[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 53 (Tuesday, March 20, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 13026-13027]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-1328]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Transportation Security Administration

49 CFR Part 1572

[Docket No. TSA-2006-24191]
RIN 1652-AA41


Transportation Worker Identification Credential Fees

AGENCY: Transportation Security Administration, DHS.

ACTION: Rule.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through the 
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the U.S. Coast Guard, 
published a final rule on January 25, 2007 that establishes 
requirements for merchant mariners and workers who need unescorted 
access to secure areas of maritime facilities and vessels. These 
individuals must successfully complete a security threat assessment 
conducted by TSA and hold a Transportation Worker Identification 
Credential (TWIC) in order to enter secure areas without escort. As 
required by statute, all TWIC applicants must pay a user fee to cover 
TSA's costs to enroll applicants, complete security threat assessments, 
and issue biometric credentials. With this notice, we announce the user 
fees as follows: The total standard fee for a TWIC applicant is $137.25 
and the reduced fee for applicants who have completed a prior 
comparable threat assessment is $105.25.

DATES: Effective March 20, 2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christine Beyer, Office of the Chief 
Counsel, TSA-2, Transportation Security Administration, 601 South 12th 
Street, Arlington, VA 22202-4220; telephone (571) 227-2657; facsimile 
(571) 227-1380 e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Department of Homeland Security, through TSA and the U.S. Coast 
Guard, published a final rule on January 25, 2007 \1\ that establishes 
requirements for merchant mariners and workers who need unescorted 
access to secure areas of maritime facilities and vessels. These 
individuals must successfully complete a security threat assessment 
conducted by TSA and hold a TWIC that TSA issues in order to enter 
secure areas without escort.
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    \1\ 72 FR 3492.
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    As required by sec. 520 of the 2004 DHS Appropriations Act, Pub. L. 
108-90, TSA must collect user fees to cover the costs of implementing 
the TWIC program, including the cost to enroll all applicants, complete 
security threat assessments, provide an appeal and waiver process, and 
issue biometric credentials.
    As stated in the final rule,\2\ the fee is made up of three 
segments: Enrollment Segment; Full Card Production/Security Threat 
Assessment Segment; and FBI Segment. Most applicants will pay the 
Standard TWIC Fee, which includes all three segments. However, 
applicants

[[Page 13027]]

who have completed a comparable threat assessment, such as the threat 
assessment TSA conducts on commercial drivers with a hazardous 
materials endorsement, will pay the Reduced TWIC Fee. These applicants 
are not charged for the FBI Segment and pay a reduced fee for the Full 
Card Production/Security Threat Assessment Segment.
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    \2\ 72 FR 3506.
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    In the preamble of the final rule, we discussed the potential range 
of fees that would be charged for each Segment but did not publish 
specific fees for each Segment in the final rule text because the 
contract for enrollment and card production services was not finalized 
at that time. We explained that when the contract was executed and 
final fee amounts determined, we would publish a notice in the Federal 
Register announcing them. TSA has executed the contract for TWIC 
enrollment and card production and, with this notice, announces the 
final fee amounts. The Enrollment Segment fee is $43.25, the Full Card 
Production/Security Threat Assessment Segment fee is $72, and the FBI 
Segment fee is $22. Therefore, the total Standard TWIC Fee is $137.25 
($43.25 + 72 + 22). For applicants who have completed a prior 
comparable threat assessment, there is no FBI Segment fee and the Card 
Production/Security Threat Assessment Segment fee is $62. Therefore, 
the total Reduced TWIC Fee is $105.25 ($43.25 + 62).
    As stated in the final rule, the fee for a replacement credential 
is $36, but we do not believe that amount adequately funds TSA's card 
replacement costs. Our calculations indicate that $60 is the correct 
amount for card replacement costs and invited comment on that issue.\3\ 
The comment period for increasing the card replacement fee closed on 
February 26, 2007. We will examine all comments received and determine 
the final card replacement fee. We will amend the rule text to include 
all of the fees discussed in this notice and the card replacement fee, 
so that they will appear in the Code of Federal Regulations, at 49 CFR 
1572, subpart F, Fees for Security Threat Assessments for 
Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC).
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    \3\ 72 FR 3507-3508.

    Issued in Arlington, Virginia, on March 14, 2007.
Kip Hawley,
Assistant Secretary, Transportation Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 07-1328 Filed 3-19-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-05-P