Intent To Request Revision of Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review: Baseline Assessment for Security Enhancement (BASE) Program, 30065-30066 [2021-11751]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 106 / Friday, June 4, 2021 / Notices delayed boarding; (2) denied or delayed entry into or departure from the United States at a port of entry; or (3) identified for additional (secondary) screening at our Nation’s transportation facilities, including airports, seaports, train stations and land borders. The TSA manages the DHS TRIP office on behalf of DHS. To request redress, individuals are asked to provide identifying information, as well as details of their travel experience in two surveys. The DHS TRIP office serves as a centralized intake office for traveler requests for redress and uses the online Traveler Inquiry Form (TIF) to collect requests for redress. DHS TRIP then passes the information to the relevant DHS TRIP practitioner office(s), including components of DHS, the U.S. Department of State, and the U.S. Department of Justice, to process the request, as appropriate. Participating DHS components include TSA, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the National Protection and Programs Directorate’s Office of Biometric Information Management, Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, and the Privacy Office, along with the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, and the U.S. Department of Justice, Terrorist Screening Center. This collection serves to distinguish misidentified individuals from an individual actually on any watch list that DHS uses, to initiate the correction of erroneous information about an individual contained in government-held records, which are leading to travel difficulties, and, where appropriate, to help streamline and expedite future check-in or border crossing experiences. It also serves to obtain information about the redress applicants’ level of satisfaction with the DHS TRIP application process with the aim of using this information to identify areas for improvement. Due to its importance in air transportation, the United States was elected to the Governing Council during the 2019 International Civil Aviation Organization (IACO) Assembly. ICAO creates regulations for aviation safety, security, efficiency and regularity and environmental protection. The organization also creates standards to provide uniformity in regulations, procedures and organization in relation to aircraft, personnel, airways, and auxiliary services in order to improve air navigation. TSA is revising the information collection by aligning the TIF question set to capture additional criteria to meet ICAO standards. As a VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:08 Jun 03, 2021 Jkt 253001 result, the question set has been edited to meet the standards. DHS estimates completing the form, and gathering and submitting the information will take approximately one hour. The annual respondent population was derived from data contained within the DHS case management database and reflects the actual number of respondents for the most recent calendar year. The estimated annual number of burden hours for passengers seeking redress, based on 15,000 annual respondents, is 15,000 hours (15,000 × 1 hour). DHS estimates 10 percent of the 15,000 respondents completing the form will complete the two surveys to share details of their application experience. The completion of the surveys will take approximately 10 minutes, giving an estimated annual number of burden hours as 250 (1,500 × .0167). The total estimated annual number of burden hours for this collection is 15,250 (15,000 + 250) hours. Christina A. Walsh, TSA Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, Information Technology. [FR Doc. 2021–11770 Filed 6–3–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 9110–05–P DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Transportation Security Administration Intent To Request Revision of Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review: Baseline Assessment for Security Enhancement (BASE) Program Transportation Security Administration, DHS. ACTION: 60-Day notice. AGENCY: The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) invites public comment on one currently approved Information Collection Request (ICR), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number 1652–0062 abstracted below that we will submit to OMB for a revision in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The ICR assesses the current security practices in the mass transit/passenger rail and highway and motor carrier industries by way of the Baseline Assessment for Security Enhancement (BASE) program, which encompasses site visits and interviews, and is part of the larger domain awareness, prevention, and protection program that supports the mission of TSA and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This voluntary collection allows SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00079 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 30065 TSA to conduct transportation securityrelated assessments during site visits with security and operating officials of certain surface transportation entities. DATES: Send your comments by August 3, 2021. ADDRESSES: Comments may be emailed to TSAPRA@tsa.dhs.gov 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 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 OMB Control Number 1652–0062; Baseline Assessment for Security Enhancement (BASE) Program. Under the Aviation and Transportation Security Act and delegated authority from the Secretary of Homeland Security, TSA has broad responsibility and authority for ‘‘security in all modes of transportation including security responsibilities over modes of transportation that are exercised by the Department of Transportation.’’ 1 TSA is 1 See Public Law 107–71, 115 Stat. 597 (Nov. 19, 2001), codified at 49 U.S.C. 114(d). The TSA Administrator’s current authorities under the Aviation and Transportation Security Act have been E:\FR\FM\04JNN1.SGM Continued 04JNN1 30066 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 106 / Friday, June 4, 2021 / Notices required to ‘‘assess the security of each surface transportation mode and evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of current Federal Government surface transportation security initiatives.’’ E.O. 13416, sec. 3(a) (Dec. 5, 2006). TSA developed the BASE program in 2007, in an effort to engage with surface transportation entities to establish a ‘‘baseline’’ of security and emergency response operations. This program was initially created for Mass Transit/ Passenger Rail (MT/PR) (including rail and bus operations) and passenger rail. Based on the success of the program, TSA developed the Highway (HWY) BASE program in 2012, which achieved full implementation in 2013. The HWY BASE applies to trucking, school bus contractors, school districts, and overthe-road motor coach. This voluntary program enables TSA to collect and evaluate physical and operational preparedness information and critical assets and key point-of-contact lists. TSA also reviews emergency procedures and domain awareness training and provides an opportunity to share industry best practices. The program provides TSA with current information on adopted security-practices within the MT/PR and HWY modes of the surface transportation sector. The information collected also allows TSA to dynamically adapt programs to the changing threat with an understanding of the improvements surface transportation entities make in their security posture. Without this information, the ability for TSA to perform its security mission would be severely hindered. Additionally, the relationships these face-to-face contacts foster are critical to TSA’s ability to reach out to the surface transportation entities participating in the BASE program. Absent this program, there would be no consistent data about these transportation security programs, nor a database that could be used to benchmark the programs. While many MT/PR and HWY entities have security and emergency response plans or protocols in place, the BASE provides a consistent approach to evaluate the delegated to him by the Secretary of Homeland Security. Section 403(2) of the Homeland Security Act (HSA) of 2002, Public Law 107–296, 116 Stat. 2315 (Nov. 25, 2002), transferred all functions of TSA, including those of the Secretary of Transportation and the Under Secretary of Transportation of Security related to TSA, to the Secretary of Homeland Security. Pursuant to DHS Delegation Number 7060.2, the Secretary delegated to the Assistant Secretary (now referred to as the Administrator of TSA), subject to the Secretary’s guidance and control, the authority vested in the Secretary with respect to TSA, including that in sec. 403(2) of the HSA. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:08 Jun 03, 2021 Jkt 253001 extent to which security programs exists and the content of those programs. The Government Accountability Office, audit GA–20–404, recommended TSA update the BASE cybersecurity questions to ensure they reflect key practices. As a result, TSA is revising the collection to include all five core functions of the National Institute of Standards and Technology cybersecurity framework. All core functions and a majority of the subcategories are amalgamated with industry best practices in the newly developed cybersecurity questions and cyber annex, strengthening the cybersecurity health for the transportation sector. In carrying out the voluntary BASE program, TSA’s Transportation Security Inspectors-Surface (TSIs-S) conduct BASE reviews during site visits with security and operating officials of MT/ PR and HWY systems, throughout the Nation. The TSIs-S receive and document relevant information using a standardized electronic checklist. Advance coordination and planning ensures the efficiency of the assessment process. The TSIs-S review and analyze the stakeholders’ security plan, if adopted, and determine if the mitigation measures included in the plan are being effectively implemented, while providing additional resources for further security enhancement. In addition to examining the security plan document, TSIs-S reviews one or more assets of the private and/or public owner/operator. During BASE site visits of MT/PR and HWY entities, TSIs-S collect information and complete a BASE checklist from the review of each entity’s documents, plans, and procedures. They also interview appropriate entity personnel and conduct system observations prompted by questions raised during the document review and interview stages. TSA conducts the interviews to ascertain and clarify information on security measures and to identify security gaps. The interviews also provide TSA with a method to encourage the surface transportation entities participating in the BASE reviews to be diligent in effecting and maintaining security-related improvements. While TSA has not set a limit on the number of BASE program reviews to conduct, TSA estimates it will conduct approximately 75 MT/PR BASE reviews and approximately 107 HWY BASE reviews on an annual basis. TSA does not intend to conduct more than one BASE review per mass transit or passenger rail system in a single year. PO 00000 Frm 00080 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 TSA estimates that the hour burden per MT/PR entity to engage its security and/ or operating officials with inspectors in the interactive BASE program review process is approximately 11.7 hours, while those who choose to also take the new cyber annex assessment will spend 17.7 hours. Also, TSA estimates that the hour burden per HWY entity to engage its security and/or operating officials with inspectors in the interactive BASE program review process is approximately 1.8 hours, while those who choose to also take the new cyber annex assessment will spend 7.8 hours. Thus, the total annual hour burden for the MT/PR BASE program review is 1,196 hours annually and for HWY BASE 512 hours annually. Christina A. Walsh, TSA Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, Information Technology. [FR Doc. 2021–11751 Filed 6–3–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 9110–05–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLNM930000 L51010000.ER0000 LVRWG19G0690 19XL5017AP] Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and Resource Management Plan Amendments for the SunZia Southwest Transmission Project, New Mexico Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of intent. AGENCY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) New Mexico State Office (NMSO), Santa Fe, New Mexico (NM), intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze the environmental impacts associated with SunZia’s application seeking to amend its right-of-way grant for the SunZia Southwest Transmission Project. Proposed amendments to SunZia’s right-of-way grant may require plan amendments to the Socorro Field Office Resource Management Plan, the Las Cruces District Mimbres Resource Management Plan, the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan, and the Cibola National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan, which the agencies will analyze in the EIS. BLM NMSO is the lead agency for purposes of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS), U.S. Forest Service (FS), National Park Service (NPS), and other agencies serving as SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\04JNN1.SGM 04JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 106 (Friday, June 4, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30065-30066]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-11751]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Transportation Security Administration


Intent To Request Revision of Agency Information Collection 
Activity Under OMB Review: Baseline Assessment for Security Enhancement 
(BASE) Program

AGENCY: Transportation Security Administration, DHS.

ACTION: 60-Day notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 1652-0062 
abstracted below that we will submit to OMB for a revision in 
compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The ICR assesses the 
current security practices in the mass transit/passenger rail and 
highway and motor carrier industries by way of the Baseline Assessment 
for Security Enhancement (BASE) program, which encompasses site visits 
and interviews, and is part of the larger domain awareness, prevention, 
and protection program that supports the mission of TSA and the 
Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This voluntary collection allows 
TSA to conduct transportation security-related assessments during site 
visits with security and operating officials of certain surface 
transportation entities.

DATES: Send your comments by August 3, 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 https://www.reginfo.gov upon its submission to OMB. 
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

    OMB Control Number 1652-0062; Baseline Assessment for Security 
Enhancement (BASE) Program. Under the Aviation and Transportation 
Security Act and delegated authority from the Secretary of Homeland 
Security, TSA has broad responsibility and authority for ``security in 
all modes of transportation including security responsibilities over 
modes of transportation that are exercised by the Department of 
Transportation.'' \1\ TSA is

[[Page 30066]]

required to ``assess the security of each surface transportation mode 
and evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of current Federal 
Government surface transportation security initiatives.'' E.O. 13416, 
sec. 3(a) (Dec. 5, 2006).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ See Public Law 107-71, 115 Stat. 597 (Nov. 19, 2001), 
codified at 49 U.S.C. 114(d). The TSA Administrator's current 
authorities under the Aviation and Transportation Security Act have 
been delegated to him by the Secretary of Homeland Security. Section 
403(2) of the Homeland Security Act (HSA) of 2002, Public Law 107-
296, 116 Stat. 2315 (Nov. 25, 2002), transferred all functions of 
TSA, including those of the Secretary of Transportation and the 
Under Secretary of Transportation of Security related to TSA, to the 
Secretary of Homeland Security. Pursuant to DHS Delegation Number 
7060.2, the Secretary delegated to the Assistant Secretary (now 
referred to as the Administrator of TSA), subject to the Secretary's 
guidance and control, the authority vested in the Secretary with 
respect to TSA, including that in sec. 403(2) of the HSA.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    TSA developed the BASE program in 2007, in an effort to engage with 
surface transportation entities to establish a ``baseline'' of security 
and emergency response operations. This program was initially created 
for Mass Transit/Passenger Rail (MT/PR) (including rail and bus 
operations) and passenger rail. Based on the success of the program, 
TSA developed the Highway (HWY) BASE program in 2012, which achieved 
full implementation in 2013. The HWY BASE applies to trucking, school 
bus contractors, school districts, and over-the-road motor coach. This 
voluntary program enables TSA to collect and evaluate physical and 
operational preparedness information and critical assets and key point-
of-contact lists. TSA also reviews emergency procedures and domain 
awareness training and provides an opportunity to share industry best 
practices. The program provides TSA with current information on adopted 
security-practices within the MT/PR and HWY modes of the surface 
transportation sector. The information collected also allows TSA to 
dynamically adapt programs to the changing threat with an understanding 
of the improvements surface transportation entities make in their 
security posture. Without this information, the ability for TSA to 
perform its security mission would be severely hindered. Additionally, 
the relationships these face-to-face contacts foster are critical to 
TSA's ability to reach out to the surface transportation entities 
participating in the BASE program.
    Absent this program, there would be no consistent data about these 
transportation security programs, nor a database that could be used to 
benchmark the programs. While many MT/PR and HWY entities have security 
and emergency response plans or protocols in place, the BASE provides a 
consistent approach to evaluate the extent to which security programs 
exists and the content of those programs.
    The Government Accountability Office, audit GA-20-404, recommended 
TSA update the BASE cybersecurity questions to ensure they reflect key 
practices. As a result, TSA is revising the collection to include all 
five core functions of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology cybersecurity framework. All core functions and a majority 
of the subcategories are amalgamated with industry best practices in 
the newly developed cybersecurity questions and cyber annex, 
strengthening the cybersecurity health for the transportation sector.
    In carrying out the voluntary BASE program, TSA's Transportation 
Security Inspectors-Surface (TSIs-S) conduct BASE reviews during site 
visits with security and operating officials of MT/PR and HWY systems, 
throughout the Nation. The TSIs-S receive and document relevant 
information using a standardized electronic checklist. Advance 
coordination and planning ensures the efficiency of the assessment 
process. The TSIs-S review and analyze the stakeholders' security plan, 
if adopted, and determine if the mitigation measures included in the 
plan are being effectively implemented, while providing additional 
resources for further security enhancement. In addition to examining 
the security plan document, TSIs-S reviews one or more assets of the 
private and/or public owner/operator.
    During BASE site visits of MT/PR and HWY entities, TSIs-S collect 
information and complete a BASE checklist from the review of each 
entity's documents, plans, and procedures. They also interview 
appropriate entity personnel and conduct system observations prompted 
by questions raised during the document review and interview stages. 
TSA conducts the interviews to ascertain and clarify information on 
security measures and to identify security gaps. The interviews also 
provide TSA with a method to encourage the surface transportation 
entities participating in the BASE reviews to be diligent in effecting 
and maintaining security-related improvements.
    While TSA has not set a limit on the number of BASE program reviews 
to conduct, TSA estimates it will conduct approximately 75 MT/PR BASE 
reviews and approximately 107 HWY BASE reviews on an annual basis. TSA 
does not intend to conduct more than one BASE review per mass transit 
or passenger rail system in a single year. TSA estimates that the hour 
burden per MT/PR entity to engage its security and/or operating 
officials with inspectors in the interactive BASE program review 
process is approximately 11.7 hours, while those who choose to also 
take the new cyber annex assessment will spend 17.7 hours. Also, TSA 
estimates that the hour burden per HWY entity to engage its security 
and/or operating officials with inspectors in the interactive BASE 
program review process is approximately 1.8 hours, while those who 
choose to also take the new cyber annex assessment will spend 7.8 
hours. Thus, the total annual hour burden for the MT/PR BASE program 
review is 1,196 hours annually and for HWY BASE 512 hours annually.

Christina A. Walsh,
TSA Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, Information Technology.
[FR Doc. 2021-11751 Filed 6-3-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-05-P
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