[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 213 (Monday, November 4, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59401-59402]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-23971]



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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Transportation Security Administration

[Docket No. TSA-2014-001]


Intent To Request Revision 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 a revision in 
compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). This ICR is being 
revised to reflect additional enrollment and vendor options in 
accordance with the TSA Modernization Act, to address TSA's plans to 
utilize other DHS component services, and to use surveys to determine 
satisfaction and customer engagement with TSA Pre[check][supreg]. 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 TSA uses to verify identity and conduct 
a security threat assessment (STA) for the TSA Pre[check][supreg] 
Application Program. The STA compares an applicant's information 
against criminal history, immigration, intelligence, and regulatory 
violations databases to determine if the person poses a low risk to 
transportation or national security and should be eligible for 
expedited screening through TSA Pre[check][supreg] lanes at airports.

DATES: Send your comments by January 3, 2020.

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

    Pursuant to the statutory authorities explained below, the 
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has implemented a 
voluntary enrollment program for individuals to apply for the TSA 
Pre[check][supreg] Application Program. Section 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) provides 
TSA with the authority to ``establish requirements to implement trusted 
programs and use available technologies to expedite security screening 
of passengers who participate in such programs, thereby allowing 
security screening personnel to focus on those passengers who should be 
subject to more extensive screening.'' In addition, TSA has express, 
statutory authority to establish and collect a fee for any registered 
traveler program by publication of a notice in the Federal Register, as 
outlined in the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 
2006, Public Law 109-90 (119 Stat. 2064, 2088-89, Oct. 18, 2005).
    Under the TSA Pre[check][supreg] Application Program, individuals 
may submit biographic and biometric \1\ information directly to TSA 
that TSA uses to conduct an STA of criminal, immigration, intelligence, 
and regulatory violation databases. TSA uses the STA results to decide 
if an individual poses a low risk to transportation or national 
security. TSA issues approved applicants a known traveler number (KTN) 
that they may use when making travel reservations. Airline passengers 
who submit a KTN when making airline reservations are eligible for 
expedited screening on flights originating from U.S. airports.\2\ 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 travelers and to confirm TSA 
Pre[check][supreg] expedited screening eligibility.
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    \1\ Unless otherwise specified, for the purposes of this 
document, ``biometrics'' refers to fingerprints and/or facial 
imagery.
    \2\ Passengers who are eligible for expedited screening 
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.
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    Interested applicants must provide 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 or immigration status, and biometrics 
via a secure interface. TSA uses this information to conduct an STA, 
make a final eligibility determination for the TSA Pre[check][supreg] 
Application Program, and verify the identities of TSA 
Pre[check][supreg] enrolled and approved individuals when they are 
traveling.
    TSA sends the applicants' fingerprints and associated information 
to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for the purpose of 
comparing their fingerprints to other fingerprints in the FBI's Next 
Generation Identification (NGI) system or its successor systems 
including civil, criminal, and latent fingerprint repositories. The FBI 
may retain applicants' fingerprints and associated information in NGI 
after the completion of their application and, while retained, their 
fingerprints may continue to be compared against other fingerprints 
submitted to or retained by NGI as part of the FBI's Rap Back 
program.\3\ In retaining applicants' fingerprints, the FBI conducts 
recurrent vetting of applicants' criminal history until the expiration 
date of the applicant's STA. TSA also transmits applicants' biometrics 
for enrollment into the Department of Homeland

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Security Automated Biometrics Identification System (IDENT) and its 
successor systems for recurrent vetting of applicants' criminal 
history, lawful presence, and ties to terrorism.
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    \3\ The FBI's Rap Back service allows authorized agencies to 
receive on-going status notifications of any criminal history 
reported to the FBI after the initial processing and retention of 
criminal or civil transactions using fingerprint identification.
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    TSA is revising the collection of information to reflect additional 
enrollment and vendor options in accordance with the TSA Modernization 
Act, Division K of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, Public Law 115-
254 (132 Stat. 3185; Oct. 5, 2018) at section 1937, codified at 49 
U.S.C. 44919. TSA expects to offer additional TSA Pre[check][supreg] 
Application Program enrollment opportunities at airports to reduce the 
burden on frequent travelers. Enrollment vendors may use commercial 
sources for the purpose of identity verification, or they may contact 
issuing sources of identity documents, such as State departments of 
motor vehicles for the same purpose. This revision also addresses TSA's 
plans to utilize DHS components' services, provided via U.S. Customs 
and Border Protection and the Office of Biometric Identity Management, 
to support TSA's biometric-based identification at the checkpoint and 
citizenship verification through passport information provided by the 
Department of State. Lastly, TSA intends to collect information from 
TSA Pre[check][supreg] members after enrollment through surveys to 
determine satisfaction and customer engagement with TSA 
Pre[check][supreg].
    When the STA is complete, TSA makes a final determination on 
eligibility for the TSA Pre[check][supreg] Application Program and 
notifies applicants of its decision. Most applicants generally should 
expect to receive notification from TSA within two to three weeks of 
the submission of their completed applications. If initially deemed 
ineligible by TSA, applicants will have an opportunity to correct cases 
of misidentification or inaccurate criminal records. Applicants must 
submit a correction of any information they believe to be inaccurate 
within 60 days of issuance of TSA's letter. If a corrected record is 
not received by TSA within the specified amount of time, 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 undergo standard screening at airport security 
checkpoints.
    The TSA Pre[check][supreg] Application Program enhances aviation 
security by permitting TSA to better focus its limited security 
resources on passengers who are unknown to TSA and whose level of risk 
is undetermined, 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.
    TSA estimates that there will be 1,815,779 new enrollments, 
1,245,184 online renewals, and 52,159 in-person renewals (3,113,122 
total enrollments) annualized over a three-year period. This estimate 
is based on current and projected enrollment with TSA's existing 
program. TSA estimates that there will be 4,211,661 annualized hours 
based on a three-year projection to include enrollment, renewals, and 
surveys. TSA estimates an average of 1.8968 hours per applicant to 
complete the enrollment process, which includes providing biographic 
and biometric information to TSA (via an enrollment center or pre- or 
post-enrollment options) and the burden for any records correction for 
the applicant, if applicable. TSA estimates an average of 0.1666 hours 
per applicant to complete the on-line renewal process. TSA estimates an 
average of 0.0833 hours per an estimated 6,310,473 annual survey 
respondents to include post-enrollment, non-renewal and other TSA 
Pre[check][supreg] surveys.

    Dated: October 29, 2019.
Christina A. Walsh,
TSA Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, Information Technology.
[FR Doc. 2019-23971 Filed 11-1-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-05-P