[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 11, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1763-1764]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-138]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Transportation Security Administration


Intent To Request Approval From OMB of One New Public Collection 
of Information: TSA Claims Management Program

AGENCY: Transportation Security Administration (TSA), DHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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

DATES: Send your comments by March 13, 2006.

ADDRESSES: 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

Purpose of Data Collection

    The TSA Claims Management Office (CMO) needs to collect additional 
certain information from claimants in order to thoroughly investigate 
and resolve tort claims against the agency. TSA receives approximately 
2,000 tort claims per month arising from airport screening activities 
and other circumstances, including motor vehicle accidents and employee 
loss. The Federal Tort Claims Act (28 U.S.C. 1346(b), 1402(b), 2401(b), 
2671-2680) is the authority under which the CMO adjudicates tort 
claims.

Description of Data Collection

    The data is collected whenever a citizen believes they have 
experienced property loss or damage, a personal injury, or other 
damages due to the negligence or wrongful act or omission of a TSA 
employee, and decides to file a Federal tort claim against TSA. 
Submission of a claim is entirely voluntary and initiated by citizens. 
The claimants (or respondents) to this collection are typically the 
traveling public. Currently claimants file a claim by submitting to TSA 
a Standard Form 95 (SF-95), which has been approved under OMB control 
number 1105-0008. Because TSA requires further clarifying information 
from claimants, it is requesting OMB approval for two additional forms 
for tort claims. In addition to the SF-95, claimants will be asked to 
complete a Supplemental Information form, which is agency specific to 
TSA. If, after review of these two forms, TSA determines payment is 
warranted, TSA will send the claimant a third form requesting banking 
information in order to direct payment to the claimant.
    Claim instructions and forms are available through the Internet at 
http://www.tsaclaims.org (also accessible via the TSA Web site at 
http://www.tsa.gov). However, currently claimants must download these 
forms and mail or fax them to TSA. TSA is developing an online claim 
submission system by which claimants may submit claims electronically. 
TSA is also seeking OMB approval for the online claim submission 
system, which, once developed, will be an option for claims 
submissions, in addition to the paper SF-95 and Supplemental 
Information forms. The online system will streamline the information 
collection so that claimants can input all the

[[Page 1764]]

necessary information in one location and ensure their claims are 
completed sufficiently the first time. The online system will also 
increase TSA's efficiency in processing claims.
    On the Supplemental Information form, claimants are asked to 
provide additional claim information including: (1) E-mail address, (2) 
location of incident within the airport, (3) airport, (4) complete 
travel itinerary, (5) whether baggage was delayed by airline (6) why 
they believe TSA was negligent, (7) whether they used a third-party 
baggage service, (8) whether they were traveling under military orders, 
and (9) whether they submitted claims with the airlines or insurance.
    If TSA determines payment is warranted, TSA sends the claimant a 
third form where TSA requests: (1) Claimant signature, (2) banking 
information (routing and accounting numbers), and (3) Social Security 
number (required by the U.S. Treasury for all Government payments to 
the public pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 3325).
    Under the current system of claims submitted by mail or fax, TSA 
estimates there will be approximately 28,800 respondents on an annual 
basis, for a total annual hour burden of 19,200 hours. Once the online 
system is operational, TSA estimates that out of the 28,800 annual 
respondents, approximately 70 percent, or 20,160, will submit claims 
electronically, for a total annual hour burden of 5,040 hours; and that 
approximately 30 percent, or 8,640, will continue to submit claims by 
mail or fax, for a total annual hour burden of 2,160 hours.

Use of Results

    TSA will use all data collected from claimants to investigate and 
analyze tort claims against the agency to determine alleged TSA 
liability and to reimburse claimants when claims are approved. In some 
cases, TSA may use the information to identify victims of theft or to 
aid any criminal investigations into property theft.

    Issued in Arlington, Virginia, on January 5, 2006.
Lisa S. Dean,
Privacy Officer.
 [FR Doc. E6-138 Filed 1-10-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-62-P