[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 20 (Tuesday, January 31, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 4822]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-2024]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Transportation Security Administration

[Docket No. TSA-2004-19147]


Extension of Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB 
Review: Flight Training for Aliens and Other Designated Individuals; 
Security Awareness Training for Flight School Employees

AGENCY: Transportation Security Administration, DHS.

ACTION: 30-day Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces that the Transportation Security 
Administration (TSA) has forwarded the Information Collection Request 
(ICR), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number 1652-0021, 
abstracted below to OMB for review and approval of an extension of the 
currently approved collection under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). 
TSA published a Federal Register notice, with a 60-day comment period 
soliciting comments, of the following collection of information on 
September 21, 2011 (76 FR 58531). The ICR describes the nature of the 
information collection and its expected burden. The collection involves 
collecting information for background checks for all aliens and other 
designated individuals seeking flight instruction (``candidates'') from 
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-certificated flight training 
providers. Through the information collected, TSA will determine 
whether a candidate is a threat to aviation or national security, and 
thus prohibited from receiving flight training. Additionally, flight 
training providers are required to conduct a security awareness program 
for their employees and contract employees and to maintain records 
associated with this training.

DATES: Send your comments by March 1, 2012. A comment to OMB is most 
effective if OMB receives it within 30 days of publication.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments on 
the proposed information collection to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, OMB. Comments should be addressed to Desk Officer, 
Department of Homeland Security/TSA, and sent via electronic mail to 
[email protected] or faxed to (202) 395-6974.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joanna Johnson, TSA PRA Officer, 
Office of Information Technology (OIT), TSA-11, Transportation Security 
Administration, 601 South 12th Street, Arlington, VA 20598-6011; 
telephone (571) 227-3651; email [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;
    (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

    Title: Flight Training for Aliens and Other Designated Individuals; 
Security Awareness Training for Flight School Employees.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    OMB Control Number: 1652-0021.
    Forms(s): N/A.
    Affected Public: Aliens and other designated individuals seeking 
flight instruction from FAA-certified flight training providers; flight 
training providers required to conduct security awareness training and 
their employees.
    Abstract: TSA has adopted regulations relating to the security 
threat assessments that TSA will conduct to determine whether 
candidates are a threat to aviation or national security, and thus 
prohibited from receiving flight training. This collection of 
information requires Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-certificated 
flight training providers to provide TSA with the information necessary 
to conduct the security threat assessments. Finally, TSA has adopted 
regulations relating to security awareness training for flight school 
employees and contract employees, which include maintaining records of 
all such training.
    Public Comment: TSA received one comment on the 60-day notice for 
this collection. The commenter stated that aliens who seek to do harm 
to the country will have false identification documents. The commenter 
also stated that aliens seeking flight training on any aircraft size 
should be required to undergo a threat assessment. As to the first 
point, the threat assessment process has safeguards in place to guard 
against issues of false identification documents. As to the second 
point, when Congress enacted the Vision 100--Century of Aviation 
Reauthorization Act it specifically included aliens seeking flight 
training in aircraft with a MTOW of less than 12,500 pounds in the 
threat assessment requirement.
    Number of Respondents: 53,000.
    Estimated Annual Burden Hours: An estimated 507,750 hours annually. 
Issued in Arlington, Virginia, on January 26, 2012.

Joanna Johnson,
TSA Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, Office of Information Technology.
[FR Doc. 2012-2024 Filed 1-30-12; 8:45 am]
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