[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 5, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5974-5975]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-2800]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Transportation Security Administration

[Docket No. TSA-2002-11604]


Security Programs For Aircraft 12,500 Pounds Or More

AGENCY: Transportation Security Administration (TSA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces an extension of time for compliance with 
the final security program for operators of aircraft with a maximum 
certificated takeoff weight of 12,500 or more pounds. TSA is extending 
the time from February 1 to April 1, 2003.

DATES: Security program compliance date: April 1, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lon Siro or Gail Richards by 
telephone: (571) 227-2217 or (571) 271-2216 respectively; or by e-mail 
[email protected] or [email protected]. You may also mail 
any comments or questions concerning this action to Lon Siro or Gail 
Richards, Aviation Operations, Room 11080S, East Tower, Transportation 
Security Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20591.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 22, 2002, TSA published a final 
rule in the Federal Register (67 FR 8205), known as the ``Twelve-Five 
Rule,'' that, in part, required new security measures for operators of 
aircraft with a maximum certificated takeoff weight of 12,500 pounds or 
more. Under the rule, these operators must adopt and carry out certain 
security measures approved by TSA, generally known as the ``Twelve-Five 
Security Program.''
    As published, the effective date of the Twelve-Five Rule was June 
24, 2002. This document does not alter that date. On August 28, 2002 
(67 FR 55308), TSA issued a notice that established a schedule for 
comments on the proposed

[[Page 5975]]

security program and a date for compliance with the final security 
program. Security programs constitute sensitive security information 
(SSI), which are disclosed only to persons with a need to know, in 
accordance with 49 CFR part 1520. Therefore, the Twelve-Five Security 
Program may be distributed only to affected operators. In that notice, 
TSA required all affected aircraft operators to be in compliance with 
the final security program by February 1, 2003.
    TSA provided the proposed Twelve-Five Security Program to affected 
operators and analyzed all comments received concerning the program. 
TSA prepared a final security program and has forwarded it to all 
twelve-five operators. TSA has prepared a training program to ensure 
that all operators receive the training required by the final security 
program. In addition, TSA has developed a fingerprint collection 
process that will enable all affected operators to complete the 
fingerprint-based criminal history records checks of their flightcrew 
members, as required by the Twelve-Five Rule.
    However, TSA must provide the industry with sufficient time to 
train employees and fingerprint crew members, and completion of these 
tasks is not possible by February 1, 2003. Therefore, TSA is extending 
the security program compliance date to April 1, 2003.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on January 30, 2003.
Stephen J. McHale,
Deputy Administrator.
[FR Doc. 03-2800 Filed 1-31-03; 3:51 pm]
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