Extension of Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review: Security Threat Assessment for Individuals Applying for a Hazardous Materials Endorsement for a Commercial Drivers License

Joanna Johnson
Federal Register
June 22, 2011

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 120 (Wednesday, June 22, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 36560]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-15529]



[[Page 36560]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Transportation Security Administration


Extension of Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB 
Review: Security Threat Assessment for Individuals Applying for a 
Hazardous Materials Endorsement for a Commercial Drivers License

AGENCY: Transportation Security Administration, DHS.

ACTION: 30-day Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 1652-0027, 
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 August 30, 2011, 75 FR 52962. The collection involves 
applicant submission of biometric and biographic information for TSA's 
security threat assessment in order to obtain the hazardous materials 
endorsement (HME) on a commercial drivers license (CDL) issued by the 
States and the District of Columbia.

DATES: Send your comments by July 22, 2011. 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 
oira_submission@omb.eop.gov or faxed to (202) 395-6974.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joanna Johnson, TSA PRA Officer, 
Office of Information Technology (OIT), TSA-11, Transportation Security 
Administration, 601 South 12th Street, Arlington, VA 20598-6011; 
telephone (571) 227-3651; e-mail TSAPRA@dhs.gov.

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 agencies' 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: Security Threat Assessment for Individuals Applying for a 
Hazardous Materials Endorsement for a Commercial Drivers License.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    OMB Control Number: 1652-0027.
    Forms(s): N/A.
    Affected Public: Drivers seeking a hazardous material endorsement 
(HME) on their commercial driver's license (CDL).
    Abstract: This collection supports the implementation of sec. 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 HME on a CDL unless TSA has first determined the driver is not 
a threat to transportation security. TSA's regulations at 49 CFR part 
1572 describe the procedures, standards, and eligibility criteria for 
security threat assessments on individuals seeking to obtain, renew, or 
transfer a HME on a CDL. 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, and criminal history; and fingerprints. In 
addition, 49 CFR part 1572 requires States to maintain a copy of the 
driver application for a period of one year. TSA proposes to amend the 
application to collect minor additional information, such as legal 
status document information and whether the driver is a new applicant 
or renewing or transferring the HME. This will enable the program to 
better understand and forecast driver retention, transfer rate, and 
drop-rate, thus improving customer service, reducing program costs, and 
providing comparability with other Federal background checks, including 
the Transportation Workers Identification Credential (TWIC).
    Number of Respondents: 300,000.
    Estimated Annual Burden Hours: An estimated 978,000 hours annually.

    Issued in Arlington, Virginia, on June 15, 2011.
Joanna Johnson,
TSA Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, Office of Information Technology.
[FR Doc. 2011-15529 Filed 6-21-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-05-P