public health
                                      official.
Traveler...........................  Request Exemption on Urgent           1,300               1               2
                                      Humanitarian Basis--(No
                                      form).
Traveler with non-compliant test or  Contact information                   5,700               1            5/60
 documentation of recovery.           collection for public
                                      health follow up--(No
                                      form).
Returned Inadmissible Traveler.....  Contact information                     835               1            5/60
                                      collection for public
                                      health follow up--(No
                                      form).
Airline Representative.............  Contact information                     835               1           10/60
                                      collection for public
                                      health follow up--(No
                                      form).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Jeffrey M. Zirger,
Lead, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Scientific 
Integrity, Office of Science, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2021-11351 Filed 5-27-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P