82 FR 20910 - Intent To Request Revision From OMB of One Current Public Collection of Information: TSA Pre✓® Application Program

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Transportation Security Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 85 (May 4, 2017)

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 a revision in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The ICR, which will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review following the required public comment periods, describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden. The collection involves the voluntary submission of biographic and biometric information that TSA uses to verify identity and conduct a security threat assessment for the TSA Pre[check][supreg] Application Program. The security threat assessment compares an applicant's information against criminal history, immigration, intelligence, and regulatory violations databases to determine if the person poses a low risk to transportation or national security and should be eligible for expedited screening through TSA Pre[check][supreg] lanes at airports.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 85 (Thursday, May 4, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20910-20911]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-09030]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Transportation Security Administration

[Docket No. TSA-2014-0001]


Intent To Request Revision 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 a revision in 
compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The ICR, which will 
be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review 
following the required public comment periods, describes the nature of 
the information collection and its expected burden. The collection 
involves the voluntary submission of biographic and biometric 
information that TSA uses to verify identity and conduct a security 
threat assessment for the TSA Pre[check][supreg] Application Program. 
The security threat assessment compares an applicant's information 
against criminal history, immigration, intelligence, and regulatory 
violations databases to determine if the person poses a low risk to 
transportation or national security and should be eligible for 
expedited screening through TSA Pre[check][supreg] lanes at airports.

DATES: Send your comments by July 3, 2017.

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

[[Page 20911]]

collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Information Collection Requirement

    Pursuant to the statutory authorities explained below, the 
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has implemented a 
voluntary enrollment program for individuals to apply for the TSA 
Pre[check][supreg] Application Program. Section 109(a)(3) of the 
Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA), Public Law 107-71 (115 
Stat. 597, 613, Nov. 19, 2001), codified at 49 U.S.C. 114 note) 
provides TSA with the authority to ``establish requirements to 
implement trusted passenger programs and use available technologies to 
expedite security screening of passengers who participate in such 
programs, thereby allowing security screening personnel to focus on 
those passengers who should be subject to more extensive screening.'' 
In addition, TSA has express, unlimited statutory authority to 
establish and collect a fee for any registered traveler program by 
publication of a notice in the Federal Register, as outlined in the 
Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2006, Public Law 
109-90 (119 Stat. 2064, 2088-89, Oct. 18, 2005).
    Under the TSA Pre[check][supreg] Application Program, individuals 
may submit biographic and biometric information directly to TSA that 
TSA uses to conduct a security threat assessment (STA) of criminal, 
immigration, intelligence, and regulatory violation databases. TSA uses 
the STA results to decide if an individual poses a low risk to 
transportation or national security. TSA issues approved applicants a 
known traveler number (KTN) that they may use when making travel 
reservations. Airline passengers who submit a 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 travelers 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] 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] lanes, see https://www.tsa.gov/precheck/map.
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    Interested applicants must provide certain minimum required data 
elements, including, but not limited to, name, date of birth, gender, 
address, contact information, country of birth, images of identity 
documents, proof of citizenship or immigration status, and biometrics 
via a secure interface. TSA uses this information to conduct a STA, 
make a final eligibility determination for the TSA Pre[check][supreg] 
Application Program, and verify the identities of TSA 
Pre[check][supreg] enrolled and approved individuals when they are 
traveling.
    TSA sends the applicants' fingerprints and associated information 
to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for the purpose of 
comparing their fingerprints to other fingerprints in the FBI's Next 
Generation Identification (NGI) system or its successor systems 
including civil, criminal, and latent fingerprint repositories. The FBI 
may retain applicants' fingerprints and associated information in NGI 
after the completion of their application and, while retained, their 
fingerprints may continue to be compared against other fingerprints 
submitted to or retained by NGI. TSA will also transmit applicants' 
biometrics for enrollment into the Department of Homeland Security 
Automated Biometrics Identification System (IDENT).
    TSA is revising the collection of information to expand enrollment 
options and the potential use of biographic and biometric (e.g., 
fingerprints, iris scans, and/or photo) information. This revision 
would facilitate use of the STA for comparability determinations, such 
as allowing a TSA Pre[check][supreg] Application Program applicant to 
participate in programs with a comparable STA, such as the Hazardous 
Materials Endorsement Threat Assessment Program, or obtain a 
Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) without 
requiring an additional STA. Also, TSA may use applicants' biometric 
information in TSA's Biometric Authentication Technology (BAT) effort, 
which will use biometrics in place of credentials and boarding passes 
to authenticate the identity of TSA Pre[check][supreg] Application 
Program applicants at airport checkpoints.
    When the STA is complete, TSA makes a final determination on 
eligibility for the TSA Pre[check][supreg] Application Program and 
notifies applicants of its decision. Most applicants generally should 
expect to receive notification from TSA within two to three weeks of 
the submission of their completed applications. If initially deemed 
ineligible by TSA, applicants will have an opportunity to correct cases 
of misidentification or inaccurate criminal records. Applicants must 
submit a correction of any information they believe to be inaccurate 
within 60 days of issuance of TSA's letter. If a corrected record is 
not received by TSA within the specified amount of time, 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 
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.
    TSA estimates that there will be 2,497,903 annualized enrollments 
over a three-year period. This estimate is based on current and 
projected enrollment with TSA's existing program. TSA estimates that 
there will be 4,717,423 annualized hours based on a three-year 
projection. TSA estimates an average of 1.8885533 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) and the burden for any records correction for the 
applicant, if applicable. TSA estimates the annualized cost burden will 
be $160,628,269 based on a three-year projection. The applicant fee 
remains $85, which covers TSA's program costs, TSA's enrollment 
vendor's costs, and the FBI fee for the criminal history records check.

    Dated: April 28, 2017.
Christina A. Walsh,
TSA Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, Office of Information Technology.
[FR Doc. 2017-09030 Filed 5-3-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-05-P