[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 31 (Wednesday, February 16, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 7956]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-2919]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Transportation Security Administration


Reports, Forms, and Record Keeping Requirements: Agency 
Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review; Application for 
Participation in Biometric Device Performance Qualification Testing 
Program

AGENCY: Transportation Security Administration (TSA), DHS.

ACTION: Notice of emergency clearance request.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Transportation 
Security Administration, has submitted a request for emergency 
processing of a new public information collection to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. 35). This 
notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) 
abstracted below has been forwarded to OMB for review and comment. The 
ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected 
burden.

DATES: Send your comments by March 18, 2005. A comment to OMB is most 
effective if OMB receives it within 30 days of publication.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be faxed to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Attention: DHS-TSA 
Desk Officer, at (202) 395-5806.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katrina Wawer, Information Collection 
Specialist, Office of Transportation Security Policy, TSA-9, 
Transportation Security Administration, 601 South 12th Street, 
Arlington, VA 22202-4220; telephone (571) 227-1995; facsimile (571) 
227-2559.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

    Title: Application for Participation in Biometric Device 
Performance Qualification Testing Program.
    Type of Request: Emergency processing request of new collection.
    OMB Control Number: Not yet assigned.
    Forms(s): Biometric Product Qualification Application Form.
    Affected Public: Biometric Device Manufacturers.
    Abstract: Section 4011--Provision for the Use of Biometric or Other 
Technology, of Title IV--Transportation Security, in the Intelligence 
Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (Pub. L. 108-458, 12/17/
2004, S.2845-75), directs TSA to issue guidance for use of biometric 
technology in airport access control systems including a list of 
qualified biometric device products and vendors by March 31, 2005. In 
compliance, TSA has developed a process that examines the fitness of 
the technology for application to airport access controls systems. TSA 
will ask biometric device manufacturers, who wish to have their devices 
considered for use in airport access control systems, to submit an 
application containing detailed information describing their devices.
    TSA intends to make the forms, which provide the basis for the 
device manufacturer's application to this process, widely available to 
the interested manufacturers through ``Current Opportunities'' in the 
``Business Opportunities'' link within the TSA Web site: http://www.tsa.gov/public. The online application would be made via that Web 
site. TSA will use the information to evaluate the products' readiness 
for performance testing. TSA is seeking emergency processing of this 
collection to comply with the statutory mandate to issue biometric 
guidance.
    Number of Respondents: 100.
    Estimated Annual Burden Hours: An estimated 800 hours annually.
    TSA is soliciting comments 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.

    Issued in Arlington, Virginia, on February 9, 2005.
Lisa S. Dean,
Privacy Officer.
[FR Doc. 05-2919 Filed 2-15-05; 8:45 am]
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