[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 30 (Wednesday, February 14, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 7059]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-2552]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Transportation Security Administration


Intent To Request Renewal From OMB of One Current Public 
Collection of Information: Sensitive Security Information Threat 
Assessments

AGENCY: Transportation Security Administration, DHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Transportation Security Administration (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. TSA is seeking to renew the control number for 
the maximum three-year period in order to continue compliance with sec. 
525 of the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2007 
(DHS Appropriations Act), and to continue the process TSA developed to 
determine whether the party or representative of a party seeking access 
to sensitive security information (SSI) in a civil proceeding in 
federal court may be granted access to the SSI.

DATES: Send your comments by April 16, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed or delivered to Katrina Kletzly, 
Attorney-Advisor, Office of the Chief Counsel, TSA-2, Transportation 
Security Administration, 601 South 12th Street, Arlington, VA 22202-
4220.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katrina Kletzly at the above address, 
by telephone (571) 227-1995 or facsimile (571) 227-1381.

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

    TSA requested and subsequently received emergency clearance of this 
information collection request on January 12, 2007, which collection 
was assigned OMB control number 1652-0042. TSA is now seeking to renew 
the control number for the maximum three-year period in order to 
continue compliance with sec. 525 of the Department of Homeland 
Security Appropriations Act of 2007 (DHS Appropriations Act), and to 
continue the process TSA developed whereby a party seeking access to 
SSI in a civil proceeding in federal court that demonstrates a 
substantial need of relevant SSI in the preparation of the party's 
case, and that the party is unable without undue hardship to obtain the 
substantial equivalent of the information by other means, may request 
that the party or party's representative be granted conditional access 
to the SSI at issue in the case. Additionally, court reporters who are 
required to record or transcribe testimony containing specific SSI and 
do not have a current clearance required for access to classified 
national security information as defined by E.O. 12958 will need to 
request to be granted access to SSI. In order to determine if the 
individual may be granted access to SSI for this purpose, TSA will 
conduct a threat assessment that includes: (1) A fingerprint-based 
criminal history records check (CHRC); (2) a name-based check to 
determine whether the individual poses or is suspected of posing a 
threat to transportation or national security, including checks against 
terrorism, immigration or other databases TSA maintains or uses; and 
(3) a professional responsibility check (if applicable).
    TSA will use the information collected to conduct the threat 
assessment for the purpose of determining whether the provision of such 
access to the information for the proceeding presents a risk of harm to 
the nation. The results of the threat assessment will be used to make a 
final determination on whether the individual may be granted access to 
the SSI at issue in the case. TSA estimates that the total annual hour 
burden for this collection will be 180 hours, based on an estimated 180 
annual respondents and a one hour burden per respondent.

    Issued in Arlington, Virginia, on February 8, 2007.
Peter Pietra,
Director of Privacy Policy and Compliance.
[FR Doc. E7-2552 Filed 2-13-07; 8:45 am]
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