[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 241 (Friday, December 16, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74837-74838]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-7407]
[[Page 74837]]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Transportation Security Administration
Intent To Request Approval From OMB of One New Public Collection
of Information: Registered Traveler (RT) Program; Satisfaction and
Effectiveness Measurement Data Collection Instruments
AGENCY: Transportation Security Administration (TSA), DHS.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: TSA invites public comment on the new information collection
requirement abstracted below that will be submitted to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995.
DATES: Send your comments by February 14, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be delivered to Kurt Zobrist, Director,
Registered Traveler Program, Office of Transportation Threat Assessment
and Credentialing, TSA Headquarters, TSA-19, 601 South 12th Street,
Arlington, VA 22202-4220; or by e-mail at [email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katrina Wawer, Information Collection
Specialist, Office of Transportation Security Policy, TSA-9,
Transportation Security Administration, 601 South 12th Street,
Arlington, VA 22202-4220; or by telephone (571) 227-1995 or facsimile
(571) 227-2594.
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. Therefore, in preparation for
submission of clearance 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 through the use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
Information Collection Requirement
Purpose of Data Collection
TSA plans to conduct a domestic Registered Traveler (RT) program
nation-wide in 2006. This program is designed to positively identify
individuals participating in the program as registered travelers via
advanced identification technologies, for the purposes of expediting
those passengers' travel experience at the airport security
checkpoints, and thereby enabling TSA to improve the allocation of
security resources at TSA security checkpoints in the Nation's
airports.
Description of Data Collection
Via a private sector enrollment provider, TSA will receive and
retain a minimal amount of personal information from volunteers who
choose to enroll in the RT Program. This information will be used to
verify an applicant's claimed identity and complete a security threat
assessment on each applicant prior to acceptance into the RT program.
In addition, TSA will administer two instruments to measure
customer satisfaction and to collect data on the effectiveness of the
program technologies and business processes. The first instrument will
be a survey of a representative percentage of the RT Program
participants. The second instrument will be an interview conducted with
the key stakeholders (including airport authorities, air carriers and
certified service providers) participating in the RT Program. All
surveys and interviews will be voluntary and anonymous.
The collection of information from individuals who volunteer to
participate in the RT Program will be gathered electronically. This not
only fulfills the requirements of the Government Paperwork Elimination
Act, but it also facilitates the collection and processing of the data
and provides an efficient means of retrieving credential information.
Due to practical considerations, the RT customer service surveys will
be conducted electronically, when possible, and interviews will be
conducted manually. Respondents to any service may freely choose not to
participate. The respondents who choose to participate in the surveys
will be asked to return the completed survey in less than 30 days from
the time of receipt. They may choose not to comply with this request.
Key stakeholders involved in the RT Program will be asked to
designate representative(s) to participate in short, individual
interview sessions intended to evaluate the effectiveness of the RT
Program from the stakeholders' perspective and to gather any additional
feedback the stakeholder may wish to share. Interview sessions will be
conducted on a one-on-one basis at mutually agreed upon locations.
Stakeholders may choose not to participate in the interview sessions.
Burden Estimates of Data Collection
TSA expects a total of 600,000 respondents to participate per year
and, based on an estimate of a 10-minute burden per respondent, a
maximum total burden program-wide of 100,000 hours per year. This
estimate is based on an expected program roll-out schedule modeled by
TSA. The roll-out schedule assumes the number of airports that are
approved to participate in the program, as well as the number of
volunteers that will choose to enroll. It is expected that the overall
burden of enrollment will decrease year to year based on the number of
people already in the program. The Registered Traveler Program is a
fully fee-based program. Volunteer enrollees will be required to pay an
annual fee to cover the Government's costs of the program and to
compensate private sector enrollment providers. The cost burden of
enrollment will be the direct cost of collecting information and
conducting a security threat assessment on the enrollee. This is
estimated at $50 per enrollee for a total annual cost burden of
$30,000,000.
Another source for data collection is customer survey submissions.
TSA expects a total of 37,500 respondents (TSA will send surveys to
approximately 25 percent of the population; with an expected e-survey
return rate of 25 percent) and, based on an estimate of a 15-minute
burden per respondent, a maximum total burden program-wide of 9,375
hours per year.
For the stakeholder interview sessions, TSA expects approximately
60 stakeholder representatives to participate per year (representatives
from all participating airports, service providers, and interested air
carriers) and, based on an estimate of a 60-minute burden per
interview, a maximum total burden of 60 hours. There will be no cost
burden to any survey respondent or stakeholder interviewee.
Thus, TSA estimates the total annual hour burden to be 109,435
hours.
[[Page 74838]]
Use of Results
TSA will use the results of the biographic and biometric data
collection to verify an applicant's claimed identity and to perform a
security threat assessment on the individual volunteering for the
program and check immigration status to ensure eligibility for the
program. The security threat assessment is essential for TSA to
determine whether the applicant presents, or is suspected of
presenting, a threat to transportation security. Individuals who do not
pose, or are not suspected of posing, a threat to transportation
security, and otherwise meet all other eligibility requirements for the
RT program, will be afforded enhanced benefits at the TSA security
checkpoints.
TSA Headquarters personnel and individual service providers, air
carriers, and airports will use the results of the surveys and
interviews to evaluate and improve customer service and operational
efficiency of this program.
Issued in Arlington, Virginia, on December 12, 2005.
Lisa S. Dean,
Privacy Officer.
[FR Doc. E5-7407 Filed 12-15-05; 8:45 am]
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