[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 66 (Thursday, April 8, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18293-18294]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-07193]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Transportation Security Administration

[Docket No. TSA-2003-14610]


Intent To Request Revision From OMB of One Current Public 
Collection of Information: Security Threat Assessment for Individuals 
Applying for a Hazardous Materials Endorsement for a Commercial 
Driver's License

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 1652-0027, 
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. The 
collection involves a driver's voluntary submission of biometric and 
biographic information for TSA's security threat assessment (STA) in 
order to obtain the hazardous materials endorsement (HME) on a 
commercial driver's license (CDL) issued by States and the District of 
Columbia.

DATES: Send your comments by June 7, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be emailed to [email protected] or delivered to 
the TSA PRA Officer, Information Technology, TSA-11, Transportation 
Security Administration, 6595 Springfield Center Drive, Springfield, 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 inviting 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 1652-0027; Security Threat Assessment for 
Individuals Applying for a Hazardous Materials Endorsement for a 
Commercial Driver's License, 49 CFR

[[Page 18294]]

part 1572. TSA is requesting a revision of the currently approved ICR. 
The currently approved ICR supports implementation of 49 U.S.C. 
5103a,\1\ which mandates that no State or the District of Columbia may 
issue an HME on a CDL unless TSA has first determined that the driver 
is not a threat to transportation security.
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    \1\ Which codified sec. 1012 of Public Law 107-56 (115 Stat. 
272, 396, Oct. 26, 2001), Uniting and Strengthening America by 
Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct 
Terrorism (USA PATRIOT ACT) Act of 2001.
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    TSA's implementing regulations (codified at 49 CFR part 1572) 
describe the procedures, standards, and eligibility criteria for STAs 
of individuals seeking to obtain, renew, or transfer an HME on a CDL. 
To conduct the STA for the HME, States (or a TSA-designated agent in 
States that elect to have TSA perform the collection of information) 
must collect additional information beyond that already collected for 
the purpose of HME applications (which occur approximately once every 
five years). The driver is required to submit an application that 
includes personal information including driver's legal name; current 
and previous mailing addresses; date of birth; gender; height, weight, 
eye, and hair color; city, state, and country of birth; social security 
number (optional); immigration status; mental incapacity; criminal 
history; and biometrics, such as fingerprints.
    States or the TSA agent must also submit whether the driver is a 
new applicant or applying to renew or transfer the HME. This 
information is necessary for TSA to forecast driver retention, transfer 
rate, and drop rate to help improve customer service and reduce program 
costs. This information also may be necessary to provide comparability 
with other Federal background checks, including the Transportation 
Workers Identification Credential (TWIC[supreg]).
    In addition, the ICR includes the collection of information to 
expand enrollment options and the potential use of biographic and 
biometric (e.g., fingerprints, iris scans, and/or photo) information 
for additional comparability determinations. States have the option to 
permit TWIC holders to obtain an HME without completing a new STA, and 
applicants in States that allow comparability pay a reduced fee to 
obtain the HME. TSA may also use the information to determine whether 
the driver with a valid HME is eligible to participate in TSA's 
expedited screening program for air travel, the TSA PreCheck[supreg] 
Application Program. As of April 2020, unexpired HME drivers who meet 
the eligibility requirements for TSA PreCheck may use their CDL number 
and two digit State code (e.g., NY1234567 for a New York CDL) in the 
appropriate known traveler number field of an airline reservation to 
obtain expedited screening eligibility.\2\
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    \2\ Transportation Security Administration. (2020, July 8.) 
Active TWIC[supreg] and HME holders can use their credentials to 
obtain TSA PreCheckTM [Press release]. Retrieved from 
https://www.tsa.gov/news/press/releases/2020/07/08/active-twicr-and-hme-holders-can-use-their-credentials-obtain-tsa.
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    When the STA is complete, TSA makes a final determination on 
eligibility for the HME and notifies applicants of its decision. Most 
applicants will 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 apply for an 
appeal or waiver. Applicants must submit an application for appeal or 
waiver within 60 days of issuance of TSA's notification on eligibility. 
If an application for appeal or waiver is not received by TSA within 
the specified amount of time, the agency may make a final determination 
to deny eligibility.
    TSA is revising the collection to reflect the implementation of an 
online renewal or re-enrollment capability for those applicants. Active 
HME holders will be able to renew online before their STA expires; HME 
holders who have a recently expired STA will be able to re-enroll 
online. Approximately 60 percent of active HME holders enroll to renew 
their HME when it expires every five years. Online HME renewals will 
reduce the applicant's cost and hour burden by avoiding visiting a TSA 
enrollment center for the renewal of a STA. Also, TSA is revising the 
collection to reflect the subscription of HME holders, in States 
serviced by TSA's enrollment contractor, in the Federal Bureau of 
Investigation's (FBI) Rap Back Service. Once an individual is enrolled 
in Rap Back, TSA will not be required to collect new biometric 
fingerprints from the individual every five years or collect a fee from 
the individual for the submission of fingerprints to the FBI. The 
implementation of Rap Back recurrent criminal history vetting for HME 
holders will mitigate certain security risks posed by individuals who 
commit a disqualifying offense after their STA is completed and the HME 
is issued. Due to the reduced cost of the online enrollment transaction 
and elimination of the fingerprint fee, the renewal fee for an HME STA 
will decrease.
    The currently approved ICR also includes an optional survey to 
gather information regarding the driver's overall customer satisfaction 
with the service TSA's enrollment provider provides in the TSA-agent 
states. The survey currently is administered in-person at the 
conclusion of the enrollment process. TSA is revising the collection to 
allow the survey to be administered at the conclusion of the enrollment 
process via hyperlink sent to the applicant's email address, where 
available. The survey will also be sent to those applicants who use the 
online renewal process, where applicable. Please note that the optional 
survey is used only in States serviced by TSA's designated enrollment 
contractor.
    TSA estimates an annualized 247,952 respondents will apply for an 
HME, and that the application and STA process will involve 259,253 
annualized hours. The applicant fee remains $86.50, which covers TSA's 
program costs, TSA's enrollment vendor's costs, and the FBI fee for the 
criminal history records check. For applicants in States that allow 
comparability, the reduced fee remains $67.00.

    Dated: April 2, 2021.
Christina A. Walsh,
TSA Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, Information Technology.
[FR Doc. 2021-07193 Filed 4-7-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-05-P