Intent To Request Extension From OMB of One Current Public Collection of Information: Security Threat Assessment for Individuals Applying for a Hazardous Materials Endorsement for a Commercial Driver's License

Christina A. Walsh
Department of Homeland Security
4 April 2018

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 4, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14485-14486]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-06868]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Transportation Security Administration

[Docket No. TSA-2003-14610]


Intent To Request Extension From OMB of One Current Public 
Collection of Information: Security Threat Assessment for Individuals 
Applying for a Hazardous Materials Endorsement for a Commercial 
Driver's License

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 1652-0027, 
abstracted below that we will submit to OMB for extension in compliance 
with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The ICR describes the nature of 
the information collection and its expected burden. The collection 
involves applicant's voluntary submission of biometric and biographic 
information for TSA's security threat assessment (STA) in order to 
obtain the hazardous materials endorsement (HME) on a commercial 
drivers license (CDL) issued by States and the District of Columbia.

DATES: Send your comments by June 4, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be emailed to TSAPRA@dhs.gov 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 will be 
available at http://www.reginfo.gov upon its submission to OMB. 
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.
    Consistent with the requirements of Executive Order (E.O.) 13771, 
Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs, and E.O. 13777, 
Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda, TSA is also requesting comments 
on the extent to

[[Page 14486]]

which this request for information could be modified to reduce the 
burden on respondents.

Information Collection Requirement

    OMB Control Number 1652-0027; Security Threat Assessment for 
Individuals Applying for a Hazardous Materials Endorsement for a 
Commercial Driver's License, 49 CFR part 1572. TSA is requesting an 
extension of the currently approved ICR. The currently approved ICR 
supports implementation of 49 U.S.C. 5103a,\1\ which mandates that no 
State or the District of Columbia may issue a HME on a CDL unless TSA 
has first determined that the driver is not a threat to transportation 
security.
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    \1\ Which codified sec. 1012 of Public Law 107-56 (115 Stat. 
272, 396, Oct. 26, 2001), Uniting and Strengthening America by 
Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct 
Terrorism (USA PATRIOT ACT) Act of 2001.
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    TSA's implementing regulations (codified at 49 CFR part 1572) 
describe the procedures, standards, and eligibility criteria for STAs 
on individuals seeking to obtain, renew, or transfer a HME on a CDL. To 
conduct the STA for the HME, States (or a TSA-designated agent in 
States that elect to have TSA perform the collection of information) 
must collect additional information beyond that already collected for 
the purpose of HME applications (which occur approximately once every 
five years). The driver is required to submit an application that 
includes personal biographic information (driver's legal name, current 
and previous mailing addresses, date of birth, gender, height, weight, 
eye and hair color, city/state/country of birth, social security number 
(optional)); information concerning immigration status, mental 
incapacity; criminal history; and biometrics such as fingerprints.
    States or the TSA agent must also submit whether the driver is a 
new applicant or applying to renew or transfer the HME. This 
information is necessary for TSA to forecast driver retention, transfer 
rate, and drop rate to help improve customer service, and reduce 
program costs. It is also necessary to provide comparability with other 
Federal background checks, including the Transportation Workers 
Identification Credential (TWIC).
    In addition, the ICR includes 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 
for additional comparability determinations. An example of a comparable 
determination could be allowing the HME applicant to participate in a 
program such as the TSA Pre[check][supreg] Application Program, TSA's 
trusted traveler program for air travelers, without requiring an 
additional background check. This type of comparability determination 
is currently allowed in tandem with the (TWIC). States have the option 
to allow for HME STA comparability with the TWIC STA, and applicants in 
States that allow comparability pay a reduced fee to obtain an HME STA 
if they already hold a TWIC.
    When the STA is complete, TSA makes a final determination on 
eligibility for the HME and notifies applicants of its decision. Most 
applicants will 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 apply for an 
appeal or waiver. Applicants must submit an application for appeal or 
waiver within 60 days of issuance of TSA's letter. If an application 
for appeal or waiver 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 HME Threat 
Assessment Program (HTAP) will be ineligible to hold a state-issued HME 
on their CDL.
    The currently approved ICR also includes an optional survey to 
gather information regarding the driver's overall customer satisfaction 
with the service received at the enrollment center utilized by the TSA 
agent states. The optional survey will be administered at the end of 
the in-person enrollment service. Please note that the optional survey 
is only provided for drivers who enroll with a State serviced by TSA's 
designated enrollment contractor.
    TSA estimates an annualized 229,743 respondents will apply for an 
HME, and that the application and background check process will involve 
443,698 annualized hours. TSA estimates that of the 229,743 annualized 
respondents, 38,923 HME applicants will respond to the customer survey 
with annualized burden hours of 1,622. The applicant fee remains 
$86.50, which covers TSA's program costs, TSA's enrollment vendor's 
costs, and the FBI fee for the criminal history records check. For 
applicants in States that allow comparability, the reduced fee remains 
$67.00.

    Dated: March 29, 2018.
Christina A. Walsh,
TSA Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, Office of Information Technology.
[FR Doc. 2018-06868 Filed 4-3-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-05-P