Intent To Request Approval From OMB of One New Public Collection of Information: Certified Cargo Screening Pilot Program, 16879-16880 [E9-8350]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
• Transportation Security Administration

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 69 (Monday, April 13, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16879-16880]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-8350]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Transportation Security Administration


Intent To Request Approval From OMB of One New Public Collection 
of Information: Certified Cargo Screening Pilot Program

AGENCY: Transportation Security Administration, DHS.

ACTION: 60-day notice.

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SUMMARY: The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) invites 
public comment on a new Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted 
below that we will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for approval in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. The ICR 
describes the nature of the information collection and its expected 
burden. The collection will allow TSA to collect two broad categories 
of information from entities that wish to become Certified Cargo 
Screening Facilities (CCSF): (1) Personal information to allow TSA to 
conduct security threat assessments on key individuals employed by the 
CCSFs; and (2) data demonstrating air cargo throughput and other 
information from which TSA can determine the effectiveness of the 
CCSF's performance. Under this pilot, CCSFs must also maintain 
screening and other security-related training records.

DATES: Send your comments by June 12, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed or delivered to Ginger LeMay, Office 
of Information Technology, TSA-11, Transportation Security 
Administration, 601 South 12th Street, Arlington, VA 20598-6011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ginger LeMay at the above address, or 
by telephone (571) 227-3616 or e-mail ginger.lemay@dhs.gov.

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 is available 
at https://www.reginfo.gov. 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

Purpose and Description of Data Collection

    TSA is seeking approval of this ICR in order to secure passenger 
aircraft carrying cargo by the deadlines set out in the Implementing 
Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007.
    Section 1602 of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 
Commission Act of 2007 (Pub. L. 110-53, 121 Stat. 266, 278, Aug. 3, 
2007) requires the development of a system to screen 50 percent of the 
cargo transported on a passenger aircraft by February 2009 and to 
screen 100 percent of such cargo by August 2010. TSA plans to issue an 
interim final rule (IFR) amending 49 CFR to implement this statutory 
requirement. In order to comply with the statutory mandate, TSA has 
developed a program that will allow shippers, indirect air carriers, 
and

[[Page 16880]]

other entities to screen cargo off-airport before it is tendered to 
aircraft operators for transport on passenger aircraft. In the absence 
of such a program, all air cargo screening required by the 9/11 
Commission Act would have to be accomplished by the aircraft operators 
at the airport. Severe delays and economic disruption would result.
    Before issuing the IFR, however, TSA needs to collect information 
during an initial pilot program. Accordingly, TSA must proceed with a 
separate ICR for the pilot program in order to meet the Congressional 
mandate. This ICR will allow TSA to collect two broad categories of 
information from shippers, indirect air carriers, and other entities 
that wish to become CCSFs:
    (1) Personal information to allow TSA to conduct security threat 
assessments (STA) on key individuals employed by the CCSFs; and
    (2) Data demonstrating air cargo throughput and other information 
from which TSA can determine eligibility to become a CCSF and the 
effectiveness of the CCSF's performance.
    TSA will certify qualified facilities as CCSFs. CCSFs may screen 
cargo off-airport and must implement measures to ensure a secure chain 
of custody from the point of screening to the point at which the cargo 
is tendered to the aircraft operator or other regulated entity for 
transport. This pilot creates several new information collections. 
Outlined below are the specifics of each information collection.

Data Collection

    Entities seeking to become CCSFs are required to submit an 
application to TSA at least 90 days before the intended date of 
operation. CCSF applicants will submit applications and related 
information either electronically through e-mail or through the online 
Air Cargo Document Management System under development. TSA will also 
accept applications by postal mail. Once TSA approves the application, 
TSA will allow the regulated entity to operate as a CCSF in accordance 
with TSA standards.
    TSA will require CCSF applicants to ensure that individuals 
performing screening and related functions under the IFR have 
successfully completed an STA conducted by TSA. In addition, Security 
Coordinators and their alternates for CCSFs will need STAs. CCSFs must 
submit personally identifiable information on these individuals to TSA 
so that TSA can conduct an STA.
    CCSF facilities must provide information on the amount of cargo 
screened at an approved facility. CCSFs must also maintain screening 
and other security-related training records.

Estimated Burden Hours

    TSA has identified four separate information collections under this 
ICR. These four collections will affect an estimated total of 2,667 
unique respondents (shippers, indirect air carriers, and other 
entities) over the three years of the PRA analysis. Collectively, these 
four information collections represent an estimated average of 89,011 
responses annually, for an average annual hour burden of 152,490 hours.
    1. STAs. All pilot participants will be required to have certain 
employees undergo STAs. TSA estimates the time to complete an STA 
application at 15 minutes per individual. TSA estimates an average of 
2,667 CCSFs responding annually with an average of 20 applicants each. 
This yields an estimated 53,340 STAs (2,667 CCSFs x 20 applicants) for 
CCSFs. From this, we derive an annual hour burden of 13,335 hours 
(53,340 STAs x 0.25 hrs).
    2. Screening and Other Security-Related Training Records. All CCSFs 
will be required to maintain screening and other security-related 
training records for employees in the program. TSA estimates a time 
burden of approximately five minutes annually for each CCSF to file the 
training records. TSA considers the estimated average annual CCSFs 
impacted to be 2,667. From this, TSA derives an annual hour burden of 
approximately 221 hours (2,667 CCSFs x 0.083 hrs).
    3. Applications. Entities desiring to become CCSFs will send TSA an 
application for consideration. TSA estimates that it will receive an 
average of 1,000 enrollment applications annually, and that these 
applications will require an average of 15 minutes each to complete, 
resulting in an annual burden of 250 hours (1,000 CCSFs x 0.25 hrs).
    4. Cargo Volume Reports. Finally, TSA estimates that approximately 
2,667 CCSFs will complete monthly cargo volume reports taking 
approximately one hour each week. This creates an estimated annual 
burden of approximately 138,684 hours (2,667 CCSFs x 1 hr x 52 weeks).

Use of Results

    TSA will use the information gathered as part of this pilot program 
for the purpose of ``beta testing'' the many processes and procedures 
associated with the program. TSA will utilize the results to evaluate, 
refine, and improve the final certified cargo screening program in the 
IFR.

    Issued in Arlington, Virginia, on April 7, 2009.
Ginger LeMay,
Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, Business Improvements and 
Communications, Office of Information Technology.
[FR Doc. E9-8350 Filed 4-10-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-05-P