[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 69 (Wednesday, April 11, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 18269]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-6763]



[[Page 18269]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Transportation Security Administration


Extension of Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB 
Review: Aircraft Operator Security

AGENCY: Transportation Security Administration, DHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces that the Transportation Security 
Administration (TSA) has forwarded the Information Collection Request 
(ICR) abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
review and approval of an extension of the currently approved 
collection under the Paperwork Reduction Act. The ICR describes the 
nature of the information collection and its expected burden. TSA 
published a Federal Register notice, with a 60-day comment period 
soliciting comments, of the following collection of information on 
November 2, 2006 (71 FR 64547).

DATES: Send your comments by May 11, 2007. A comment to OMB is most 
effective if OMB receives it within 30 days of publication.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments on 
the proposed information collection to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget. Comments should be 
addressed to Nathan Lesser, Desk Officer, Department of Homeland 
Security/TSA, and sent via electronic mail to [email protected] or faxed to (202) 395-6974.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joanna Johnson, Communications Branch, 
Business Management Office, Operational Process and Technology, TSA-11, 
Transportation Security Administration, 601 South 12th Street, 
Arlington, VA 22202-4220; telephone (571) 227-3651; facsimile (571) 
227-3588.

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

    Title: Aircraft Operator Security.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    OMB Control Number: 1652-0003.
    Forms(s): NA.
    Affected Public: Aircraft operators regulated by 49 CFR part 1544.
    Abstract: As part of the aircraft operator security standards TSA 
has implemented at 49 CFR part 1544, aircraft operators are required to 
maintain and update, as necessary, records of compliance with the 
security program provisions outlined in part 1544. This regulation also 
requires aircraft operators to make their security programs and 
associated records available for inspection by TSA to ensure security, 
safety, and regulatory compliance. Under this regulation, aircraft 
operators must ensure flight crew members and employees with unescorted 
access authority or who perform screening functions submit to a 
criminal history records check (CHRC). In order to conduct a CHRC, 
these individuals must provide their identifying information to the 
aircraft operator, including fingerprints. In addition to conducting 
CHRCs and maintaining security program documents, these aircraft 
operators devote considerable time to comparing passenger names to 
watch lists distributed by TSA. The collection requirements associated 
with aircraft operator security programs remain critical in the 
aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
    Number of Respondents: 830. The 80 respondents listed in the 
November 2, 2006, notice represent airlines holding a full Aircraft 
Operator Standard Security Program (AOSSP). These aircraft operators 
generally provide scheduled passenger service and tend to be larger 
companies. In addition to these respondents, TSA is adding 750 aircraft 
operators who maintain a Twelve-Five Standard Security Program (TFSSP), 
a Private Charter Standard Security Program (PCSSP), a specialized 
limited program, or a partial program as described in Sec.  1544.101. 
Aircraft operators that maintain a specialized limited program 
typically provide on-demand air service, as well as scheduled service 
and tend to be smaller companies. Part 1544 also governs recordkeeping 
requirements for aircraft operators maintaining a full All-Cargo 
Standard Security Program; however, their hour burden has been 
separately reported under OMB control number 1652-0040. Thus, the total 
number of respondents claimed under this information collection is 830.
    Estimated Annual Burden Hours: An estimated 1,625,000 hours 
annually. TSA revised the estimate published in its November 2, 2006, 
notice to more accurately reflect the time and effort the respondents 
are expending in order to comply with the security program requirement 
and to compare passenger names against watch lists distributed by TSA. 
While TSA directs aircraft operators to conduct these watch lists 
checks, it does not specify how they are to do so; thus, actual hour 
burdens for the watch lists comparison vary widely across the industry. 
TSA estimates 80 AOSSP aircraft operators devote approximately 1.4 
million hours per year to conduct TSA watch list comparisons and report 
matches to TSA, perform CHRCs, and maintain their security programs. 
TSA estimates the 750 TFSSP, PCSSP, limited, and partial program 
aircraft operators devote approximately 230,250 hours per year to 
conduct TSA watch list comparisons and report matches to TSA, perform 
CHRCs, and maintain their security programs.

    Issued in Arlington, Virginia, on April 4, 2007.
Fran Lozito,
Director, Business Management Office, Operational Process and 
Technology.
[FR Doc. E7-6763 Filed 4-10-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-05-P