[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 99 (Friday, May 22, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29727-29729]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-12485]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Transportation Security Administration


Revision of Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB 
Review: TSA Pre[check][supreg] Application Program

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 1652-0059, 
abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
review and approval of a revision of the currently approved collection 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). 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 January 5, 
2015, 80 FR 515. The collection involves the submission of biographic 
and biometric information by individuals seeking to enroll in the TSA 
Pre[check][supreg]Application Program, as well as an optional customer 
satisfaction survey.

DATES: Send your comments by June 22, 2015. 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: Christina A. Walsh, TSA PRA Officer, 
Office of Information Technology (OIT), TSA-11, Transportation Security 
Administration, 601 South 12th Street, Arlington, VA 20598-6011; 
telephone (571) 227-2062; 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: TSA Pre[check][supreg] Application Program.

[[Page 29728]]

    Type of Request: Revision of currently approved collection.
    OMB Control Number: 1652-0059.
    Form(s): NA.
    Affected Public: Air Travelers.
    Abstract: The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) 
implemented the TSA Pre[check][supreg] Application Program pursuant to 
its authority under sec. 109(a)(3) of the Aviation and Transportation 
Security Act (ATSA), Public Law 107-71 (115 Stat. 597, 613, Nov. 19, 
2001, codified at 49 U.S.C. 114 note), as well as the DHS 
Appropriations Act, 2006, Public Law 109-90 (119 Stat. 2064, 2088-89, 
Oct. 18, 2005), which authorizes TSA to establish and collect a fee for 
any registered traveler program by publication of a notice in the 
Federal Register.
    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 pre-screening 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] 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] 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. 
Approved contractors will provide secure enrollment options to collect 
biographic and biometric (e.g., fingerprints, iris scans, and/or photo) 
information, validate identity, collect citizenship/immigration 
information, and 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 verify identity and citizenship/immigration status, and conduct 
a criminal check.
    For enrolled and prescreened applicants, these additional 
contractors will transmit via a secure interface certain minimum 
required data elements (including, but not limited to, name, date of 
birth, gender, address, contact information, country of birth, images 
of identity documents, proof of citizenship/immigration status, and 
biometrics) to enable TSA to conduct a STA, make a final eligibility 
determination for the TSA Pre[check][supreg] Application Program, and 
for screening purposes, including to verify TSA Pre[check][supreg] 
enrolled and approved individuals when they are travelling.
    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 criminal or immigration 
records process and any alternatives available for identity 
verification, as well as other available channels for TSA 
Pre[check][supreg] expedited screening. Those who apply through TSA's 
existing program contractor will be notified of their eligibility for 
the program by TSA after completion of the STA.
    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 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.
    TSA invites all TSA Pre[check][supreg] applicants to complete an 
optional survey to gather information on the applicants' overall 
customer satisfaction with the service received at the enrollment 
center. The optional survey is administered at the end of the in-person 
enrollment service. TSA will use the information to determine whether 
any trends exist regarding customer service at a particular enrollment 
center or particular application enrollment activity and to take steps 
to improve service. TSA will encourage the additional contractors to 
offer a similar customer satisfaction survey.
    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 5,458,919 
annualized respondents enrollments over a four year period.
    Estimated Annual Burden Hours: An estimated 4,596,547 annualized 
hours

[[Page 29729]]

based on a four-year projection. This estimate includes the time for 
pre-enrollment, all aspects of enrollment (including a voluntary 
customer satisfaction survey), and correction of records if needed.
    Estimated Cost Burden: $143,500,886 annualized cost burden based on 
a four-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 contractor 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 and 
the option to utilize FBI for the criminal checks at a charge of $12.75 
per applicant. TSA estimates contractors would remit approximately $25 
to TSA for each prescreened applicant.

    Dated: May 18, 2015.
Christina A.Walsh,
TSA Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, Office of Information Technology.
[FR Doc. 2015-12485 Filed 5-21-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-05-P