[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 65 (Monday, April 5, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17704-17705]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-7620]


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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) 
Prototype; 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 June 4, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed or delivered to Lolie Kull, TWIC 
Program Office, TSA Headquarters, East Tower, Floor 8, TSA-19, 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

[[Page 17705]]

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 Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program 
is working to create a universal credential to be used as a means to 
enhance access control for individuals requiring unescorted access to 
secure areas of the national transportation system. The information 
collected under this proposal will be used to operate and evaluate the 
TWIC system during the Prototype Phase. In October 2003, TSA obtained a 
control number (1652-0014) from OMB for the TWIC Technology Evaluation 
Phase that expires in June 2004. Rather than renew the existing control 
number, TSA is seeking a new control number due to an expansion in the 
program's scope for the Prototype Phase, which now includes enhanced 
criteria to assess business processes of a significantly larger group 
of transportation workers and facilities. During this phase, TSA will 
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 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. TSA estimates a total of 
200,000 respondents and, based on an estimated burden of 22 minutes per 
respondent, a maximum total program-wide burden of approximately 73,333 
hours.
    (2) Transportation Worker Survey. TSA next intends to conduct a 
transportation worker survey at each site that is part of the Prototype 
Phase. These surveys will be distributed randomly either during or 
after the TWIC is issued at participating transportation facilities. 
The respondents who choose to participate in the surveys will be asked 
to return the completed survey within 30 days. 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 
program, including workers who access facilities on a 24-hour per day, 
7-day per week basis.
    Participation by workers in the survey will be voluntary. A TSA 
contractor will administer the survey independent of TSA. The survey 
will include 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 estimates a total 
of 1,000 respondents and, based on an estimate of a 15-minute burden 
per respondent, a maximum program-wide total burden of approximately 
250 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 Prototype Phase. The purpose of the 
interview will be to record observations on operational impact, system 
performance and utility, and identify problems that may have arisen. 
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 questions and 
will be limited to 15 minutes per respondent. Based on a projected 
total of 50 respondents, TSA estimates an aggregate program-wide burden 
of 12.5 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 program. 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.

    Issued in Arlington, Virginia, on March 26, 2004.
Susan T. Tracey,
Chief Administrative Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-7620 Filed 4-2-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-62-P