[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 72 (Thursday, April 14, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22093-22095]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-08568]
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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
[[Page 22094]]
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 renewal in compliance
with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). On August 21, 2015, OMB
approved TSA's request to combine two previously approved BASE ICRs
(1652-0061 and 1652-0062) into a single request.\1\ TSA later requested
an emergency revision due to requirements in the Gerardo Hernandez
Airport Security Act of 2015,\2\ addressing active shooter training and
communication processes. OMB approved the emergency revision on
February 29, 2016.\3\ TSA is now seeking to renew the collection as it
expires on August 31, 2016. The ICR assesses the current security
practices in the mass transit/passenger rail transit 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 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 security and operating officials of certain surface transportation
entities.
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\1\ See ICR Reference No. 201407-1652-001.
\2\ Public Law 114-50, 129 Stat. 490, Section 7 (Sept. 24,
2015).
\3\ See ICR Reference No. 201506-1652-003.
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DATES: Send your comments by June 13, 2016.
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
OMB Control Number 1652-0062; Baseline Assessment for Security
Enhancement (BASE) Program. 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.'' \4\ 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).
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\4\ 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.
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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
mass transit systems (including both rail and bus operations) and
passenger railroads (MT/PR). However, based on the success of the
program, TSA developed the Highway (HWY) BASE program in 2012, with
full implementation in 2013. This incorporated trucking, school bus
contractors, school districts, and over-the-road motor coach. 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.
TSA needs complete and consistent data about these transportation
security programs to perform it mission. While many MT/PR and HWY
entities have security and emergency response plans or protocols in
place, the BASE program is the only available method which consistently
evaluates implementation of these programs, their content, and
benchmarks. The program provides TSA with real-time information on
current security practices within the MT/PR and HWY modes of the
surface transportation sector. This information also allows TSA to
dynamically adapt its programs and recommendations to the changing
threat within the context of the current security posture of these
entities. Without this information, TSA's ability to perform its
security mission would be severely hindered. Additionally, the
assessment process fosters relationships critical to TSA's ability to
interact effectively with those surface transportation entities
participating in the BASE program.
On August 21, 2015, OMB approved TSA's request to combine two
previously approved BASE ICRs (1652-0061 and 1652-0062) into a single
request. See ICR Reference No. 201407-1652-001. Subsequently, the
Gerardo Hernandez Airport Security Act of 2015 (the Act) directed TSA
to conduct outreach to all passenger transportation agencies and
providers with high-risk facilities . . . to verify such agencies and
providers have in place plans to respond to active shooters, acts of
terrorism, or other security-related incidents that target passengers;
and to identify best practices for security incident planning,
management, and training. See section 7 of Public Law 114-50, 129 Stat.
490 (Sept. 24, 2015). As a result of these requirements, TSA added
seven (7) additional questions to the MT/PR BASE and five (5)
additional questions to the HWY BASE. OMB approved the emergency
revision on February 29, 2016, which expires on August 31, 2016. See
ICR Reference No. 201506-1652-003. TSA is now seeking renewal of this
revised information collection for the maximum three-year approval
period.
Description of Data Collection
In carrying out the voluntary BASE program, TSA's Transportation
Security
[[Page 22095]]
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, TSA 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 40 MT/PR BASE
reviews and approximately 50 HWY BASE reviews on an annual basis. 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. 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. Thus, the total annual hour
burden for the MT/PR BASE program review is 468 hours annually (40 x
11.7 hours = 468 hours) and for HWY BASE 90 hours annually (50 x 1.8
hours = 90 hours).
Dated: April 8, 2016.
Christina A. Walsh,
TSA Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, Office of Information Technology.
[FR Doc. 2016-08568 Filed 4-13-16; 8:45 am]
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