[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 160 (Thursday, August 20, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42086-42087]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-19959]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Transportation Security Administration


Intent To Request Approval From OMB of One New Public Collection 
of Information: Pipeline Corporate Security Review

AGENCY: Transportation Security Administration, DHS.

ACTION: 60-Day notice.

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SUMMARY: The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) invites 
public comment on an information collection requirement abstracted 
below that we will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for approval in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. The 
collection will assess the current security practices in the pipeline 
industry by way of its Pipeline Corporate Security Review (PCSR) 
program, which encompasses site visits and interviews, and is part of 
the larger domain awareness, prevention, and protection program 
supporting TSA's and the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS') 
missions.

DATES: Send your comments by October 19, 2009.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ginger LeMay, PRA Officer, Office of 
Information Technology, TSA-11, Transportation Security Administration, 
601 South 12th Street, Arlington, Virginia 20598-6011; telephone (571) 
227-3616; 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. 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

    The Pipeline Corporate Security Review is a new information 
collection request that will assess domain awareness, threat 
prevention, and security awareness at various pipeline sites across the 
nation. TSA's pipeline subject matter expert(s) will visit sites, 
interview pipeline operators and/or system owners, and use a pipeline 
security review form to gather information.
    Under the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA) \1\ and 
delegated authority from the Secretary of Homeland Security, TSA has 
broad responsibility and authority for ``security in all modes of 
transportation * * * including security responsibilities * * * over 
modes of transportation that are exercised by the Department of 
Transportation.'' \2\ TSA has additional authorities as well. TSA is 
specifically empowered to develop policies, strategies, and plans for 
dealing with threats to transportation,\3\ oversees the implementation 
and ensures the adequacy of security measures at transportation 
facilities,\4\ and carries out other appropriate duties relating to 
transportation security.\5\
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    \1\ Public Law 107-71, 115 Stat. 597 (November 19, 2001).
    \2\ See 49 U.S.C. 114(d). The TSA Assistant Secretary's current 
authorities under ATSA have been delegated to her/him by the 
Secretary of Homeland Security. Section 403(2) of the Homeland 
Security Act (HSA) of 2002, Public Law 107-296, 116 Stat. 2315 
(2002), transferred all functions of TSA, including those of the 
Secretary of Transportation and the Under Secretary of 
Transportation of Security related to TSA, to the Secretary of 
Homeland Security. Pursuant to DHS Delegation Number 7060.2, the 
Secretary delegated to the Assistant Secretary (then referred to as 
the Administrator of TSA), subject to the Secretary's guidance and 
control, the authority vested in the Secretary with respect to TSA, 
including that in section 403(2) of the HSA.
    \3\ 49 U.S.C. 114(f)(3).
    \4\ 49 U.S.C. 114(f)(11).
    \5\ 49 U.S.C. 114(f)(15).
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Purpose and Description of Data Collection

    One way TSA carries out these responsibilities in the pipeline mode 
is by assessing current industry security practices by way of its PCSR. 
The PCSR encompasses site visits and interviews and is one piece of a 
much larger domain awareness, prevention, and protection program in 
support of TSA's and DHS' missions. TSA is seeking OMB approval for 
this information collection so that TSA can ascertain minimum security 
standards and identify coverage gaps, activities that are critical to 
carrying out its transportation security mission.
    The PCSR is an ``instructive'' review that provides TSA with an 
understanding of certain surface transportation owners'/operators' 
security programs, if they have voluntarily adopted such programs. In 
carrying out PCSRs, subject matter experts from TSA's Pipeline Security 
Division conduct site visits of pipeline operators throughout the 
nation that elected to adopt security plans. The TSA representatives 
analyze the owner's/operator's security plan and determine if the 
mitigation measures included in the plan are being properly 
implemented. In addition to examining the security plan document, TSA 
reviews one or more assets of the owner/operator. TSA conducts this 
collection of information on security measures to identify security 
gaps. The discussions also provide TSA with a method to encourage the 
pipeline owners/operators affected by the PCSRs to be diligent in 
implementing and maintaining security-related improvements.
    During the pipeline site visits, TSA talks with the owner/operator 
and completes a PCSR form, which asks questions concerning the 
following topics: (1) Management and oversight of the security plan, 
(2) threat assessment, (3) criticality, (4) vulnerability assessment, 
(5) credentialing, (6) training, (7) physical security countermeasures, 
(8) information technology security, (9) security exercises and drills, 
and (10) incident management and communications. TSA conducts this 
collection through voluntary face-to-face visits, usually at the 
headquarters facility of the pipeline owners/operator. Typically, TSA 
sends one to three employees to conduct a three to four hour interview 
with representatives from the owner/operator. TSA then visits one or 
two of the owners/operators assets to further assess the implementation 
of the owner's/operator's security plan. TSA

[[Page 42087]]

plans to collect information from pipeline operators of all sizes in 
the course of conducting these PCSRs.

Use of Results

    This program provides TSA with real-time information on current 
security practices within the pipeline mode of the surface 
transportation sector. This information allows TSA to adapt programs to 
the changing security threat, while incorporating an understanding of 
the improvements owners/operators make in their security measures. 
Without this information, the ability of TSA to perform its security 
mission would be severely hindered.
    Additionally, the relationships these face-to-face contacts foster 
are critical to the Federal government's ability to reach out to the 
pipeline stakeholders affected by the PCSRs. The relationships foster a 
sense of trust and a willingness to share information with the Federal 
government. TSA assures respondents that the portion of their responses 
that is deemed Sensitive Security Information (SSI) will be protected 
in accordance with procedures meeting the transmission, handling, and 
storage requirements of SSI set forth in 49 CFR parts 15 and 1520.
    The annual hour burden for this information collection is estimated 
to be 100 hours. While TSA estimates a total of 2,200 potential 
respondents, this estimate is based on TSA conducting 12 visits per 
year and each visit lasting 8 hours. There is no cost burden to 
respondents.

    Issued in Arlington, Virginia, on August 14, 2009.
Ginger LeMay,
Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, Office of Information Technology.
[FR Doc. E9-19959 Filed 8-19-09; 8:45 am]
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