[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 50 (Wednesday, March 14, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15114-15115]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-6199]



[[Page 15114]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Transportation Security Administration


Extension of Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB 
Review: Transportation Security Officer (TSO) Medical Questionnaire

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), OMB control number 1652-0032, abstracted below to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval of an extension of 
the currently approved collection under the Paperwork Reduction Act. 
The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its 
expected burden. TSA published a Federal Register notice, with a 60-day 
comment period soliciting comments, of the following collection of 
information on December 30, 2011, 76 FR 82313. The collection involves 
using a questionnaire to collect medical information from candidates 
for the job of Transportation Security Officer (TSO) to ensure their 
qualifications to perform TSO duties pursuant to sec. 111 of the 
Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA).

DATES: Send your comments by April 13, 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, Office of Management and Budget. 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 Paperwork 
Reduction Act (PRA) Officer, Office of Information Technology (OIT), 
TSA-40, Transportation Security Administration, 601 South 12th Street, 
Arlington, VA 20598-6040; 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 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: Transportation Security Officer (TSO) Medical Questionnaire.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    OMB Control Number: 1652-0032.
    Forms(s): Transportation Security Officer Medical Questionnaire, 
Cancer Further Evaluation, Cardiac Surgery Further Evaluation, Cardiac 
Further Evaluation, Diabetes Further Evaluation, Drug or Alcohol Use 
Further Evaluation, General Medical Further Evaluation, Hearing Further 
Evaluation, Hepatitis Further Evaluation, Hernia Further Evaluation, 
HIV Further Evaluation, Orthopedic Further Evaluation, Pacemaker 
Further Evaluation, Palmar Sensation Further Evaluation, Respiratory 
Further Evaluation, Seizure Further Evaluation, Tuberculosis Further 
Evaluation, Vision Further Evaluation, Vital Signs Further Evaluation, 
and Mental Health Further Evaluation.
    Affected Public: Applicants for employment as a Transportation 
Security Officer with TSA.
    Abstract: TSA currently collects relevant medical information from 
Transportation Security Officer (TSO) candidates for the purpose of 
assessing whether the candidates meet the medical qualification 
standards the agency has established pursuant to the Aviation and 
Transportation Security Act (ATSA) (49 U.S.C. 44935). TSA collects this 
information through a medical questionnaire completed by TSO candidates 
and, in certain cases, further evaluation forms completed by TSO 
candidates' health care providers. The medical questionnaire and 
further evaluation forms evaluate a candidate's physical and medical 
qualifications to be a TSO, including visual and aural acuity, physical 
coordination, and motor skills. Only TSO candidates who successfully 
complete the hiring process up to the medical evaluation are required 
to complete the medical questionnaire. Candidates who disclose certain 
medical conditions on the medical questionnaire may be asked to have 
their health care provider complete one or more further evaluation 
forms. Historical data indicate that approximately 30 percent of 
candidates reaching the medical evaluation will be required to complete 
one or more further evaluation forms.
    TSA has a variety of further evaluation forms, each of which 
pertain to particular body systems and medical conditions, including 
cardiac, orthopedic, endocrine, vitals, and others. The type of further 
evaluation form(s) completed by a candidate's health care provider 
depend(s) on the condition(s) revealed during a candidate's initial 
medical evaluation and disclosed on the initial medical questionnaire. 
For example, a candidate who discloses a previous back injury may be 
required to have his/her health care provider complete a further 
evaluation form to enable the agency to better evaluate whether the 
candidate can perform the TSO job safely and efficiently without 
excessive risk of accident or injury to himself/herself or others. A 
TSA contractor facilitates receipt and processing of all forms.
    Number of Respondents: There are an estimated total of 26,565 TSO 
candidates and their respective health care providers, nationwide. This 
number includes an estimated 14,750 candidates completing the TSO 
medical questionnaire and an estimated 4,425 candidates (30% of 14,750) 
required to complete at least one further evaluation form. TSA has 
estimated that these estimated 4,425 applicants will visit 
approximately 1.67 health care providers. As such, the 26,565 figure 
also includes an estimated 7,390 health care providers (4,425 x 1.67) 
completing further evaluation form(s).
    Estimated Annual Burden Hours: After further evaluation, TSA has 
increased the annual burden estimate published in the notice published 
on October 26, 2009. The estimated total annual burden for applicants, 
including applicants required to complete further evaluation forms, and 
health care providers is 12,912 hours.


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    Issued in Arlington, Virginia, on March 7, 2012.
Joanna Johnson,
TSA Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, Office of Information Technology.
[FR Doc. 2012-6199 Filed 3-13-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-05-P