[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 33 (Thursday, February 17, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9356-9357]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-3602]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Transportation Security Administration


Intent To Request Approval From OMB of One New Public Collection 
of Information: Baseline Assessment for Security Enhancement (BASE) 
Program

AGENCY: Transportation Security Administration, DHS.

ACTION: 60-day notice.

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SUMMARY: The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) invites 
public comment on a new Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted 
below that we will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for approval in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The 
ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected 
burden. This voluntary collection allows TSA to conduct transportation 
security-related assessments during site visits with security and 
operating officials of transit agencies.

DATES: Send your comments by April 18, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be emailed to [email protected] or delivered to 
the TSA PRA Officer, Office of Information Technology (OIT), TSA-11, 
Transportation Security Administration, 601 South 12th Street, 
Arlington, VA 20598-6011.

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

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

Purpose of Data Collection

    Approximately 6,000 transit service providers, commuter railroads, 
and long distance passenger railroad providers operate in the United 
States.\1\ Mass transit and passenger rail systems provide 
transportation services through buses, rail transit, long-distance 
rail, and other, less common types of service (cable cars, inclined 
planes, funiculars, and automated guideway systems). These systems can 
also include ``demand response services'' for seniors and persons with 
disabilities, as well as vanpool/rideshare programs and taxi services 
operated under contract with a public transportation agency.
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    \1\ TSA, ``Transportation Sector-Specific Plan Mass Transit 
Modal Annex,'' page 4 (May 2007).
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    TSA is required to ``assess the security of each surface 
transportation mode and evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of 
current Federal Government surface transportation security 
initiatives.'' EO 13416, section 3(a) (Dec. 5, 2006). While many 
transit systems have security and emergency response plans or protocols 
in place, no single database exists, nor is there a consistent approach 
to evaluating the extent to which security programs are in place across 
mass transit systems.
    TSA developed the Baseline Assessment for Security Enhancement 
(BASE) to evaluate the status of security and emergency response 
programs on transit systems throughout the nation. In particular, a 
BASE review assesses the security measures of mass transit and 
passenger rail systems and gathers data used by TSA to address its 
responsibilities, such as evaluating ``effectiveness and efficiency of 
current Federal Government surface transportation security 
initiatives'' and developing modal specific annexes to the 
Transportation Systems Sector Specific Plan that include ``an 
identification of existing security

[[Page 9357]]

guidelines and requirements and any security gaps * * *.'' EO 13416, 
Sec. 3(c)(i). Reflecting its risk-based prioritization, TSA primarily 
conducts BASE reviews on the top 100 transit systems in the country, as 
identified by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).\2\
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    \2\ A current list of the top 100 transit systems can be viewed 
on the National Transit Database Web site at http://www.ntdprogram.gov/ntdprogram/.
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Description of Data Collection

    TSA's Surface Transportation Security Inspectors (STSIs) conduct 
BASE reviews during site visits with security and operating officials 
of transit systems. The STSIs capture and document relevant information 
using a standardized electronic checklist. Advance coordination and 
planning ensures the efficiency of the assessment process. As part of 
this, transit systems may also obtain a checklist in advance from TSA 
and conduct self-assessments of their security readiness. All BASE 
reviews are done on a voluntary basis.
    The BASE checklist guides the collection of information and 
encompasses review of security plans, programs, and procedures employed 
by transit agencies in implementing the recommended Action Items. 
During a review, STSIs collect information from the review of transit 
system's documents, plans, and procedures; interviews with appropriate 
transit agency personnel, to gain process insight; and system 
observations prompted by questions raised during the document review 
and interview stages. TSA subject matter experts can then analyze this 
information. If information in completed assessments meets the 
requirements of 49 CFR parts 15 and 1520 in that disclosure would be 
detrimental to the security of transportation, TSA designates and marks 
the data as ``Sensitive Security Information,'' as appropriate, and 
protects it in accordance with the requirements set forth in those 
regulations.

Use of Results

    A BASE review evaluates a transit agency's security program 
components using a two-phased approach: (1) Field collection of 
information, and (2) analysis/evaluation of collected information. The 
information collected by TSA through BASE reviews strengthens the 
security of transit systems by supporting security program development 
(including grant programs) and the analysis/evaluation provides a 
consistent road map for mass transit systems to address security and 
emergency program vulnerabilities. In addition, each transit system 
that undergoes a BASE assessment is provided with a report of results 
that is used in security enhancement activities.
    Specifically, the information collected will be used as follows:
    1. To develop a baseline understanding of a transit agency's 
security and emergency management processes, procedures, policies, 
programs, and activities against security requirements and recommended 
security practices published by TSA and FTA.
    2. To enhance a transit agency's overall security posture through 
collaborative review and discussion of existing security activities, 
identification of areas of potential weakness or vulnerability, and 
development of remedial recommendations and courses of action.
    3. To identify programs and protocols implemented by a transit 
agency that represent an ``effective'' or ``smart'' security practice 
warranting sharing with the transit community as a whole to foster 
general enhancement of security in the mass transit mode.
    4. To inform TSA's development of security strategies, priorities, 
and programs for the most effective application of available resources, 
including funds distributed under the Transit Security Grant Program, 
to enhance security in the Nation's mass transit system.
    While TSA has not set a limit on the number of BASE reviews to 
conduct, TSA estimates it will conduct approximately 100 BASE reviews 
on an annual basis and does not intend to conduct more than one BASE 
review per transit system in a single year. The total hour burden 
dedicated to the assessment and collection of security-related 
documents for review varies depending upon the size of the system and 
scope of its security program and activities. The hours estimated 
represent a sampling of BASE reviews completed in 2010. The sampling 
was derived from 15 transit agencies varying in size from small to 
large. Actual inspection hours were utilized in the sampling. TSA 
estimates that the hour burden per transit agency to engage their 
security and/or operating officials with inspectors in the interactive 
BASE review process is approximately 18 hours for a small transit 
agency, approximately 144 hours for a large transit agency, or an 
average of 46 hours for a moderately-sized agency. Thus, the total 
annual hour burden for the BASE review (140 agencies identified) is 
estimated on the low end of 2520 hours (140 x 18 = 2520) annually and 
the high end of 6440 hours (140 x 46 = 6440) annually. This number will 
most likely increase as transit agencies volunteer to participate.


    Issued in Arlington, Virginia, on February 11, 2011.
Joanna Johnson,
TSA Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, Office of Information Technology.
[FR Doc. 2011-3602 Filed 2-16-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-05-P