New Emergency Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review: Office of Law Enforcement/Federal Air Marshal Service (OLE/FAM) Mental Health Certification, 70524-70525 [E6-20550]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
• Transportation Security Administration

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 233 (Tuesday, December 5, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70524-70525]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-20550]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Transportation Security Administration


New Emergency Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB 
Review: Office of Law Enforcement/Federal Air Marshal Service (OLE/FAM) 
Mental Health Certification

AGENCY: Transportation Security Administration, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of emergency clearance request.

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SUMMARY: This Notice announces that the Transportation Security 
Administration (TSA) will forward the new Information Collection 
Request (ICR) abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for emergency processing and approval under the Paperwork 
Reduction Act. The ICR describes the nature of information collection 
and its expected burden.

DATES: Send your comments by January 4, 2007. A comment to OMB is most 
effective if OMB receives it within 30 days of publication.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments on 
the proposed information collection to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget. Comments should be 
addressed

[[Page 70525]]

to Nathan Lesser, Desk Officer, Department of Homeland Security/TSA, 
and sent via electronic mail to oira_submission@omb.eop.gov or faxed 
to (202) 395-6974.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katrina Kletzly, Attorney-Advisor, 
Office of the Chief Counsel, TSA-2, Transportation Security 
Administration, 601 South 12th Street, Arlington, VA 22202-4220; 
telephone (571) 227-1995; facsimile (571) 227-1381.

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. 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.

Information Collection Requirement

    Title: Office of Law Enforcement/Federal Air Marshal Service Mental 
Health Certification.
    Type of Request: Emergency processing request of new collection.
    OMB Control Number: Not yet assigned.
    Forms(s): Mental Health Certification.
    Affected Public: Office of Law Enforcement/Federal Air Marshal 
Service applicants.
    Abstract: Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 44901, 44903, and 44917, TSA has 
authority to prescribe regulations to protect passengers and property 
on an aircraft operating in air transportation or intrastate air 
transportation against an act of criminal violence or aircraft piracy, 
provide for deployment of Federal Air Marshals (FAMs) on passenger 
flights, and provide for appropriate training, supervision, and 
equipment of FAMs. In furtherance of this authority, TSA policy 
requires that applicants for Office of Law Enforcement/Federal Air 
Marshal positions meet certain medical standards, including Federal 
Aviation Administration second-class airman standards as outlined in 14 
CFR part 67. The TSA modifications to these standards include a 
psychological evaluation to determine that the individual does not have 
an established medical history or clinical diagnosis of psychosis, 
neurosis, or any other personality or mental disorder that clearly 
demonstrates a potential hazard to the performance of FAM duties or the 
safety of self or others. As part of the psychological evaluation, 
applicants will be required to complete a certification regarding their 
mental health history and provide an explanation for anything they 
cannot certify. Applicants will be asked whether they can certify 
various statements including that they have never been removed from 
work for medical or psychological reasons. Applicants will be 
instructed to submit this form directly to the FAMS Medical Programs 
for initial screening via fax, mail, or in person. Any explanations 
received will generally require further review and follow-up by a 
contract psychologist or psychiatrist. This certification is carefully 
geared to capitalize on other elements of the assessment process, such 
as personal interviews, physical task assessment, background 
investigation, as well as the other components of the medical 
examination and assessment.
    Number of Respondents: 10,000.
    Estimated Annual Burden Hours: An estimated 10,000 hours annually.

    Issued in Arlington, Virginia, on November 30, 2006.
Lisa Dean,
Privacy Officer.
[FR Doc. E6-20550 Filed 12-4-06; 8:45 am]
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