[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 77 (Monday, April 22, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16685-16686]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-08066]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Transportation Security Administration


Intent To Request Extension of Agency Information Collection 
Activity Under OMB Review: Baseline Assessment for Security Enhancement 
(BASE) 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 1652-0062 
abstracted below that we will submit to OMB for an extension in 
compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The ICR assesses the 
current security practices in the mass transit/passenger rail and 
highway and motor carrier industries by way of the Baseline Assessment 
for Security Enhancement (BASE) program, which encompasses site visits 
and interviews, and is part of the larger domain awareness, prevention, 
and protection program supporting TSA's and the Department of Homeland 
Security's (DHS) missions. This voluntary collection allows TSA to 
conduct transportation security-related assessments during site visits 
with security and operating officials of certain surface transportation 
entities.

DATES: Send your comments by June 21, 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

[[Page 16686]]

be modified to reduce the burden on respondents.

Information Collection Requirement

    OMB Control Number 1652-0062; Baseline Assessment for Security 
Enhancement (BASE) Program. Under the Aviation and Transportation 
Security Act (ATSA) and delegated authority from the Secretary of 
Homeland Security, TSA has broad responsibility and authority for 
``security in all modes of transportation including security 
responsibilities over modes of transportation that are exercised by the 
Department of Transportation.'' \1\ TSA is required to ``assess the 
security of each surface transportation mode and evaluate the 
effectiveness and efficiency of current Federal Government surface 
transportation security initiatives.'' E.O. 13416, sec. 3(a) (Dec. 5, 
2006).
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    \1\ See Public Law 107-71, 115 Stat. 597 (Nov. 19, 2001), 
codified at 49 U.S.C. 114(d). The TSA Administrator's current 
authorities under ATSA have been delegated to him by the Secretary 
of Homeland Security. Section 403(2) of the Homeland Security Act 
(HSA) of 2002, Public Law 107-296, 116 Stat. 2315 (Nov. 25, 2002), 
transferred all functions of TSA, including those of the Secretary 
of Transportation and the Under Secretary of Transportation of 
Security related to TSA, to the Secretary of Homeland Security. 
Pursuant to DHS Delegation Number 7060.2, the Secretary delegated to 
the Assistant Secretary (now referred to as the Administrator of 
TSA), subject to the Secretary's guidance and control, the authority 
vested in the Secretary with respect to TSA, including that in sec. 
403(2) of the HSA.
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    TSA developed the Baseline Assessment for Security Enhancement 
(BASE) program in 2007, in an effort to engage with surface 
transportation entities to establish a ``baseline'' of security and 
emergency response operations. This program was initially created for 
Mass Transit/Passenger Rail (MT/PR) (i.e., transit, including transit 
bus) and passenger rail. However, based on the success of the program, 
TSA developed the Highway (HWY) BASE program in 2012, with full 
implementation in 2013. This incorporated trucking, school bus 
contractors, school districts, and over-the-road motor coach. This 
voluntary program has served to collect and evaluate physical and 
operational preparedness information and critical assets and key point-
of-contact lists. The program also reviews emergency procedures and 
domain awareness training and provides an opportunity to share industry 
best practices.
    While many MT/PR and HWY entities have security and emergency 
response plans or protocols in place, there is no consistent approach 
to evaluate the extent to which security programs exist, nor the 
content of those programs. As a result, there also is no consistent 
data about these transportation security programs, nor a database that 
can be used to benchmark the programs. The BASE program is designed to 
address these issues.
    The program provides TSA with current information on adopted 
security practices within the MT/PR and HWY modes of the surface 
transportation sector. This information also allows TSA to adapt 
programs to the changing threat dynamically, while incorporating an 
understanding of the improvements surface transportation entities make 
in their security posture. Without this information, the ability of TSA 
to perform its security mission would be severely hindered. 
Additionally, the relationships these face-to-face contacts foster are 
critical to TSA's ability to reach out to the surface transportation 
entities participating in the BASE program.
    In carrying out the voluntary BASE program, TSA's Transportation 
Security Inspectors--Surface (TSIs--S) conduct BASE reviews during site 
visits with security and operating officials of MT/PR and HWY systems, 
throughout the Nation. The TSIs--S receive and document relevant 
information using a standardized electronic checklist. Advance 
coordination and planning ensures the efficiency of the assessment 
process. The TSIs-S review and analyze the stakeholders' security plan, 
if adopted, and determine if the mitigation measures included in the 
plan are being effectively implemented, while providing additional 
resources for further security enhancement. In addition to examining 
the security plan document, TSIs-S reviews one or more assets of the 
private and/or public owner/operator.
    During BASE site visits of MT/PR and HWY entities, TSIs--S collect 
information and complete a BASE checklist from the review of each 
entity's documents, plans, and procedures. They also interview 
appropriate entity personnel and conduct system observations prompted 
by questions raised during the document review and interview stages. 
TSA conducts the interviews to ascertain and clarify information on 
security measures and to identify security gaps. The interviews also 
provide TSA with a method to encourage the surface transportation 
entities participating in the BASE reviews to be diligent in effecting 
and maintaining security-related improvements.
    While TSA has not set a limit on the number of BASE program reviews 
to conduct, TSA estimates it will conduct approximately 80 MT/PR BASE 
reviews and approximately 90 HWY BASE reviews on an annual basis. TSA 
does not intend to conduct more than one BASE review per mass transit 
or passenger rail system in a single year. TSA estimates that the hour 
burden per MT/PR entity to engage its security and/or operating 
officials with inspectors in the interactive BASE program review 
process is approximately 12 hours. Also, TSA estimates that the hour 
burden per HWY entity to engage its security and/or operating officials 
with inspectors in the interactive BASE program review process is 
approximately 6 hours. Thus, the total annual hour burden for the MT/PR 
BASE program review is 936 hours annually (80 x 11.7 hours = 936 hours) 
and for HWY BASE 522 hours annually (90 x 5.8 hours = 522 hours).

    Dated: April 17, 2019.
Christina A. Walsh,
TSA Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, Information Technology.
[FR Doc. 2019-08066 Filed 4-19-19; 8:45 am]
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