[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 3 (Tuesday, January 6, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 515-516]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-30874]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Transportation Security Administration
[Docket No. TSA-2014-0001]
Intent To Request Renewal From OMB of One Current Public
Collection of Information: TSA Pre[check][supreg] Application Program
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 1652-0059,
abstracted below, that we will submit to OMB for renewal in compliance
with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The ICR describes the nature of
the information collection and its expected burden. The collection
involves the voluntary submission of biographic and biometric
information that will be used for identity verification and to conduct
a security threat assessment which includes vetting of an individual's
voluntarily submitted information against law enforcement, immigration,
and intelligence databases to determine if the person poses a low risk
to transportation or national security and is eligible for expedited
screening through TSA Pre[check][supreg] lanes at airports. This notice
also provides initial information regarding TSA plans to expand
opportunities for enrollment into the TSA Pre[check][supreg]
Application Program by using additional contractors that will be
permitted to market, enroll, and pre-screen individuals for TSA
Pre[check][supreg] Application Program eligibility. Under the proposed
expansion, selected contractors will collect biographic and biometric
information from the applicant, and perform an initial prescreening of
applicants using processes approved by TSA. Those applicants who meet
the prescreening standards will be forwarded by the contractors to TSA,
which shall perform a security threat assessment and make a final
determination of the applicants' eligibility for the TSA
Pre[check][supreg] Application Program.
DATES: Send your comments by March 9, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be emailed to [email protected] or delivered
to the TSA PRA Officer, Office of Information Technology (OIT), TSA-11,
Transportation Security Administration, 601 South 12th Street,
Arlington, 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 is available
at http://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
OMB Control Number 1652-0059; TSA Pre[check][supreg]Application
Program. Under the TSA Pre[check][supreg] Application Program,
individuals may submit biographic and biometric information directly to
TSA, which in turn uses the information to conduct a security threat
assessment (STA) of law enforcement, immigration, and intelligence
databases, including a criminal history check. The results are used by
TSA to decide if an individual poses a low risk to transportation or
national security. Approved applicants are issued a Known Traveler
Number (KTN) that may be used when making travel reservations. Airline
passengers who submit their KTN when making airline reservations are
eligible for expedited screening on flights originating from U.S.
airports with TSA Pre[check][supreg] lanes.\1\ TSA uses the traveler's
KTN and other information during passenger prescreening to verify that
the individual traveling matches the information on TSA's list of known
travellers and to confirm TSA Pre[check][supreg] expedited screening
eligibility.
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\1\ Passengers who are eligible for expedited screening through
a dedicated TSA Pre[check][supreg] TM lane typically will
receive more limited physical screening, e.g., will be able to leave
on their shoes, light outerwear, and belt, to keep their laptop in
its case, and to keep their 3-1-1 compliant liquids/gels bag in a
carry-on. For airports with TSA Pre[check][supreg] TM
lanes, see http://www.tsa.gov/tsa-precheck/tsa-precheck-participating-airports.
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TSA plans to expand enrollment options for the TSA
Pre[check][supreg] Application Program by using additional contractor
options or capabilities to market, enroll and pre-screen applicants.\2\
Approved contractors will provide secure enrollment options to collect
biographic and biometric (e.g., fingerprints, iris scans, and/or photo)
information, to validate identity, to facilitate collection
citizenship/immigration information, and to perform a criminal history
records check to ensure that applicants do not have convictions for
criminal offenses that would disqualify them from the TSA
Pre[check][supreg] Application Program (please refer to the list of
current disqualifiers available at www.tsa.gov/tsa-precheck/eligibility-requirements). These expansion options may include the use
of commercial and other publicly available data to conduct identity
verification, collection of citizenship/immigration information, and
prescreening of applicants.
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\2\ For further information, see the Request for Proposal TSA
published on FedBizOpps.gov on December 22, 2014, available at
https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DHS/TSA/HQTSA/HSTS02-15-R-OIA037/listing.html.
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For successfully enrolled and prescreened applicants, TSA will
receive via a secure interface certain minimum required data elements
(including, but not be limited to, name, date of birth, gender,
address, contact information, country of birth, images of identity
documents, proof of citizenship/immigration status information, and
biometrics) to enable TSA to conduct a STA, make a final eligibility
determination for the TSA Pre[check][supreg] Application Program, and
verify TSA Pre[check][supreg] enrolled and approved individuals when
they are travelling.
[[Page 516]]
Applicants who are found to be ineligible as a result of
prescreening by a contractor shall be notified by the respective
contractor of the reason. The notification will include, when relevant,
information about the available correction of records process and any
alternatives available for identity verification, as well as other
available channels for TSA Pre[check][supreg] expedited screening.
The TSA-conducted STA for applicants forwarded by the contractors
will include checks against government watchlists and databases
associated with security and immigration. TSA will make the final
determination on eligibility for the TSA Pre[check][supreg] Application
Program and notify the applicant of the decision. Applicants generally
should expect to receive notification from TSA within 2-3 weeks of the
submission of their completed applications.
Eligibility for the TSA Pre[check][supreg] Application Program is
within the sole discretion of TSA, which will notify applicants who are
denied eligibility by TSA in writing of the reasons for the denial. If
initially deemed ineligible by TSA, applicants will have an opportunity
to correct cases of misidentification or inaccurate criminal or
immigration records. If advised during the application eligibility
review process that the criminal record discloses a disqualifying
criminal offense, the applicant must submit in writing within a
specified period of his or her intent to correct any information he or
she believes to be inaccurate. The applicant must provide a certified
revised record, or the appropriate court must forward a certified true
copy of the information, prior to TSA approving eligibility of the
applicant for the TSA Pre[check][supreg] Application Program. With
respect to citizenship and/or immigration records, within 60 days after
being advised that the citizenship or immigration records indicate that
the applicant is ineligible for the TSA Pre[check][supreg] Application
Program, the applicant must notify TSA in writing of his or her intent
to correct any information believed to be inaccurate. TSA will review
any information submitted and make a final decision. If neither
notification nor a corrected record is received by TSA, the agency may
make a final determination to deny eligibility. Individuals who TSA
determines are ineligible for the TSA Pre[check][supreg] Application
Program will be screened at airport security checkpoints pursuant to
standard screening protocols.
The TSA Pre[check][supreg] Application Program enhances aviation
security by permitting TSA to better focus its limited security
resources on passengers who are more likely to pose a threat to civil
aviation, while also facilitating and improving the commercial aviation
travel experience for the public. Travelers who choose not to enroll in
this initiative are not subject to any limitations on their travel
because of their choice; they will be processed through normal TSA
screening before entering the sterile areas of airports. TSA also
retains the authority to perform standard or other screening on a
random basis on TSA Pre[check][supreg] Application Program participants
and any other travelers authorized to receive expedited physical
screening.
Average Annual Number of Respondents: An estimated 2,074,000
annualized enrollments over a five-year period. This estimate is based
on current and projected enrollment with TSA's current program, as well
as what TSA anticipates from program expansion to additional
contractors performing enrollment and prescreening functions.
Estimated Annual Burden Hours: An estimated 2,742,049 annualized
hours based on a five-year projection. TSA estimates 1.32 hours per
applicant to complete the enrollment process, which includes providing
biographic and biometric information to TSA (via an enrollment center
or pre-enrollment options) or to a TSA Pre[check][supreg] Application
Program contractor, and the burden for any records correction for the
applicant, if applicable.
Estimated Annual Cost Burden: $72,290,129 annualized cost burden
based on a five-year projection. The TSA fee per respondent for those
who apply for the program directly with TSA will remain $85, which
covers TSA's program costs and the FBI fee for the criminal history
records check. The fee charged by contractors under the expansion of
the program may differ, as it may include, but not be limited to, fees
for other services that the companies provide separately to their
customers.
Dated: December 30, 2014.
Christina A. Walsh,
TSA Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, Office of Information Technology.
[FR Doc. 2014-30874 Filed 1-5-15; 8:45 am]
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