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Federal Register/Vol. 85, No. 53/Wednesday, March 18, 2020/Rules and Regulations 15352 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 53 / Wednesday, March 18, 2020 / Rules and Regulations must be evaluated at least quarterly or Astronauts Act. The new regulations affords occupationally related medical promptly after replacement, whichever will provide for the medical monitoring monitoring services through the LSAH is more frequent. and diagnosis of conditions that are program to former U.S. Government * * * * * potentially spaceflight-associated and astronauts and payload specialists at the treatment of conditions that are JSC with a 60–70 percent participation PART 39—LICENSES AND RADIATION spaceflight-associated for former U.S. rate. SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR WELL Government astronauts and payload On March 21, 2017, the President LOGGING specialists. signed into law the National Aeronautics and Space Administration ■ 6. The authority citation for part 39 DATES: Effective: March 18, 2020. Transition Authorization Act of 2017, continues to read as follows: Comments due: Send comments on or Public Law 115–10 (2017). Title IV, Authority: Atomic Energy Act of 1954, before May 18, 2020. Subtitle D, the ‘‘To Research, Evaluate, Assess, and Treat Astronauts Act’’ secs. 53, 57, 62, 63, 65, 69, 81, 161, 181, 182, ADDRESSES: You may send comments, 183, 223, 234 (42 U.S.C. 2073, 2077, 2092, (hereafter ‘‘TREAT Astronauts Act’’ or identified by docket number NASA– 2093, 2095, 2099, 2111, 2112, 2201, 2232, ‘‘Act’’) is codified at Section 20149 of 2019–0004 and/or RIN number 2700– 2233, 2273, 2282); Energy Reorganization Act Title 51 of the U.S. Code. of 1974, secs. 201, 206 (42 U.S.C. 5841, AE51, by any of the following methods: • The TREAT Astronauts Act provides 5846); 44 U.S.C. 3504 note. Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// NASA the authority to expand the www.regulations.gov. Follow the ■ 7. In § 39.65, revise paragraph (a) to voluntary monitoring program by instructions for sending comments. developing a more comprehensive read as follows: • Email: HQ-TREATAstronautsAct@ occupational surveillance program that nasa.gov. Include docket number § 39.65 Personnel monitoring. will enable earlier detection and NASA–2019–0004 and/or RIN number (a) The licensee may not permit an diagnosis of medical conditions individual to act as a logging supervisor 2700–AE51 in the subject line of the ‘‘potentially associated’’ with or logging assistant unless that person message. spaceflight and treatment of medical • Mail: NASA Headquarters, Mail wears a personnel dosimeter at all times conditions associated with spaceflight. Code 2M21, ATTN: Gwyn E. Smith, 300 during the handling of licensed NASA currently uses data from the E St. SW, Washington, DC 20546–0001. radioactive materials. Each personnel LSAH program to tailor clinical care for Instructions: All submissions received dosimeter must be assigned to and worn individual astronauts, as well as to must include the agency name and by only one individual. Film badges inform the human systems risks, current docket number or Regulatory must be replaced at least monthly and spaceflight operations, and future Information Number (RIN) for this all other personnel dosimeters that vehicle standards. The comprehensive rulemaking. All comments received will require replacement must be replaced at occupational surveillance program will be posted without change to http:// least quarterly. All personnel dosimeters provide NASA with more www.regulations.gov, including any must be evaluated at least quarterly or comprehensive data that will ultimately personal information provided. promptly after replacement, whichever contribute to an improved Docket: For access to the docket to is more frequent. understanding of the long-term impact read background documents or of spaceflight. This enhanced program is * * * * * comments received, go to http:// expected to increase the former U.S. Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 3rd day www.regulations.gov. of March, 2020. Government astronaut and payload FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: specialist participation rate in the For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Gwyn E. Smith, Policy Manager, Office occupational surveillance program to Margaret M. Doane, of the Chief Health and Medical Officer, over 80 percent. Executive Director for Operations. 1–833–996–1685, HQ- Human spaceflight poses significant [FR Doc. 2020–05295 Filed 3–17–20; 8:45 am] [email protected]. challenges and is full of substantial risk. BILLING CODE 7590–01–P SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NASA and its astronauts acknowledge and accept the risks of spaceflight are I. Background beyond those of ordinary daily living. NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND NASA currently has a voluntary Participation in long duration missions SPACE ADMINISTRATION medical monitoring program, Lifetime or multiple shorter duration missions, Surveillance of Astronaut Health increases health risks such as, vision 14 CFR Part 1241 (LSAH) program, for all U.S. impairment, bone demineralization, and [Document Number NASA–20–028: Docket Government astronauts and payload behavioral health issues. In addition, Number—NASA–2020–0001] specialists at the NASA Johnson Space exposure to high levels of radiation and Center (JSC). Once they leave the microgravity can result in acute and RIN 2700–AE51 astronaut corps, former U.S. long-term health consequences that can Government astronauts and payload increase the risk of cancer and tissue To Research, Evaluate, Assess, and specialists rely on workers’ degeneration and have potential effects Treat (TREAT) Astronauts compensation and other U.S. on the musculoskeletal system, central AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Government programs to provide nervous system, cardiovascular system, Space Administration (NASA). diagnosis and treatment for spaceflight- immune function, and vision. ACTION: Interim final rule; request for associated conditions. There is no NASA has also seen an increase in comments. formal mechanism for NASA to receive health issues former U.S. Government diagnosis and treatment data on such astronauts and payload specialists face, SUMMARY: With this interim final rule, conditions. many years after their NASA service. the National Aeronautics and Space As of November 2019, there are One of the vital tools NASA needs to Administration (NASA) is amending its approximately 250 living former U.S. prepare for future long-duration and regulations to add a new part that will Government astronauts and payload exploration missions is more data on the implement the provisions of the TREAT specialists. The Agency currently health effects humans face in VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:10 Mar 17, 2020 Jkt 250001 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\18MRR1.SGM 18MRR1 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 53 / Wednesday, March 18, 2020 / Rules and Regulations 15353 spaceflight. Data collected under the costs associated with the monitoring based on a NASA astronaut TREAT Astronauts Act will allow and diagnosis of a condition that is spaceflight exposure clinical NASA to examine health trends in potentially associated with spaceflight assessment. For example, as part of astronauts over the course of their and will pay, as the secondary payer, for routine monitoring, NASA provides lifetime to understand better the any medical costs associated with the bone density scanning for young physical, behavioral, microbiological, treatment of a condition that is healthy males. This testing is beyond and molecular reaction of the human associated with spaceflight. This the accepted standard of care. body. These data will also contribute to includes deductibles, coinsurance, —‘‘Eligible individual’’ to include both the overall knowledge of the Agency copayments, and similar charges, but former U.S. Government astronauts and serve to identify spaceflight risks to excludes insurance premiums. Lastly, and former payload specialists who human health and develop mitigation the law limits NASA’s authority to pay have flown in space, while strategies as NASA moves ahead to for medical treatment to the role of specifically excluding others who are long-duration and exploration missions. secondary payer. The type of primary not included in these groups. U.S. Given the fact that there are so few coverage available to former U.S. Government astronaut is defined in astronauts and such limited data, Government astronauts and payload the TREAT Astronauts Act as the increased participation to get more data specialists will depend on their status at meaning given the term ‘‘Government is critical. NASA is learning daily of the the time of their active astronaut career astronaut’’ in 51 U.S.C. 50902, except untoward effects of human spaceflight and any current health plan, Federal it does not include an individual who on the human body. In order to prepare benefits program, or other workers’ is an international partner astronaut. for the Moon in 2024, NASA needs to compensation coverage that may apply. The term ‘‘Government astronaut’’ is understand these effects so appropriate For former U.S. Government astronauts defined in 51 U.S.C. 50902. mitigation measures can be taken now. and payload specialists who believe For clarification, the following are This program will inform future they have a condition related to their specifically excluded: generations by providing health data spaceflight, they must first seek (1) Astronauts of other United States showing the effects of spaceflight treatment from the Department of Government agencies—only astronauts activities on active and former U.S. Defense
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