[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 61 (Wednesday, April 1, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14808-14809]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-7256]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Transportation Security Administration


Intent To Request Renewal From OMB of One Current Public 
Collection of Information: TSA Claims Management Program

AGENCY: Transportation Security Administration (TSA), DHS.

ACTION: 60 day notice.

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SUMMARY: The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) invites 
public comment on one currently approved Information Collection Request 
(ICR), OMB control number 1652-0039, abstracted below that we will 
submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for renewal in 
compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. The ICR describes the 
nature of the information collection and its expected burden. The 
collection involves the submission of information from claimants in 
order to thoroughly examine and resolve tort claims against the agency.

DATES: Send your comments by June 1, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed or delivered to Ginger LeMay, PRA 
Officer, Office of Information Technology, TSA-11, Transportation 
Security Administration, 601 South 12th Street, Arlington, VA 20598-
6011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ginger LeMay at the above address, or 
by telephone (571) 227-3616 or e-mail [email protected].

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 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;

[[Page 14809]]

    (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

    OMB Control Number 1652-0039; TSA Claims Management Program allows 
the agency to collect information from claimants in order to thoroughly 
examine and resolve tort claims against the agency. TSA receives 
approximately 1,900 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 
TSA Claims Management Branch adjudicates tort claims.
    The data is collected whenever an individual believes s/he has 
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 
individuals. 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, claimants are asked to complete a Supplemental 
Information page added to the SF-95. If TSA determines payment is 
warranted, TSA will send the claimant a form requesting banking 
information (routing and accounting numbers) in order to direct payment 
to the claimant. This form has been approved under OMB control number 
1652-0039.
    Claim instructions and forms are available through the TSA Web site 
at http://www.tsa.gov. Claimants must download these forms and mail or 
fax them to TSA. On the Supplemental Information page, 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 
form requesting: (1) Claimant signature, (2) banking information, 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 22,800 respondents on an annual 
basis, for a total annual hour burden of 11,400 hours.
    TSA will use all data collected from claimants to examine 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 March 26, 2009.
Ginger LeMay,
Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, Office of Information Technology.
 [FR Doc. E9-7256 Filed 3-31-09; 8:45 am]
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