[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 17 (Tuesday, January 27, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3938-3939]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-1616]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Transportation Security Administration

[Docket No. TSA-2001-11334]


Notice of Intent To Request Approval From the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for a Public Collection of Information; 
Aviation Security Infrastructure Fee Records Retention

AGENCY: Transportation Security Administration (TSA), DHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: TSA invites public comment on the information collection 
requirement described in this notice, which will be submitted to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval in compliance with 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The information collection would 
require the retention of certain information

[[Page 3939]]

necessary for TSA to help set the Aviation Security Infrastructure Fee 
(ASIF), including information about air carriers' and foreign air 
carriers' costs related to screening passengers and property in 
calendar year 2000.

DATES: Send your comments by March 29, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed or delivered to Conrad Huygen, 
Privacy Act Officer, Information Management Programs, TSA-17, Office of 
Finance and Administration, Transportation Security Administration HQ, 
Floor 4, West Building, 601 South 12th Street, Arlington, VA 22202-
4220.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For Paperwork Reduction Act issues: 
Conrad Huygen at the above address or by telephone at (571) 227-1954; 
facsimile (571) 227-2912. For other issues: Randall Fiertz, Director, 
Office of Revenue, Transportation Security Administration Headquarters, 
West Building, Floor 5, TSA-14, 601 South 12th Street, Arlington, VA 
22202; e-mail: [email protected], telephone: (571) 227-2323.

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 for OMB clearance of the information 
collection discussed in this notice, TSA solicits comments in order to-
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    (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.

Background

    To help defray TSA's costs of providing civil aviation security 
services, and as authorized by 49 U.S.C. 44940, TSA published in the 
Federal Register on February 20, 2002, an interim final rule adding 
part 1511 to the Transportation Security Regulations, which imposed a 
fee known as the Aviation Security Infrastructure Fee (ASIF) on certain 
air carriers and foreign air carriers. See 67 FR 7926, as codified at 
49 CFR part 1511. The amount of ASIF collected by TSA from the 
carriers, both overall and per carrier, is based upon the carriers' 
aggregate and individual costs, respectively, for screening passengers 
and property in calendar year 2000. 49 U.S.C. 44940(a)(2)(B)(i), (ii).
    In conjunction with the issuance of part 1511, TSA requested OMB 
approval to collect information necessary for TSA to establish the 
ASIF, including information about the carriers' individual and 
aggregate costs related to screening passengers and property in 
calendar year 2000. This information collection included submissions to 
TSA of data on the carriers' screening-related costs and also of 
independent audits of that data. On February 28, 2002, TSA published in 
the Federal Register a notice that OMB had approved the required 
collection and submission of this information under control number 
(2110-0002). See 67 FR 9355.

Purpose of Information Collection

    Under Part 1511, carriers must retain any and all documents, 
records, or information related to the amount of the ASIF, including 
all information applicable to the carrier's calendar year 2000 security 
costs and information reasonably necessary to complete an audit. The 
information collection proposed under this notice is intended to apply 
to the retention requirement of 49 CFR 1511.9. This requirement 
includes retaining the source information for the calendar year 2000 
screening costs reported to TSA; the calculations and allocations 
performed to assign costs submitted to TSA; information and documents 
reviewed and prepared for the required independent audit; the 
accountant's working papers, notes, worksheets, and other relevant 
documentation used in the audit; and, if applicable, the specific 
information leading to the accountant's opinion, including any 
determination that the accountant could not provide an audit opinion.

Description of Information Collection

    The information collection, submission, and retention requirement 
applies to each air carrier and foreign air carrier that incurred costs 
for the screening of passengers and property in calendar year 2000. It 
is estimated that the 195 respondent air carriers and foreign air 
carriers will each on average incur $330.60 annually, which includes 
$180.60 in records storage related costs and $150 in labor costs for 6 
hours of records identification and management at $25 per hour. Based 
on these estimates, the aggregate total for all air carriers will be 
$64,467 during the first year. In subsequent years, each air carrier 
will incur $104.60 per year, which includes $54.60 in records storage 
and $50 in labor costs for 2 hours of records management at $25 per 
hour. For each subsequent year, the total burden for 195 air carriers 
is estimated at $20,397 per year. Thus, the annual average burden 
related to this requirement for all respondents combined over a three-
year period is at a cost of $35,087. The subject records may be used by 
TSA to make determinations regarding security-related costs in calendar 
year 2000, including conducting reviews and otherwise ensuring 
compliance with part 1511.

    Issued in Arlington, Virginia, on January 21, 2004.
Susan T. Tracey,
Chief Administrative Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-1616 Filed 1-26-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-62-P