[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 28 (Wednesday, February 11, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7623-7624]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-02829]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Transportation Security Administration
Intent To Request Renewal From OMB of One Current Public
Collection of Information: Baseline Assessment for Security Enhancement
(BASE) 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 1652-0062
abstracted below that we will submit to OMB for revision in compliance
with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). TSA has combined two
previously-approved ICRs (1652-0061 and 1652-0062) into this single
request to simplify the collection, increase transparency, and reduce
duplicative efforts. TSA assesses the current security practices in the
transit and passenger rail and highway and motor carrier industries by
way of its 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 supporting TSA's
and the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) missions. This
voluntary collection allows TSA to conduct transportation security-
related assessments during site visits with surface transportation
security and operating officials.
DATES: Send your comments by April 13, 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
re-approval of the following voluntary information collection, TSA is
soliciting comments to--
(1) Evaluate whether the proposed information request 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 of Data Collection
Under the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA) 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 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 is
also specifically empowered to develop policies, strategies, and plans
for dealing with threats to transportation,\2\ ensure the adequacy of
security measures for the transportation of cargo,\3\ oversee the
implementation and ensure the adequacy of security measures at
transportation facilities,\4\ and carry out other appropriate duties
relating to transportation security.\5\
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\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 ATSA 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 (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.
\2\ 49 U.S.C. 114(f)(3).
\3\ 49 U.S.C. 114(f)(10).
\4\ 49 U.S.C. 114(f)(11).
\5\ 49 U.S.C. 114(f)(15).
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TSA developed the Baseline Assessment for Security Enhancement
(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
Public Transportation (PT) BASE systems. However, based on the success
of the program, TSA developed the Highway (HWY) BASE program in 2012,
with full implementation in 2013. This voluntary program has served to
evaluate and collect physical and operational preparedness information
and critical assets and key point-of-contact lists. The program also
reviews emergency procedures and domain awareness training, and
provides an opportunity to share industry best practices.
While many public transportation systems have security and
emergency response plans or protocols in place, there is no consistent
approach to evaluating the extent to which security programs exist, nor
the content of those programs. As a result, there also are no
consistent data about these transportation security programs, nor a
database that can be used to benchmark the programs. The BASE program
is designed to address these issues.
[[Page 7624]]
Description of Data Collection
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 transit (including
transit bus) and passenger rail systems, trucking, school bus
contractors, school districts, and motor coach companies throughout the
United States, capturing and documenting relevant information on a
standardized checklist. All BASE reviews are done on a voluntary basis
and are not regulatory inspections. Advance coordination and planning
ensures the efficiency of the assessment process. The TSIs-S review and
analyze the public transportation and highway entities' 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, TSA reviews one or more assets of the
public transportation and highway entities' system.
During BASE site visits of PT and HWY entities, TSIs-S collect
information and complete a BASE checklist from the review PT and HWY
entities' documents, plans, and procedures. They also interview
appropriate PT and HWY entities 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.
This program provides TSA with real-time information on current
security practices within the transit (including transit bus),
passenger rail, trucking, school bus contractor, school district, and
motor coach modes of the surface transportation sector. This
information also allows TSA to adapt programs to the changing threat
dynamically, while incorporating an understanding of the improvements
surface transportation entities make in their security posture. Without
this information, the ability of 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.
If TSA determines information in a completed assessment constitutes
Sensitive Security Information in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 114(r) and
49 CFR parts 15 and 1520, TSA will protect it in accordance with the
requirements set forth in part 1520.
Use of Results
The information collected by TSA through BASE reviews helps to
strengthen the security of PT and HWY entities' security programs by
supporting security program development (including grant programs),\6\
and the analysis/evaluation provides a consistent road map for PT and
HWY entities to address security and emergency program vulnerabilities.
In addition, a PT or HWY entity that undergoes a BASE review is
provided with a report of results that can be used by the system to
identify and prioritize vulnerabilities and funding to enhance
security. The BASE reviews also will align PT and HWY entities'
security efforts with other TSA risk reduction efforts and provide
industry partners corrective action options to consider by identifying
security smart practices to share with others.
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\6\ See United States Government Accountability Office (GAO)
Report to Congressional Requesters, GAO-15-159, PUBLIC TRANSIT
Federal and Transit Agencies Taking Steps to Build Transit Systems'
Resilience but Face Challenges, December 2014, page 10. http://www.gao.gov/assets/670/667391.pdf. GAO reviewed transit systems'
resilience to catastrophic events. The report examined (1) how DHS
and the Department of Transportation help transit agencies make
their systems resilient; (2) actions selected by transit agencies
take to make their systems resilient; and (3) challenges transit
agencies face with making their systems resilient.
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Specifically, the information collected will be used:
1. To develop a baseline understanding of a PT and HWY entities'
security and emergency management processes, procedures, policies,
programs, and activities against security requirements and recommended
security practices published by TSA.
2. To enhance a PT and HWY entities' overall security posture
through collaborative review and discussion of existing security
activities, identification of areas of potential weakness or
vulnerability, and development of remedial recommendations and courses
of action.
3. To identify programs and protocols implemented by PT and HWY
entities that represent an ``effective'' or ``smart'' security practice
warranting sharing with the transportation community as a whole to
foster general enhancement of security in the transportation mode.
4. To inform TSA's development of security strategies, priorities,
and programs for the most effective application of available resources,
including funds distributed under the respective Federal grant
programs, to enhance security within the Nation's surface
transportation system.
While TSA has not set a limit on the number of BASE program reviews
to conduct, TSA estimates it will conduct approximately 30 PT BASE
reviews and approximately 60 HWY BASE reviews on an annual basis. TSA
does not intend to conduct more than one BASE review per transit or
passenger rail system in a single year. TSA estimates that the hour
burden per PT entity to engage its security and/or operating officials
with inspectors in the interactive BASE program review process is
approximately 12 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 5 hours. Thus, the total annual hour burden for the PT
BASE program review is 360 hours annually (30 x 12 hours = 360 hours)
and for HWY BASE 300 hours annually (60 x 5 hours = 300 hours).
Dated: February 5, 2015.
Christina A. Walsh,
TSA Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, Office of Information Technology.
[FR Doc. 2015-02829 Filed 2-10-15; 8:45 am]
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