[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 121 (Tuesday, June 24, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37510-37511]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-15927]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Transportation Security Administration


Notice of Intent To Request Approval From the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for Three New Public Collections of 
Information; Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC); 
Transportation Worker Survey; Lead Stakeholder Port Security Interviews

AGENCY: Transportation Security Administration (TSA), DHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: TSA invites public comment on three new information collection 
requirements abstracted below that will be submitted to OMB in 
compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act.

DATES: Send your comments by August 25, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed or delivered to Elaine Charney, TWIC 
Program Office, TSA Headquarters, West Tower, Floor 9, TSA-8, 601 South 
12th Street, Arlington, VA 22202-4220.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Conrad Huygen, Office of Information 
Management Programs, TSA Headquarters, West Tower, Floor 4, TSA-17, 601 
South 12th Street, Arlington, VA 22202-4220; telephone (571) 227-1954; 
facsimile (571) 227-2912.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), an agency may not conduct or 
sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of 
information, unless it displays a valid OMB control number. Therefore, 
in preparation for submission of the specified information collection, 
TSA solicits comments in order to--
    (1) Evaluate whether the proposed information requirement is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    (2) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden;
    (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and
    (4) 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 where appropriate.

Purpose of Data Collection

    The information collected for the TWIC program will be used as a 
means to enhance access control for individuals requiring unescorted 
access to secure areas of the national transportation system. TSA 
intends to evaluate and test certain technologies and business 
processes in the Technology Evaluation and Prototype Phases of TSA's 
pilot project to fully develop the program, measure credential 
performance and effectiveness, collect user feedback, and provide data 
analysis prior to proceeding to full-scale deployment.

Description of Data Collection

    TSA, through a contractor, will issue credentials to a select group 
of transportation workers and then administer two instruments to 
collect data on the effectiveness of the TWIC program as well as the 
satisfaction of the transportation workers who will be using these 
credentials. TSA intends to collect data via the following instruments:
    (1) Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC). The 
following information will be collected from individual transportation 
workers and facility operators to create the credential: (a) 
Individual's name, (b) other identifying data to include address, phone 
number, social security number, date of birth, and place of birth, (c) 
company, organization or affiliation, (d) biometric data and digital 
photograph, and (e) access level information. We estimate a total of 
30,000 respondents and, based on an estimate of a ten-minute burden per 
respondent, a maximum total burden program-wide of approximately 5,000 
hours.
    (2) Transportation Worker Survey. TSA next intends to conduct a 
transportation worker survey at each site that is part of the 
Technology Evaluation and Prototype Phases. The survey will be 
administered using an intercept methodology in which workers will be 
provided survey forms either during or after the TWIC is issued. 
Workers who receive surveys will be selected randomly. The sample of 
workers receiving surveys at each site will be representative of the 
demographics of all the workers who are participating in the pilot 
programs, including workers who access facilities on a 24-hour, 7-day 
basis.
    Participation by workers in the survey will be voluntary. The TSA 
contractor will administer the survey independent of TSA. The survey 
will include up to 30 questions about the workers' experience as well 
as the effectiveness of the TWIC.
    Dates, times, and locations will be selected within each site to 
provide a representation of worker satisfaction and credential 
effectiveness over the survey period. TSA intends to conduct one survey 
at each site during each phase of the program, with a target of 5 
percent of card population measured at each site during Technology 
Evaluation and 2 percent during Prototype, and no fewer than 10 workers 
tested at any given site or card population. We estimate a total of 750 
respondents and, based on an estimate of a fifteen-minute burden per 
respondent, estimate a maximum total burden program-wide of 
approximately 187.5 hours. There will not be a burden on workers who 
choose not to respond.
    (3) Lead Stakeholder Port Security Interviews. Finally, TSA will 
have a contractor conduct personal interviews of the lead stakeholder 
at each site participating in the Technology Evaluation and Prototype 
Phases. The purpose of the interview will be to record observations on 
operational impact, system performance and utility, and identify 
problems that may have arisen in each phase. The results of these 
interviews will not be as statistically rigorous as the intercept 
surveys described above, but will be focused on the site's performance 
perception. The results of these interviews will not be used for any 
formal performance measurement nor published outside of TSA, but will 
enable service improvement at each site. Participation by stakeholders 
will be voluntary. The interview format will come from a list of 
approximately 30 questions and will be limited to fifteen minutes per 
respondent. Based on a projected total of 30 respondents, there will be 
an estimated aggregate system-wide burden of 7.5 hours. There will be 
no burden on stakeholders who choose not to respond.

Use of Results

    TSA Headquarters will use the results to evaluate the performance 
and effectiveness of the TWIC. The results will also be analyzed to 
support future implementation and program decisions. TSA will further 
use this data to evaluate the impact of policy or process changes on 
customer satisfaction, public confidence, and overall security.


[[Page 37511]]


    Issued in Arlington, Virginia, on June 17, 2003.
Susan T. Tracey,
Deputy Chief Administrative Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-15927 Filed 6-23-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-62-P