[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 169 (Tuesday, September 1, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52779-52780]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-21624]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Transportation Security Administration
Intent To Request Renewal From OMB of One Current Public
Collection of Information: Federal Flight Deck Officer 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 1652-0011,
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
requires interested volunteers to fill out an application to determine
their suitability for participating in the Federal Flight Deck Officer
(FFDO) Program, and deputized FFDOs to submit written reports of
certain prescribed incidents.
DATES: Send your comments by November 2, 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) 227-3651.
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
1652-0011; Federal Flight Deck Officer Program. The Transportation
Security Administration (TSA) initially required this information
collection under the authority of the Arming Pilots Against Terrorism
Act (APATA), Title XIV of the Homeland Security Act (Nov. 25, 2002),
sec. 1402(a), as amended by title VI of the Vision 100--Century of
Aviation Reauthorization Act (Vision 100) (Dec. 12, 2003), sec. 609(b).
See Public Law 107-296, 116 Stat. 2300, as codified at 49 U.S.C. 44921,
and Public Law 108-176, 117 Stat. 2570, as codified at 49 U.S.C. 44921,
respectively. TSA is seeking to renew this information collection in
order to continue collecting the information described in this notice
to comply with its statutory mission. The APATA required TSA to
establish a program to deputize volunteer pilots of passenger air
carriers as Federal law enforcement officers to defend the flight deck
of their aircraft against acts of criminal violence or air piracy. With
the enactment of Vision 100, eligibility to participate in the FFDO
program expanded to include pilots of all-cargo aircraft, as well as
flight engineers and navigators on both passenger and cargo aircraft.
In order to screen volunteers for entry into the FFDO program, TSA
collects information, including name, address, prior address
information, personal references, criminal history, limited medical
information, financial information, and employment information, from
applicants through comprehensive applications they submit to TSA. In
addition, standard operating procedures require deputized FFDOs to
report certain prescribed incidents to TSA so that appropriate records
are created for evidentiary, safety, and security purposes. TSA uses
the information collected to assess the qualifications and suitability
of prospective and current FFDOs through an online application, to
ensure the readiness of every FFDO, to administer the program, and for
other transportation security purposes. Based on the average number of
new applicants to the FFDO program, TSA estimates a total of 5,000
respondents annually. TSA estimates that the online
[[Page 52780]]
application will take one hour for each applicant to complete, for a
total burden of 5,000 hours.
Issued in Arlington, Virginia, on August 24, 2015.
Christina A. Walsh,
TSA Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, Office of Information Technology.
[FR Doc. 2015-21624 Filed 8-31-15; 8:45 am]
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