[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 219 (Monday, November 16, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58969-58970]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-27349]



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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Transportation Security Administration

[Docket No. TSA-2004-19515]


Intent To Request Renewal From OMB of One Current Public 
Collection of Information: Air Cargo Security Requirements

AGENCY: Transportation Security Administration, 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 1652-0040, 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 
collections of information that make up this ICR involve five broad 
categories affecting airports, passenger aircraft operators, foreign 
air carriers, indirect air carriers operating under a security program, 
and all-cargo carriers: security programs, security threat assessments 
(STA), known shipper data via the Known Shipper Management System 
(KSMS), cargo screening reporting, and evidence of compliance 
recordkeeping. TSA seeks continued OMB approval in order to secure 
passenger aircraft carrying cargo as authorized in the Aviation and 
Transportation Security Act, and to meet the screening requirements for 
cargo transported on passenger aircraft within the deadlines 
established in the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission 
Act of 2007.

DATES: Send your comments by January 15, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be e-mailed to [email protected] or delivered to 
the TSA Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) Officer, Office of Information 
Technology (OIT), TSA-40, Transportation Security Administration, 601 
South 12th Street, Arlington, VA 20598-6040.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Please e-mail [email protected] with 
questions or comments.

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;
    (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 1652-0040 Air Cargo Security requirements, 49 
CFR parts 1540, 1542, 1544, 1546, and 1548. TSA is seeking renewal of 
an expiring collection of information. Congress set forth in the 
Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA), Public Law 107-71, two 
specific requirements for TSA in the area of air cargo security: (1) To 
provide for screening of all property, including U.S. mail, cargo, 
carry-on and checked baggage, and other articles, that will be carried 
aboard a passenger aircraft; and (2) to establish a system to screen, 
inspect, report, or otherwise ensure the security of all cargo that is 
to be transported in all-cargo aircraft as soon as practicable. In the 
Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, Public 
Law 110-53, Congress requires that 50 percent of cargo transported on 
passenger aircraft be screened by February 2009, and 100 percent of 
such cargo be screened by August 2010.
    While aviation security requirements have greatly reduced the 
vulnerability of the air cargo system, TSA, in cooperation with 
industry stakeholders, identified additional gaps in the existing cargo 
security requirements that must be filled to reduce the likelihood of 
cargo tampering or unauthorized access to the aircraft with malicious 
intent. TSA must proceed with this ICR for this program in order to 
meet the Congressional mandates and current regulations (49 CFR 
1542.209, 1544.205, 1546.205, and part 1548) that enable them to 
accept, screen, and transport air cargo. The uninterrupted collection 
of this information will allow TSA to continue to ensure implementation 
of these vital security measures for the protection of the traveling 
public.

Data Collection

    This information collection requires the ``regulated entities,'' 
who may include passenger and all-cargo aircraft operators, foreign air 
carriers, and indirect air carriers (IACs), to implement a standard 
security program or to submit modifications to TSA for approval, and 
update such programs as necessary. The regulated entities must also 
collect personal information and submit such information to TSA so that 
TSA may conduct security threat assessments (STA) for individuals with 
unescorted access to cargo. This includes each individual who is a 
general partner, officer or director of an IAC or an applicant to be an 
IAC, and certain owners of an IAC or an applicant to be an IAC; and any 
individual who has responsibility for screening cargo under 49 CFR 
parts 1544, 1546, or 1548. Aircraft operators and foreign air carriers 
must report the volume of accepted and screened cargo transported on 
passenger aircraft. Further, TSA will collect identifying information 
for both companies and individuals whom aircraft operators, foreign air 
carriers, and IACs have qualified to ship cargo on passenger aircraft, 
also referred to as ``known shippers.'' This information is primarily 
collected electronically via the Known Shipper Management System 
(KSMS). Whenever the information cannot be entered on KSMS, the 
regulated entity must conduct a physical visit of the shipper using the 
Aviation Security Known Shipper Verification Form and subsequently 
enter that information into KSMS. These regulated entities must also 
maintain records including records pertaining to security programs, 
training, and compliance. The forms used in this collection of 
information include the Aviation Security Known Shipper Verification 
Form, Cargo Reporting Template, and the Security Threat Assessment 
Application.

Estimated Burden Hours

    The hour burden associated with the initial submission of security 
programs is estimated by TSA to be 4 hours for each of the 152 new 
aircraft operator, foreign air carrier and IAC average annual regulated 
entites for an average annual hour burden of 606 hours.
    The hour burden associated with the security program updates is 
estimated by TSA to be 4 hours for each of the 4,509 aircraft 
operators, foreign air carriers, and IACs for an average annual hour 
burden of 18,036 hours. TSA estimates one percent of IACs (42) will

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file an appeal at 5 hours per appeal for an average annual hour burden 
of 210 hours.
    For the STA requirement, based on a 15-minute estimate for each of 
the average 40,003 annual responses, TSA estimates that the average 
annual burden will be 10,001 hours.
    For the Known Shipper Management System (KSMS), given that the IAC 
or aircraft operator must input a name, address, and telephone number, 
TSA estimates it will take 2 minutes for the 792,000 electronic 
submissions for a total annual burden of 26,400 hours. Also for KSMS, 
TSA estimates it will take one hour for the 8,000 manual submissions 
for a total annual burden of 8,000 hours.
    TSA estimates out of the 480 total aircraft operators and foreign 
air carriers impacted by TSA regulations, 135 aircraft operators and 
foreign air carriers will submit cargo screening reporting information 
because not all aircraft operators and foreign air carriers transport 
cargo. TSA estimates this will take an estimated one hour per week (52 
hours per year) for a total average annual burden of 6,994 hours. For 
recordkeeping, based on a 5-minute estimate for each of the 40,003 
average annual responses, TSA estimates that the total average annual 
burden will be 3,320 hours.

    Issued in Arlington, Virginia, on November 9, 2009.
Joanna Johnson,
TSA Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, Office of Information Technology.
[FR Doc. E9-27349 Filed 11-13-09; 8:45 am]
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