[Federal Register: December 28, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 248)]
[Notices]
[Page 73865]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28de07-148]
[[Page 73865]]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Transportation Security Administration
[Docket No. TSA-2003-14610]
Intent To Request Renewal From OMB of One Current Public
Collection of Information: Security Threat Assessment for Individuals
Applying for a Hazardous Materials Endorsement for a Commercial Drivers
License
AGENCY: Transportation Security Administration, DHS.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) invites
public comment on one currently approved information collection
requirement, under OMB control number 1652-0027, abstracted below that
we will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for renewal
in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. The collection involves
applicant submission of biometric and biographic information for TSA's
security threat assessment in order to obtain the hazardous materials
endodrsement (HME) on a commercial drivers license (CDL) issued by the
U.S. States and the District of Columbia.
DATES: Send your comments by February 26, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed or delivered to Joanna Johnson,
Communications Branch, Business Management Office, Operational Process
and Technology, TSA-32, Transportation Security Administration, 601
South 12th Street, Arlington, VA 22202-4220.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joanna Johnson at the above address,
or by telephone (571) 227-3651 or facsimile (703) 603-0822.
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 information collection request
(ICR) documentation is available at http://www.reginfo.gov. Therefore, in
preparation for OMB review and approval of the following information
collection, TSA is inviting 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
TSA is requesting renewal of the currently approved ICR with minor
changes. This collection supports the implementation of section 1012 of
the USA PATRIOT Act (Pub. L. 107-56, 115 Stat. 272, 396, Oct. 26,
2001), which mandates that no State or the District of Columbia may
issue a hazardous materials endorsement (HME) on a commercial driver's
license (CDL) unless TSA has first determined the driver is not a
threat to transportation security. On November 24, 2004, TSA published
the final rule in the Federal Register (69 FR 68720), codified at 49
CFR part 1572, that describes the procedures, standards, and
eligibility criteria for security threat assessments on individuals
seeking to obtain, renew, or transfer HME on a CDL. TSA subsequently
amended the rule on January 25, 2007 (72 FR 3492). In order to conduct
the security threat assessment, States (or a TSA designated agent in
States that elect to have TSA perform the collection of information)
must collect information in addition to that already collected for the
purpose of HME applications, which will occur once approximately every
five years. The driver is required to submit an application that
includes personal biographic information (for instance, height, weight,
eye and hair color, date of birth); information concerning legal
status, mental health defects history, military status, and criminal
history; as well as fingerprints. TSA is amending the application to
collect minor additional information, such as whether the driver is a
new applicant or renewing or transferring the HME, to better understand
and forecast driver retention, transfer rate, and drop-rate to help
improve customer service, reduce program costs, and provide
comparability with other Federal background checks, including
Transportation Workers Identification Credential (TWIC). In addition,
the rule (49 CFR 1572) requires States to maintain a copy of the driver
application for a period of one year.
From 2008 through 2010, TSA estimates respondent drivers will spend
approximately 3.4 million hours on the application and background check
process. TSA estimates an annualized 348,000 respondents will apply for
an HME, and that the application and background check process will
involve 1.1 million annualized hours. TSA estimates the total costs to
respondent drivers will be $92.8 million over the three-year period
($31 million annualized).
Issued in Arlington, Virginia, on December 20, 2007.
Fran Lozito,
Director, Business Management Office, Operational Process and
Technology.
[FR Doc. 07-6231 Filed 12-27-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-05-M