[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 3 (Tuesday, January 6, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 515-516]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-30874]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Transportation Security Administration

[Docket No. TSA-2014-0001]


Intent To Request Renewal From OMB of One Current Public 
Collection of Information: TSA Pre[check][supreg] Application Program

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), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number 1652-0059, 
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 the voluntary submission of biographic and biometric 
information that will be used for identity verification and to conduct 
a security threat assessment which includes vetting of an individual's 
voluntarily submitted information against law enforcement, immigration, 
and intelligence databases to determine if the person poses a low risk 
to transportation or national security and is eligible for expedited 
screening through TSA Pre[check][supreg] lanes at airports. This notice 
also provides initial information regarding TSA plans to expand 
opportunities for enrollment into the TSA Pre[check][supreg] 
Application Program by using additional contractors that will be 
permitted to market, enroll, and pre-screen individuals for TSA 
Pre[check][supreg] Application Program eligibility. Under the proposed 
expansion, selected contractors will collect biographic and biometric 
information from the applicant, and perform an initial prescreening of 
applicants using processes approved by TSA. Those applicants who meet 
the prescreening standards will be forwarded by the contractors to TSA, 
which shall perform a security threat assessment and make a final 
determination of the applicants' eligibility for the TSA 
Pre[check][supreg] Application Program.

DATES: Send your comments by March 9, 2015.

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: Christina A. Walsh at the above 
address, or by telephone (571) 227-2062.

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 1652-0059; TSA Pre[check][supreg]Application 
Program. Under the TSA Pre[check][supreg] Application Program, 
individuals may submit biographic and biometric information directly to 
TSA, which in turn uses the information to conduct a security threat 
assessment (STA) of law enforcement, immigration, and intelligence 
databases, including a criminal history check. The results are used by 
TSA to decide if an individual poses a low risk to transportation or 
national security. Approved applicants are issued a Known Traveler 
Number (KTN) that may be used when making travel reservations. Airline 
passengers who submit their KTN when making airline reservations are 
eligible for expedited screening on flights originating from U.S. 
airports with TSA Pre[check][supreg] lanes.\1\ TSA uses the traveler's 
KTN and other information during passenger prescreening to verify that 
the individual traveling matches the information on TSA's list of known 
travellers and to confirm TSA Pre[check][supreg] expedited screening 
eligibility.
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    \1\ Passengers who are eligible for expedited screening through 
a dedicated TSA Pre[check][supreg] TM lane typically will 
receive more limited physical screening, e.g., will be able to leave 
on their shoes, light outerwear, and belt, to keep their laptop in 
its case, and to keep their 3-1-1 compliant liquids/gels bag in a 
carry-on. For airports with TSA Pre[check][supreg] TM 
lanes, see http://www.tsa.gov/tsa-precheck/tsa-precheck-participating-airports.
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    TSA plans to expand enrollment options for the TSA 
Pre[check][supreg] Application Program by using additional contractor 
options or capabilities to market, enroll and pre-screen applicants.\2\ 
Approved contractors will provide secure enrollment options to collect 
biographic and biometric (e.g., fingerprints, iris scans, and/or photo) 
information, to validate identity, to facilitate collection 
citizenship/immigration information, and to perform a criminal history 
records check to ensure that applicants do not have convictions for 
criminal offenses that would disqualify them from the TSA 
Pre[check][supreg] Application Program (please refer to the list of 
current disqualifiers available at www.tsa.gov/tsa-precheck/eligibility-requirements). These expansion options may include the use 
of commercial and other publicly available data to conduct identity 
verification, collection of citizenship/immigration information, and 
prescreening of applicants.
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    \2\ For further information, see the Request for Proposal TSA 
published on FedBizOpps.gov on December 22, 2014, available at 
https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DHS/TSA/HQTSA/HSTS02-15-R-OIA037/listing.html.
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    For successfully enrolled and prescreened applicants, TSA will 
receive via a secure interface certain minimum required data elements 
(including, but not be limited to, name, date of birth, gender, 
address, contact information, country of birth, images of identity 
documents, proof of citizenship/immigration status information, and 
biometrics) to enable TSA to conduct a STA, make a final eligibility 
determination for the TSA Pre[check][supreg] Application Program, and 
verify TSA Pre[check][supreg] enrolled and approved individuals when 
they are travelling.

[[Page 516]]

    Applicants who are found to be ineligible as a result of 
prescreening by a contractor shall be notified by the respective 
contractor of the reason. The notification will include, when relevant, 
information about the available correction of records process and any 
alternatives available for identity verification, as well as other 
available channels for TSA Pre[check][supreg] expedited screening.
    The TSA-conducted STA for applicants forwarded by the contractors 
will include checks against government watchlists and databases 
associated with security and immigration. TSA will make the final 
determination on eligibility for the TSA Pre[check][supreg] Application 
Program and notify the applicant of the decision. Applicants generally 
should expect to receive notification from TSA within 2-3 weeks of the 
submission of their completed applications.
    Eligibility for the TSA Pre[check][supreg] Application Program is 
within the sole discretion of TSA, which will notify applicants who are 
denied eligibility by TSA in writing of the reasons for the denial. If 
initially deemed ineligible by TSA, applicants will have an opportunity 
to correct cases of misidentification or inaccurate criminal or 
immigration records. If advised during the application eligibility 
review process that the criminal record discloses a disqualifying 
criminal offense, the applicant must submit in writing within a 
specified period of his or her intent to correct any information he or 
she believes to be inaccurate. The applicant must provide a certified 
revised record, or the appropriate court must forward a certified true 
copy of the information, prior to TSA approving eligibility of the 
applicant for the TSA Pre[check][supreg] Application Program. With 
respect to citizenship and/or immigration records, within 60 days after 
being advised that the citizenship or immigration records indicate that 
the applicant is ineligible for the TSA Pre[check][supreg] Application 
Program, the applicant must notify TSA in writing of his or her intent 
to correct any information believed to be inaccurate. TSA will review 
any information submitted and make a final decision. If neither 
notification nor a corrected record is received by TSA, the agency may 
make a final determination to deny eligibility. Individuals who TSA 
determines are ineligible for the TSA Pre[check][supreg] Application 
Program will be screened at airport security checkpoints pursuant to 
standard screening protocols.
    The TSA Pre[check][supreg] Application Program enhances aviation 
security by permitting TSA to better focus its limited security 
resources on passengers who are more likely to pose a threat to civil 
aviation, while also facilitating and improving the commercial aviation 
travel experience for the public. Travelers who choose not to enroll in 
this initiative are not subject to any limitations on their travel 
because of their choice; they will be processed through normal TSA 
screening before entering the sterile areas of airports. TSA also 
retains the authority to perform standard or other screening on a 
random basis on TSA Pre[check][supreg] Application Program participants 
and any other travelers authorized to receive expedited physical 
screening.
    Average Annual Number of Respondents: An estimated 2,074,000 
annualized enrollments over a five-year period. This estimate is based 
on current and projected enrollment with TSA's current program, as well 
as what TSA anticipates from program expansion to additional 
contractors performing enrollment and prescreening functions.
    Estimated Annual Burden Hours: An estimated 2,742,049 annualized 
hours based on a five-year projection. TSA estimates 1.32 hours per 
applicant to complete the enrollment process, which includes providing 
biographic and biometric information to TSA (via an enrollment center 
or pre-enrollment options) or to a TSA Pre[check][supreg] Application 
Program contractor, and the burden for any records correction for the 
applicant, if applicable.
    Estimated Annual Cost Burden: $72,290,129 annualized cost burden 
based on a five-year projection. The TSA fee per respondent for those 
who apply for the program directly with TSA will remain $85, which 
covers TSA's program costs and the FBI fee for the criminal history 
records check. The fee charged by contractors under the expansion of 
the program may differ, as it may include, but not be limited to, fees 
for other services that the companies provide separately to their 
customers.

    Dated: December 30, 2014.
Christina A. Walsh,
TSA Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, Office of Information Technology.
[FR Doc. 2014-30874 Filed 1-5-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-05-P