Emergency Justification Memo

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
WASHINGTON, DC 20460

OFFICE OF
MISSION
SUPPORT

November 23, 2021
Danielle Jones
Desk Officer
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs
Office of Management and Budget
725 17th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20503
Dear Ms. Jones,
Pursuant to section 3507(j) of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), as implemented in
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations at 5 CFR §1320.13, the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) is requesting emergency clearance of proposed information collection, EPA Medical Certification
for Covid-19 Vaccination Exception Request.
This information collection is essential to implement EPA’s health and safety measures regarding the Federal
employee medical exemptions to the vaccination requirement included within Executive Order 14043, Requiring
Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees, and recent Safer Federal Workforce Task Force
Guidance for COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccinations. EPA will use the information collected to make an informed
determination of requested medical exceptions. This information must be collected prior to the time periods
established under Part 1320 of the regulations as to not delay making determinations on requests from
employees for medical exceptions to the vaccine mandate. Following normal clearance procedures is likely to
cause harm because of the threat of COVID-19 exposure and transmission.
Therefore, EPA requests a 180-day emergency clearance for the EPA Medical Certification for Covid-19
Vaccination Exception Request, allowing individuals to request medical exemptions, with medical provider input,
from COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccinations. As this request for approval concerns an urgent safety need, EPA is also
seeking OMB’s approval to waive the need for the Federal Register Notices otherwise required. During the 180day emergency approval, EPA will submit a subsequent request to collect this information following normal
clearance procedures under Paperwork Reduction Act, including the publication of the Federal Register notices.
EPA request that OMB please provide an approval/disapproval determination of this request to collect
information under an emergency clearance by close of business on November 24, 2021.
Sincerely,
Digitally signed by KRYSTI

KRYSTI WELLS WELLS
Date: 2021.11.23 09:36:59
-05'00'

Krysti Wells
Director
Office of Customer Advocacy, Policy and Portfolio Management