[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 239 (Thursday, December 13, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64146-64147]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-26932]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Transportation Security Administration
Intent To Request Revision From OMB of One Current Public
Collection of Information: Aircraft Operator Security, 49 CFR Part 1544
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 1652-0003,
abstracted below that we will submit to OMB for a revision in
compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The ICR describes
the nature of the information collection and its expected burden.
Aircraft operators must provide certain information to TSA and adopt
and implement a TSA-approved security program. These programs require
aircraft operators to maintain and update records to ensure compliance
with security provisions set forth in 49 CFR part 1544.
DATES: Send your comments by February 11, 2019.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be emailed to [email protected] or delivered
to the TSA PRA Officer, Information Technology (IT), 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 will be
available at http://www.reginfo.gov upon its submission to OMB.
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.
Consistent with the requirements of Executive Order (E.O.) 13771,
Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs, and E.O. 13777,
Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda, TSA is also requesting comments
on the extent to which this request for information could be modified
to reduce the burden on respondents.
Information Collection Requirement
OMB Control Number 1652-0003; Aircraft Operator Security, 49 CFR
part 1544. The information collected is used to determine compliance
with 49 CFR part 1544 and to ensure passenger safety by monitoring
aircraft operator security procedures. TSA implements aircraft operator
security standards at part 1544 to require each aircraft operator, to
which this part applies, to adopt and carry out a security program.
This TSA-approved security program establishes procedures that aircraft
operators must carry out to protect persons and property traveling on
flights provided by the aircraft operator against acts of criminal
violence, aircraft piracy, and the introduction of explosives,
incendiaries, or weapons aboard an aircraft. Aircraft operators must
also comply with TSA-issued Security Directives (SDs), which are issued
when TSA determines that additional security measures are necessary to
respond to a threat assessment or to a specific threat against civil
aviation.
This information collection is mandatory for aircraft operators. As
part of their security programs, affected aircraft operators are
required to maintain and update, as necessary, records of compliance
with the security program provisions set forth in part 1544, including
maintaining records of compliance for selected crew and security
employees. Part 1544 also requires affected aircraft operators to
submit security program amendments and SD compliance plans to TSA, when
[[Page 64147]]
applicable, and to make their security programs and associated records
available for inspection and copying by TSA to ensure transportation
security and regulatory compliance.
In addition, part 1544 requires the affected aircraft operators to
submit information on aircraft operators' flight crews and other
employees, passengers, and cargo. The information collection includes
information regarding security program, amendments, fingerprint-based
criminal history records check (CHRC) applications; recordkeeping
requirements for security program, CHRCs, and training; watchlist
matching for employees and reporting matches to TSA; watchlist matching
for passengers in case of Secure Flight outages; and incident and
suspicious activity reporting. Aircraft operators may provide the
information electronically or manually.
Aircraft operators must ensure that certain flight crew members and
employees (including certain contract employees and authorized
representatives) submit to and receive a CHRC. These requirements apply
to flight crew members and employees with unescorted access authority
to a Security Identification Display Area (SIDA) or who perform
screening, checked baggage, or cargo functions. As part of the CHRC
process, the individual must provide identifying information, including
fingerprints. Additionally, aircraft operators must maintain these
records and make them available to TSA for inspection and copying upon
request.
TSA is revising the information collection and will no longer
collect information regarding watchlist matching for Secure Flight
outages. TSA has assumed from the private sector the responsibility for
pre-flight screening of passengers and certain non-traveling
individuals against the Federal Government watchlist, as required by
sec. 4012(a) of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of
2004,\1\ and consolidation of the aviation passenger watchlist matching
function within one agency of the Federal Government. TSA no longer
requires airlines to compare passenger names to watchlists during a
Secure Flight outage. TSA estimates that there will be approximately
673 respondents to the information requirements described above, with a
total annual burden estimate of approximately 569,686 hours.
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\1\ Public Law 108-458, 118 Stat. 3638, 3714; Dec. 17, 2004.
Dated: December 6, 2018.
Christina A. Walsh,
TSA Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, Information Technology.
[FR Doc. 2018-26932 Filed 12-12-18; 8:45 am]
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