[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 159 (Friday, August 16, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50076-50077]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-19973]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Transportation Security Administration


Intent To Request Renewal From OMB of One Current Public 
Collection of Information: Sensitive Security Information Threat 
Assessments

AGENCY: Transportation Security Administration, DHS.

ACTION: 60-day Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) invites 
public comment on one currently approved Information Collection Request 
(ICR), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number 1652-0042, 
abstracted below that we will submit to OMB for renewal in compliance 
with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The ICR describes the nature of 
the information collection and its expected burden. The collection 
involves TSA determining whether the party or representative of a party 
seeking access to sensitive security information (SSI) in a civil 
proceeding in federal court may be granted access to the SSI.

DATES: Send your comments by October 15, 2013.

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: Susan L. Perkins at the above address, 
or by telephone (571) 227-3398.

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

[[Page 50077]]

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 1652-0042; Sensitive Security Information Threat 
Assessments. TSA is seeking to renew the control number (1652-0042) for 
the maximum three-year period in order to continue compliance with sec. 
525(d) of the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 
2007 (DHS Appropriations Act, Public Law 109-295, 120 Stat 1382), as 
reenacted, and to continue the process TSA developed whereby a party 
seeking access to SSI in a civil proceeding in federal court who 
demonstrates a substantial need for relevant SSI in the preparation of 
the party's case, and who is unable without undue hardship to obtain 
the substantial equivalent of the information by other means, may 
request that the party or party's representative be granted conditional 
access to the SSI at issue in the case. The procedures also apply to 
witnesses retained by a party as experts or consultants and court 
reporters that are required to record or transcribe testimony 
containing specific SSI and do not have a current security threat 
clearance required for access to classified national security 
information as defined by E.O. 12958 as amended.
    In order to determine if the individual may be granted access to 
SSI for this purpose, TSA will conduct a threat assessment that 
includes: (1) A fingerprint-based criminal history records check 
(CHRC), (2) a name-based check to determine whether the individual 
poses or is suspected of posing a threat to transportation or national 
security, including checks against terrorism, immigration, or other 
databases TSA maintains or uses; and (3) a professional responsibility 
check (for attorneys and court reporters).
    TSA will use the information collected to conduct the security 
threat assessment for the purpose of determining whether the provision 
of such access to the information for the proceeding presents a risk of 
harm to the Nation. The results of the security threat assessment will 
be used to make a final determination on whether the individual may be 
granted access to the SSI at issue in the case. TSA estimates that the 
total annual hour burden for this collection will be 120 hours, based 
on an estimated 120 annual respondents and a one-hour burden per 
respondent.

    Dated: August 9, 2013.
Susan L. Perkins,
TSA Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, Office of Information Technology.
[FR Doc. 2013-19973 Filed 8-15-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-05-P