OMB Memorandum M-20-23, âAligning Federal Agency Operations with the National Guidelines for Opening Up American Again,â dated April 20, 2020, requires employers to develop and implement policies and procedures for workforce contact tracing following an employeeâs COVID-19 positive test. In doing so, M-20-23 requires symptomatic Federal employees and contractors to follow their Agencyâs process if they are symptomatic or test positive for COVID-19. EPAâs processes will protect the anonymity and privacy of Federal employees and contractors, to the extent possible, while disclosing only the information necessary for agencies to take appropriate actions of notifying potentially affected employees and cleaning the facility. Additionally, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance entitled Get and Keep America Open, COVID-19 Contact Tracing is essential to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Furthermore, in response to the Coronavirus Pandemic, public health leaders are calling for communities around the country to ramp up capacity and implement a massive contact tracing effort to control spread of the Coronavirus. The response and recovery from the effect of COVID-19 will continue to present Federal agencies with unprecedented challenges, as well as opportunities for improvement, that require new processes and practices such as COVID-19 Contact Tracing to keep the workforce and the public safe. As EPA plans to reconstitute the workforce, it is essential to have an internal EPA Contact Tracing Program that informs mission readiness and protects our workforce.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.