Transportation Security Administration July 31, 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

TSA is extending for 90 days the exemption from Renewal of the Hazardous Materials Endorsement Security Threat Assessment for Certain Individuals that TSA published on April 8, 2020, which was scheduled to expire on July 31, 2020. Under this exemption, states may extend the expiration date of hazardous materials endorsements (HMEs) that expire on or after March 1, 2020, for 180 days, due to restrictions and business closures in place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. If a state grants an extension, the individual with an expired HME must initiate the process of renewing his or her security threat assessment (STA) for the HME no later than 60 days before the end of the state- granted extension. State licensing agencies and related associations report ongoing difficulties in timely renewal of expiring HMEs and asked TSA to consider extending the exemption for 90 days. TSA has determined it is in the public interest to extend the exemption for 90 days. TSA may extend this exemption at a future date depending on the status of the COVID-19 crisis.