[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 241 (Friday, December 16, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74837-74838]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-7407]



[[Page 74837]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Transportation Security Administration


Intent To Request Approval From OMB of One New Public Collection 
of Information: Registered Traveler (RT) Program; Satisfaction and 
Effectiveness Measurement Data Collection Instruments

AGENCY: Transportation Security Administration (TSA), DHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: TSA invites public comment on the new information collection 
requirement abstracted below that will be submitted to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995.

DATES: Send your comments by February 14, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be delivered to Kurt Zobrist, Director, 
Registered Traveler Program, Office of Transportation Threat Assessment 
and Credentialing, TSA Headquarters, TSA-19, 601 South 12th Street, 
Arlington, VA 22202-4220; or by e-mail at [email protected].

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; 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 
submission of clearance 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 through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.

Information Collection Requirement

Purpose of Data Collection

    TSA plans to conduct a domestic Registered Traveler (RT) program 
nation-wide in 2006. This program is designed to positively identify 
individuals participating in the program as registered travelers via 
advanced identification technologies, for the purposes of expediting 
those passengers' travel experience at the airport security 
checkpoints, and thereby enabling TSA to improve the allocation of 
security resources at TSA security checkpoints in the Nation's 
airports.

Description of Data Collection

    Via a private sector enrollment provider, TSA will receive and 
retain a minimal amount of personal information from volunteers who 
choose to enroll in the RT Program. This information will be used to 
verify an applicant's claimed identity and complete a security threat 
assessment on each applicant prior to acceptance into the RT program.
    In addition, TSA will administer two instruments to measure 
customer satisfaction and to collect data on the effectiveness of the 
program technologies and business processes. The first instrument will 
be a survey of a representative percentage of the RT Program 
participants. The second instrument will be an interview conducted with 
the key stakeholders (including airport authorities, air carriers and 
certified service providers) participating in the RT Program. All 
surveys and interviews will be voluntary and anonymous.
    The collection of information from individuals who volunteer to 
participate in the RT Program will be gathered electronically. This not 
only fulfills the requirements of the Government Paperwork Elimination 
Act, but it also facilitates the collection and processing of the data 
and provides an efficient means of retrieving credential information. 
Due to practical considerations, the RT customer service surveys will 
be conducted electronically, when possible, and interviews will be 
conducted manually. Respondents to any service may freely choose not to 
participate. The respondents who choose to participate in the surveys 
will be asked to return the completed survey in less than 30 days from 
the time of receipt. They may choose not to comply with this request.
    Key stakeholders involved in the RT Program will be asked to 
designate representative(s) to participate in short, individual 
interview sessions intended to evaluate the effectiveness of the RT 
Program from the stakeholders' perspective and to gather any additional 
feedback the stakeholder may wish to share. Interview sessions will be 
conducted on a one-on-one basis at mutually agreed upon locations. 
Stakeholders may choose not to participate in the interview sessions.

Burden Estimates of Data Collection

    TSA expects a total of 600,000 respondents to participate per year 
and, based on an estimate of a 10-minute burden per respondent, a 
maximum total burden program-wide of 100,000 hours per year. This 
estimate is based on an expected program roll-out schedule modeled by 
TSA. The roll-out schedule assumes the number of airports that are 
approved to participate in the program, as well as the number of 
volunteers that will choose to enroll. It is expected that the overall 
burden of enrollment will decrease year to year based on the number of 
people already in the program. The Registered Traveler Program is a 
fully fee-based program. Volunteer enrollees will be required to pay an 
annual fee to cover the Government's costs of the program and to 
compensate private sector enrollment providers. The cost burden of 
enrollment will be the direct cost of collecting information and 
conducting a security threat assessment on the enrollee. This is 
estimated at $50 per enrollee for a total annual cost burden of 
$30,000,000.
    Another source for data collection is customer survey submissions. 
TSA expects a total of 37,500 respondents (TSA will send surveys to 
approximately 25 percent of the population; with an expected e-survey 
return rate of 25 percent) and, based on an estimate of a 15-minute 
burden per respondent, a maximum total burden program-wide of 9,375 
hours per year.
    For the stakeholder interview sessions, TSA expects approximately 
60 stakeholder representatives to participate per year (representatives 
from all participating airports, service providers, and interested air 
carriers) and, based on an estimate of a 60-minute burden per 
interview, a maximum total burden of 60 hours. There will be no cost 
burden to any survey respondent or stakeholder interviewee.
    Thus, TSA estimates the total annual hour burden to be 109,435 
hours.

[[Page 74838]]

Use of Results

    TSA will use the results of the biographic and biometric data 
collection to verify an applicant's claimed identity and to perform a 
security threat assessment on the individual volunteering for the 
program and check immigration status to ensure eligibility for the 
program. The security threat assessment is essential for TSA to 
determine whether the applicant presents, or is suspected of 
presenting, a threat to transportation security. Individuals who do not 
pose, or are not suspected of posing, a threat to transportation 
security, and otherwise meet all other eligibility requirements for the 
RT program, will be afforded enhanced benefits at the TSA security 
checkpoints.
    TSA Headquarters personnel and individual service providers, air 
carriers, and airports will use the results of the surveys and 
interviews to evaluate and improve customer service and operational 
efficiency of this program.

    Issued in Arlington, Virginia, on December 12, 2005.
Lisa S. Dean,
Privacy Officer.
[FR Doc. E5-7407 Filed 12-15-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-62-P