80 FR 32973 - Extension of Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review: TSA Claims Management Branch Program

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Transportation Security Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 111 (June 10, 2015)

This notice announces that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has forwarded the Information Collection Request (ICR), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number 1652-0039, abstracted below to OMB for review and approval of an extension of the currently approved collection under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden. TSA published a Federal Register notice, with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments, of the following collection of information on April 1, 2015, at 80 FR 17470. The collection involves the submission of information from claimants in order to thoroughly examine and resolve tort claims against the agency.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 111 (Wednesday, June 10, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32973-32974]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-14201]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Transportation Security Administration


Extension of Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB 
Review: TSA Claims Management Branch Program

AGENCY: Transportation Security Administration, DHS.

ACTION: 30-day Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces that the Transportation Security 
Administration (TSA) has forwarded the Information Collection Request 
(ICR), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number 1652-0039, 
abstracted below to OMB for review and approval of an extension of the 
currently approved collection under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). 
The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its 
expected burden. TSA published a Federal Register notice, with a 60-day 
comment period soliciting comments, of the following collection of 
information on April 1, 2015, at 80 FR 17470. The collection involves 
the submission of information from claimants in order to thoroughly 
examine and resolve tort claims against the agency.

DATES: Send your comments by July 10, 2015. A comment to OMB is most 
effective if OMB receives it within 30 days of publication.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments on 
the proposed information collection to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, OMB. Comments should be addressed to Desk Officer, 
Department of Homeland Security/TSA, and sent via electronic mail to 
[email protected] or faxed to (202) 395-6974.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christina A. Walsh, TSA PRA Officer, 
Office of Information Technology (OIT), TSA-11, Transportation Security 
Administration, 601 South 12th Street, Arlington, VA 20598-6011; 
telephone (571) 227-2062; email [email protected].

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

    Title: TSA Claims Management Branch Program.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    OMB Control Number: 1652-0039.
    Forms(s): Supplemental Information Form, Payment Form.
    Affected Public: Members of the traveling public who believe they 
have experienced property loss or damage, a personal injury, or other 
damages due to the negligent or wrongful act or omission of a TSA 
employee and decide to seek compensation by filing a Federal tort claim 
against TSA.
    Abstract: OMB Control Number 1652-0039, TSA Claims Management 
Branch Program, allows the agency to collect

[[Page 32974]]

information from claimants in order to thoroughly examine and resolve 
tort claims against the agency. TSA receives approximately 834 \1\ tort 
claims per month arising from airport screening activities and other 
circumstances, including motor vehicle accidents and employee loss. The 
Federal Tort Claims Act (28 U.S.C. 1346(b), 1402(b), 2401(b), 2671-
2680) is the authority under which the TSA Claims Management Branch 
adjudicates tort claims.
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    \1\ In the 60 day notice, TSA estimated that it received 
approximately 1,000 tort claims per month arising from airport 
screening activities and other circumstances, including motor 
vehicle accidents and employee loss. Based on current data, the 
number has been adjusted to 834 tort claims.
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    The data is collected whenever an individual believes s/he has 
experienced property loss or damage, a personal injury, or other 
damages due to the negligent or wrongful act or omission of a TSA 
employee, and decides to file a Federal tort claim against TSA. 
Submission of a claim is entirely voluntary and initiated by 
individuals. The claimants (or respondents) to this collection are 
typically the traveling public. Currently, claimants file a claim by 
submitting to TSA a Standard Form 95 (SF-95), which has been approved 
under OMB control number 1105-0008. Because TSA requires further 
clarifying information, claimants are asked to complete a Supplemental 
Information page added to the SF-95. These forms have been approved 
under OMB control number 1652-0039.
    Claim instructions and forms are available through the TSA Web site 
at http://www.tsa.gov. Claimants must download these forms and mail or 
fax them to TSA. On the Supplemental Information page, claimants are 
asked to provide additional claim information including: (1) Email 
address, (2) airport, (3) location of incident within the airport, (4) 
complete travel itinerary, (5) whether baggage was delayed by airline, 
(6) why they believe TSA was negligent, (7) whether they used a third-
party baggage service, (8) whether they were traveling under military 
orders, and (9) whether they submitted claims with the airlines or 
insurance companies.
    If TSA determines payment is warranted, TSA sends the claimant a 
form requesting: (1) Claimant signature, (2) banking information 
(routing and account number), and (3) Social Security number (required 
by the U.S. Treasury for all Government payments to the public pursuant 
to 31 U.S.C. 3325).
    Number of Respondents: 10,000.
    Estimated Annual Burden Hours: An estimated 6,000 hours annually.

    Dated: June 5, 2015.
Christina A. Walsh,
TSA Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, Office of Information Technology.
[FR Doc. 2015-14201 Filed 6-9-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-05P