[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 160 (Thursday, August 20, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42086-42087]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-19959]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Transportation Security Administration
Intent To Request Approval From OMB of One New Public Collection
of Information: Pipeline Corporate Security Review
AGENCY: Transportation Security Administration, DHS.
ACTION: 60-Day notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) invites
public comment on an information collection requirement abstracted
below that we will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
for approval in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. The
collection will assess the current security practices in the pipeline
industry by way of its Pipeline Corporate Security Review (PCSR)
program, which encompasses site visits and interviews, and is part of
the larger domain awareness, prevention, and protection program
supporting TSA's and the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS')
missions.
DATES: Send your comments by October 19, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed or delivered to Ginger LeMay, PRA
Officer, Office of Information Technology, Transportation Security
Administration, 601 South 12th Street, Arlington, VA 20598-6011.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ginger LeMay, PRA Officer, Office of
Information Technology, TSA-11, Transportation Security Administration,
601 South 12th Street, Arlington, Virginia 20598-6011; telephone (571)
227-3616; e-mail: [email protected].
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 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 collection techniques or other forms
of information technology.
Information Collection Requirement
The Pipeline Corporate Security Review is a new information
collection request that will assess domain awareness, threat
prevention, and security awareness at various pipeline sites across the
nation. TSA's pipeline subject matter expert(s) will visit sites,
interview pipeline operators and/or system owners, and use a pipeline
security review form to gather information.
Under the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA) \1\ and
delegated authority from the Secretary of Homeland Security, TSA has
broad responsibility and authority for ``security in all modes of
transportation * * * including security responsibilities * * * over
modes of transportation that are exercised by the Department of
Transportation.'' \2\ TSA has additional authorities as well. TSA is
specifically empowered to develop policies, strategies, and plans for
dealing with threats to transportation,\3\ oversees the implementation
and ensures the adequacy of security measures at transportation
facilities,\4\ and carries out other appropriate duties relating to
transportation security.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Public Law 107-71, 115 Stat. 597 (November 19, 2001).
\2\ See 49 U.S.C. 114(d). The TSA Assistant Secretary's current
authorities under ATSA have been delegated to her/him by the
Secretary of Homeland Security. Section 403(2) of the Homeland
Security Act (HSA) of 2002, Public Law 107-296, 116 Stat. 2315
(2002), transferred all functions of TSA, including those of the
Secretary of Transportation and the Under Secretary of
Transportation of Security related to TSA, to the Secretary of
Homeland Security. Pursuant to DHS Delegation Number 7060.2, the
Secretary delegated to the Assistant Secretary (then referred to as
the Administrator of TSA), subject to the Secretary's guidance and
control, the authority vested in the Secretary with respect to TSA,
including that in section 403(2) of the HSA.
\3\ 49 U.S.C. 114(f)(3).
\4\ 49 U.S.C. 114(f)(11).
\5\ 49 U.S.C. 114(f)(15).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Purpose and Description of Data Collection
One way TSA carries out these responsibilities in the pipeline mode
is by assessing current industry security practices by way of its PCSR.
The PCSR encompasses site visits and interviews and is one piece of a
much larger domain awareness, prevention, and protection program in
support of TSA's and DHS' missions. TSA is seeking OMB approval for
this information collection so that TSA can ascertain minimum security
standards and identify coverage gaps, activities that are critical to
carrying out its transportation security mission.
The PCSR is an ``instructive'' review that provides TSA with an
understanding of certain surface transportation owners'/operators'
security programs, if they have voluntarily adopted such programs. In
carrying out PCSRs, subject matter experts from TSA's Pipeline Security
Division conduct site visits of pipeline operators throughout the
nation that elected to adopt security plans. The TSA representatives
analyze the owner's/operator's security plan and determine if the
mitigation measures included in the plan are being properly
implemented. In addition to examining the security plan document, TSA
reviews one or more assets of the owner/operator. TSA conducts this
collection of information on security measures to identify security
gaps. The discussions also provide TSA with a method to encourage the
pipeline owners/operators affected by the PCSRs to be diligent in
implementing and maintaining security-related improvements.
During the pipeline site visits, TSA talks with the owner/operator
and completes a PCSR form, which asks questions concerning the
following topics: (1) Management and oversight of the security plan,
(2) threat assessment, (3) criticality, (4) vulnerability assessment,
(5) credentialing, (6) training, (7) physical security countermeasures,
(8) information technology security, (9) security exercises and drills,
and (10) incident management and communications. TSA conducts this
collection through voluntary face-to-face visits, usually at the
headquarters facility of the pipeline owners/operator. Typically, TSA
sends one to three employees to conduct a three to four hour interview
with representatives from the owner/operator. TSA then visits one or
two of the owners/operators assets to further assess the implementation
of the owner's/operator's security plan. TSA
[[Page 42087]]
plans to collect information from pipeline operators of all sizes in
the course of conducting these PCSRs.
Use of Results
This program provides TSA with real-time information on current
security practices within the pipeline mode of the surface
transportation sector. This information allows TSA to adapt programs to
the changing security threat, while incorporating an understanding of
the improvements owners/operators make in their security measures.
Without this information, the ability of TSA to perform its security
mission would be severely hindered.
Additionally, the relationships these face-to-face contacts foster
are critical to the Federal government's ability to reach out to the
pipeline stakeholders affected by the PCSRs. The relationships foster a
sense of trust and a willingness to share information with the Federal
government. TSA assures respondents that the portion of their responses
that is deemed Sensitive Security Information (SSI) will be protected
in accordance with procedures meeting the transmission, handling, and
storage requirements of SSI set forth in 49 CFR parts 15 and 1520.
The annual hour burden for this information collection is estimated
to be 100 hours. While TSA estimates a total of 2,200 potential
respondents, this estimate is based on TSA conducting 12 visits per
year and each visit lasting 8 hours. There is no cost burden to
respondents.
Issued in Arlington, Virginia, on August 14, 2009.
Ginger LeMay,
Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, Office of Information Technology.
[FR Doc. E9-19959 Filed 8-19-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-05-P