[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 110 (Friday, June 6, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 32345]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-12748]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Transportation Security Administration


Intent To Request Approval From OMB of One New Public Collection 
of Information: Threat and Vulnerability Assessment for General 
Aviation Airports

AGENCY: Transportation Security Administration, DHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) invites 
public comment on a new information collection requirement abstracted 
below that the agency will submit to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for approval in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act. The collection will include the submission of information 
pertaining to security concerns specific to each individual airport, as 
perceived by the airport operators of approximately 3,000 general 
aviation airports. The information collected is part of a program 
designed to perform a standardized threat and vulnerability assessment 
program for general aviation airports. The information collected will 
also be used to provide context for a feasibility study of the 
development of a program, based upon a risk-management approach, to 
provide grants to operators of general aviation airports for projects 
to upgrade security at such airports. A grant program will be 
established only if the Administrator determines that such a program is 
feasible based upon the information collected and additional research 
outside of the scope of this notice.

DATES: Send your comments by August 5, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed or delivered to Joanna Johnson, 
Communications Branch, Business Management Office, Operational Process 
and Technology, TSA-32, Transportation Security Administration, 601 
South 12th Street, Arlington, VA 22202-4220.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joanna Johnson at the above address, 
or by telephone (571) 227-3651 or facsimile (703) 603-0822.

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. The Information Collection 
Requirement (ICR) documentation is available at http://www.reginfo.gov. 
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.

Purpose of Data Collection

    Section 1617(k)(1) of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 
Commission Act of 2007 (Pub. L. 110-53, 121 Stat. 266, 488, Aug. 3, 
2007) requires that the TSA Administrator develop a standardized threat 
and vulnerability assessment program for general aviation airports and 
implement a program to perform such assessments on a risk-management 
basis at general aviation airports. To accomplish this task 
successfully, the collection of this information is essential. Section 
1617(k)(2) requires the TSA Administrator to initiate and complete a 
study of the feasibility of a risk-managed program to provide grants to 
operator of general aviation airports for projects to upgrade security. 
The assessment data will also provide necessary background information 
and context for the feasibility study of the grant program.

Description of Data Collection

    TSA seeks the collection of information regarding threat and 
vulnerability assessments from approximately 3,000 general aviation 
airports. The collection will consist of several elements: (1) A 
security self-assessment that the airport operators can perform on 
their airport using a set of guidelines provided by TSA (available to 
the public on the TSA Web site); (2) a short series of ``yes'' or 
``no'' questions; and (3) a narrative field wherein responders can 
expand on matters of concern to them. The information TSA seeks should 
be readily available to the airport operators and should take no more 
than 20-30 minutes to collect and submit. Each airport operator will 
need to sign on to a Web site hosted by a private entity (2 minutes), 
complete the assessment (17-27 minutes) and submit the results (1 
minute), for a total time burden of 20-30 minutes. Therefore, based on 
the total number of general aviation airport operators expected to 
participate and the approximate estimated time for each to complete and 
submit the survey questionnaire, the approximate total burden to the 
public should not exceed 1,500 hours (3,000 airport operators x 30 
minutes).

Use of Results

    TSA will use these results to assess vulnerabilities at any general 
aviation airport and recommend security measures to mitigate any 
significant threat or vulnerabilities. The assessment data could also 
be used in the implementation of a grant program, as described above, 
if such a program is determined needed and feasible.

    Issued in Arlington, Virginia, on May 30, 2008.
Fran Lozito,
Director, Business Management Office, Operational Process and 
Technology.
[FR Doc. E8-12748 Filed 6-5-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-05-P