[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 122 (Wednesday, June 24, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37958-37959]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-13580]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Transportation Security Administration

[Docket No. TSA-2020-0001]


Public Meeting and Extension of Comment Period on Request for 
Information: Air Cargo Security Options To Mitigate Costs of Compliance 
With International Security Requirements

AGENCY: Transportation Security Administration, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting and extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: On April 10, 2020, TSA published a request for information 
(RFI) specifically requesting information from the air cargo industry 
(including manufacturers, shippers, suppliers, warehouses, e-commerce 
fulfillment centers, third-party logistics providers, and air carriers) 
relating to compliance with international security standards for the 
transport of air cargo by commercial aircraft operators (85 FR 20234). 
In advance of the closing date for comments submitted in response to 
the RFI, TSA will hold a public meeting on July 29, 2020, to answer 
questions regarding the international standards discussed in the RFI 
and to provide an additional forum for comments by stakeholders and 
other interested persons regarding the issues identified in the RFI. In 
light of the current COVID-19 public health crisis, the public meeting 
will be virtual. TSA is also extending the comment period for the RFI 
to provide an additional period for comments to be submitted after the 
public meeting.

DATES: 
    Virtual public meeting: The virtual public meeting will be on July 
29, 2020, via telecom, beginning at 10:00 a.m. (EDT).
    Comments on request for information: The comment period on the RFI 
is extended from July 9, 2020, to August 27, 2020.

ADDRESSES: To access the public meeting, interested persons should 
contact the individual in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section 
to receive the telephone number and participant code. Participants 
should call 2-7 minutes in advance to avoid overloading the phone 
servers. Persons unable to join public meeting may submit comments to 
the RFI published on April 10, 2020 (85 FR 20234).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Friedman, Transportation 
Security Administration, 601 South 12th Street, Arlington, VA 20598-
6028; telephone (571) 227-3555 OR (202) 236-3786; email 
[email protected] OR Air Cargo Branch, TSA at the above 
address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Availability of Committee Documents

    You may obtain an electronic copy of the record for the public 
meeting or other submissions related to this action by using the 
internet through one of the following methods--
    (1) Search the electronic Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) 
web page at http://www.regulations.gov; or
    (2) Access the Government Publishing Office's web page at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/collection.action?collectionCode=FR to view 
the daily published Federal Register edition; or accessing the ``Search 
the Federal Register by Citation'' in the ``Related Resources'' column 
on the left, if you need to do a Simple or Advanced search for 
information, such as a type of document that crosses multiple agencies 
or dates.
    In addition, copies are available by writing or calling the 
individual in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. Make sure to 
identify the docket number of this action.

Comments Invited

    TSA invites interested persons to participate in this public 
meeting by participating in the telecom, as listed above. Individuals 
unable to participate in the public meeting may submit written 
comments, data, or views by August 27, 2020, following instructions 
provided in the RFI published on April 10, 2020. See 85 FR 20234.

Handling of Confidential or Proprietary Information and Sensitive 
Security Information (SSI) Submitted in Public Comments

    Whether participating in the public meeting or submitting comments 
to the docket, do not submit comments or provide information that 
includes trade secrets, confidential commercial or financial 
information, or SSI. Please submit such comments separately from other 
comments on the action. Comments containing this type of information 
should be appropriately marked as containing such information and 
submitted by mail to the address listed in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT section.
    TSA will not place comments containing SSI in the public docket and 
will handle them in accordance with applicable safeguards and 
restrictions on access. TSA will hold documents

[[Page 37959]]

containing SSI, confidential business information, or trade secrets in 
a separate file to which the public does not have access, and place a 
note in the public docket explaining that commenters have submitted 
such documents. TSA may include a redacted version of the comment in 
the public docket. If an individual requests to examine or copy 
information that is not in the public docket, TSA will treat it as any 
other request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 
552) and the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS') FOIA regulation 
found in 6 CFR part 5.

Reviewing Comments in the Docket

    Please be aware that anyone is able to search the electronic form 
of all comments in any of our dockets and a summary of the meeting by 
the name of the individual who submitted the comment, participated in 
the public meeting, or signed the comment (if an association, business, 
labor union, etc., submitted the comment). You may review the 
applicable Privacy Act Statement published in the Federal Register on 
April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477) and modified on January 17, 2008 (73 FR 
3316).
    You may review TSA's electronic public docket on the internet at 
http://www.regulations.gov. In addition, DOT's Docket Management 
Facility provides a physical facility, staff, equipment, and assistance 
to the public. To obtain assistance or to review comments in TSA's 
public docket, you may visit this facility between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 
p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays, or call (202) 
366-9826. This docket operations facility is located in the West 
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140 at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 
Washington, DC 20590.

Background

    On April 10, 2020, TSA published a Request for Information: Air 
Cargo Security Options to Mitigate Costs of Compliance with 
International Security Requirements. See 85 FR 20234. The RFI requests 
information from the public, specifically the air cargo industry, 
relating to compliance with international security standards for the 
transport of air cargo by commercial aircraft operators. Effective June 
30, 2021, international standards require that all international air 
cargo carried by commercial aircraft operators (passenger and all-
cargo) be either screened or be received from another TSA-regulated 
entity that has applied security controls and/or screened the cargo. 
TSA is seeking information regarding options to reduce the burden on 
U.S. and foreign all-cargo aircraft operators in complying with the 
international standard, such as security controls implemented 
throughout the supply chain that provide a level of security 
commensurate with the screening of cargo before transport. Because TSA 
does not expect these standards to require changes to current 
procedures for cargo transported on passenger aircraft, this RFI is 
focused only on all-cargo operations.

Specific Issues for Discussion

    There are several areas in particular in which TSA seeks 
information and comment from the industry at the public meeting; these 
specific issues are identified in the RFI. See 85 FR at 20237-20238. 
These key issues are intended to help focus public comments on subjects 
that TSA must explore in order to complete its review of potential 
frameworks. The comments at the meeting need not be limited to these 
issues.

Participation at the Meeting

    The meeting is expected to begin at 10:00 a.m. and end by 12:00 
p.m. (EDT). Following an introduction by TSA, members of the public 
will be invited to ask clarifying questions or present their views.
    Individuals may address statements, questions, comments during the 
virtual meeting's specified ``open floor'' times, in the order they 
present themselves to the moderator. To accommodate as many questions 
as possible, the amount of time allocated to each speaker may be 
limited by TSA.

Public Meeting Procedures

    TSA will use the following procedures to facilitate the meeting:
    (1) There will be no admission fee or other charge to attend or to 
participate in the meeting. The meeting may adjourn early if scheduled 
speakers complete their statements or questions in less time than is 
scheduled for the meeting and there are no remaining questions from 
meeting participants.
    (2) An individual, whether speaking in a personal or a 
representative capacity on behalf of an organization, will be limited 
to a 5-minute statement and scheduled on a first-come, first-served 
basis.
    (3) Any speaker prevented by time constraints from speaking will be 
encouraged to submit written remarks to the docket, which will be made 
part of the record.
    (4) For information on services for individuals with disabilities 
or to request assistance at the meeting, please contact the person 
listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section above before July 
20, 2020.
    (5) Representatives of TSA will preside over the meeting.
    (6) The meeting will be recorded by a court reporter. TSA will 
provide a summary of the meeting and list of participants in the docket 
for this action. Any person who is interested in purchasing a copy of 
the transcript should contact the court reporter directly.
    (7) Statements made by TSA representatives are intended to 
facilitate discussion of the issues or to clarify issues. Any statement 
made during the meeting by a TSA representative is not intended to be, 
and should not be construed as, TSA's official position.
    (8) The meeting is designed to invite public views and gather 
additional information. No individual will be subject to cross-
examination by any other participant; however, TSA representatives may 
ask questions to clarify a statement.

Stacey Fitzmaurice,
Executive Assistant Administrator, Operations Support, Transportation 
Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2020-13580 Filed 6-23-20; 8:45 am]
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