[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 198 (Friday, October 14, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 60097]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-20578]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Transportation Security Administration


Intent To Request Renewal From OMB of One Current Public 
Collection of Information: Application for Participation in Biometric 
Device Performance Qualification Testing Program

AGENCY: Transportation Security Administration (TSA), DHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: TSA invites public comment on one currently approved 
information collection requirement abstracted below that we will submit 
to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for renewal in compliance 
with the Paperwork Reduction Act.

DATES: Send your comments by December 12, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed or delivered to Katrina Wawer, 
Information Collection Specialist, Office of Transportation Security 
Policy, TSA-9, Transportation Security Administration, 601 South 12th 
Street, Arlington, VA 22202-4220.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katrina Wawer at the above address or 
by telephone (571) 227-1995 or facsimile (571) 227-2594.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    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 OMB 
review and approval of the following information collection, 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 using appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology.

Information Collection Requirement

    1652-0031; Application for Participation in Biometric Device 
Performance Qualification Testing Program. Section 4011, Provision for 
the Use of Biometric and Other Technology, in Title IV--Transportation 
Security, of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 
2004 (Pub. L. 108-458, 118 Stat. 3638, 3712, Dec. 17, 2004) directs TSA 
to issue guidance for use of biometric technology in airport access 
control systems, including a list of qualified biometric devices and 
vendors, also known as a Qualified Products List (QPL).
    In compliance, TSA has developed a process that examines the 
fitness of biometric technology for application to airport access 
control systems. The first step of the process will be for a 
manufacturer or vendor of a biometric device seeking TSA's evaluation 
of the device for placement on TSA's QPL to complete an application 
form, as well as to submit electronically via the Web a manufacturer's 
data package. The application form will be widely available to the 
public through TSA's Web address at http://www.tsa.gov/public. Go to 
the ``Business Opportunities'' link, then the ``Current Opportunities'' 
link.
    As this specific qualification process is new, no historical data 
on the information collection burden exists. However, TSA estimates 
that the annual recordkeeping and reporting burden from the 
qualification process will be 800 hours, based on 100 responses (all 
collected electronically) at a rate of 8 hours per response. TSA will 
use the information collected to evaluate a biometric device's 
readiness for qualification performance testing, which supports TSA's 
obligation to produce a biometric QPL.
    TSA published a notice in the Federal Register requesting emergency 
clearance of this collection from OMB on February 16, 2005 (70 FR 
7956). OMB subsequently issued its approval of this collection on 
September 17, 2005, and assigned it OMB No. 1652-0031, with an 
expiration date of December 31, 2005.

    Issued in Arlington, Virginia, on October 7, 2005.
Lisa S. Dean,
Privacy Officer.
[FR Doc. 05-20578 Filed 10-13-05; 8:45 am]
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