[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 227 (Friday, November 25, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 85243-85244]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-28294]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Transportation Security Administration


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

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 1652-0042, 
abstracted below that we will submit to OMB for an extension 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 district court, or a prospective bidder 
seeking access to SSI for the purpose of perfecting a proposal in 
response to a TSA request for proposal, may be granted access to the 
SSI.

DATES: Send your comments by January 24, 2017.

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 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 1652-0042; Sensitive Security Information Threat 
Assessment. TSA is seeking to renew the ICR, 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, 
2007 (Pub. L. 109-295, 120 Stat 1355, 1382, Oct. 4, 2006), as 
reenacted, and to continue the process TSA developed whereby a party 
seeking access to SSI in a civil proceeding in Federal district 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. The procedure is also 
used by a prospective bidder who is seeking to

[[Page 85244]]

submit a proposal in response to a request for proposal by TSA. The 
prospective bidder may request certain SSI to perfect their bid. 
Applicants seeking access to SSI in Federal district court litigation 
and the bidder will be required to complete TSA Form 2211 in order to 
have a security threat assessment completed before they can receive the 
requested SSI.
    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 or to perfect a bid to 
be submitted to TSA. TSA estimates that the total annual hour burden 
for this collection will be 127 hours, based on an estimated 127 annual 
respondents and a one-hour burden per respondent.

    Dated: November 18, 2016.
Joanna Johnson,
TSA Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, Office of Information Technology.
[FR Doc. 2016-28294 Filed 11-23-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-05-P