[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 87 (Wednesday, May 6, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24595-24596]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-08981]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Transportation Security Administration
[Docket No. TSA-2003-14610]
Intent To Request Extension 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, which we will submit to OMB for an extension 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) 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 July 6, 2026.
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 https://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 part 1572. TSA is requesting an
extension 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\ See also Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing
Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act
of 2001, Public Law 107-56, 1012, 49 U.S.C. 5103a (2026).
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TSA's implementing regulations (codified at 49 CFR part 1572) set
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 TSA's enrollment provider 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 5
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; sex; 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 enrollment provider must also submit whether the
driver is
[[Page 24596]]
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 the two-letter
state code and their CDL number (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]. Accessed at
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 enrollment is received and the STA is complete, TSA makes
a final determination on eligibility for the HME and notifies
applicants of its decision. Most applications are approved within 48
hours, however some may require additional time for further research or
case corrections. If initially deemed ineligible by TSA, applicants
will have an opportunity to apply for an appeal or waiver. Applicants
may apply for an appeal or waiver within 60 days of issuance of TSA's
notification on eligibility. If an application for an 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 plans to provide online renewal and re-enrollment capability
for applicants who initially enrolled in-person and wish to renew their
expiring STA. Active HME holders will be able to renew online before
their STA expires and HME holders who have a recently expired STA will
be able to re-enroll online up to a year after expiration.
Approximately 52 percent of active HME holders opt to renew their HME
when it expires every 5 years. Online HME renewals may reduce the
applicant's cost and hour burden by avoiding visiting a TSA enrollment
center for the renewal of a STA. TSA will also allow the subscription
of HME holders, in states serviced by TSA's enrollment provider, in the
Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) Rap Back Service. The Rap Back
recurrent criminal history vetting for HME holders mitigates certain
security risks posed by individuals who commit a disqualifying offense
after their STA is completed and the HME is issued.
The currently approved ICR also includes an optional survey to
gather information regarding the driver's overall customer satisfaction
with the service afforded by TSA's enrollment provider. The survey is
administered at the conclusion of the enrollment process via hyperlink
sent to the applicant's email address, where available. Please note
that the optional survey is used only in states serviced by TSA's
enrollment provider.
TSA estimates an annualized 238,520 applicants will apply for an
HME, and that the application and STA process will involve 256,416
annualized hours.
Dated: May 4, 2026.
Christina A. Walsh,
Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, Information Technology, Transportation
Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2026-08981 Filed 5-5-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-05-P