[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 33 (Thursday, February 17, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9356-9357]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-3602]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Transportation Security Administration
Intent To Request Approval From OMB of One New Public Collection
of Information: Baseline Assessment for Security Enhancement (BASE)
Program
AGENCY: Transportation Security Administration, DHS.
ACTION: 60-day notice.
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SUMMARY: The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) invites
public comment on a new Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted
below that we will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
for approval in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The
ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected
burden. This voluntary collection allows TSA to conduct transportation
security-related assessments during site visits with security and
operating officials of transit agencies.
DATES: Send your comments by April 18, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be emailed to [email protected] 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: Joanna Johnson at the above address,
or by telephone (571) 227-3651.
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 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
Purpose of Data Collection
Approximately 6,000 transit service providers, commuter railroads,
and long distance passenger railroad providers operate in the United
States.\1\ Mass transit and passenger rail systems provide
transportation services through buses, rail transit, long-distance
rail, and other, less common types of service (cable cars, inclined
planes, funiculars, and automated guideway systems). These systems can
also include ``demand response services'' for seniors and persons with
disabilities, as well as vanpool/rideshare programs and taxi services
operated under contract with a public transportation agency.
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\1\ TSA, ``Transportation Sector-Specific Plan Mass Transit
Modal Annex,'' page 4 (May 2007).
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TSA is required to ``assess the security of each surface
transportation mode and evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of
current Federal Government surface transportation security
initiatives.'' EO 13416, section 3(a) (Dec. 5, 2006). While many
transit systems have security and emergency response plans or protocols
in place, no single database exists, nor is there a consistent approach
to evaluating the extent to which security programs are in place across
mass transit systems.
TSA developed the Baseline Assessment for Security Enhancement
(BASE) to evaluate the status of security and emergency response
programs on transit systems throughout the nation. In particular, a
BASE review assesses the security measures of mass transit and
passenger rail systems and gathers data used by TSA to address its
responsibilities, such as evaluating ``effectiveness and efficiency of
current Federal Government surface transportation security
initiatives'' and developing modal specific annexes to the
Transportation Systems Sector Specific Plan that include ``an
identification of existing security
[[Page 9357]]
guidelines and requirements and any security gaps * * *.'' EO 13416,
Sec. 3(c)(i). Reflecting its risk-based prioritization, TSA primarily
conducts BASE reviews on the top 100 transit systems in the country, as
identified by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).\2\
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\2\ A current list of the top 100 transit systems can be viewed
on the National Transit Database Web site at http://www.ntdprogram.gov/ntdprogram/.
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Description of Data Collection
TSA's Surface Transportation Security Inspectors (STSIs) conduct
BASE reviews during site visits with security and operating officials
of transit systems. The STSIs capture and document relevant information
using a standardized electronic checklist. Advance coordination and
planning ensures the efficiency of the assessment process. As part of
this, transit systems may also obtain a checklist in advance from TSA
and conduct self-assessments of their security readiness. All BASE
reviews are done on a voluntary basis.
The BASE checklist guides the collection of information and
encompasses review of security plans, programs, and procedures employed
by transit agencies in implementing the recommended Action Items.
During a review, STSIs collect information from the review of transit
system's documents, plans, and procedures; interviews with appropriate
transit agency personnel, to gain process insight; and system
observations prompted by questions raised during the document review
and interview stages. TSA subject matter experts can then analyze this
information. If information in completed assessments meets the
requirements of 49 CFR parts 15 and 1520 in that disclosure would be
detrimental to the security of transportation, TSA designates and marks
the data as ``Sensitive Security Information,'' as appropriate, and
protects it in accordance with the requirements set forth in those
regulations.
Use of Results
A BASE review evaluates a transit agency's security program
components using a two-phased approach: (1) Field collection of
information, and (2) analysis/evaluation of collected information. The
information collected by TSA through BASE reviews strengthens the
security of transit systems by supporting security program development
(including grant programs) and the analysis/evaluation provides a
consistent road map for mass transit systems to address security and
emergency program vulnerabilities. In addition, each transit system
that undergoes a BASE assessment is provided with a report of results
that is used in security enhancement activities.
Specifically, the information collected will be used as follows:
1. To develop a baseline understanding of a transit agency's
security and emergency management processes, procedures, policies,
programs, and activities against security requirements and recommended
security practices published by TSA and FTA.
2. To enhance a transit agency's overall security posture through
collaborative review and discussion of existing security activities,
identification of areas of potential weakness or vulnerability, and
development of remedial recommendations and courses of action.
3. To identify programs and protocols implemented by a transit
agency that represent an ``effective'' or ``smart'' security practice
warranting sharing with the transit community as a whole to foster
general enhancement of security in the mass transit mode.
4. To inform TSA's development of security strategies, priorities,
and programs for the most effective application of available resources,
including funds distributed under the Transit Security Grant Program,
to enhance security in the Nation's mass transit system.
While TSA has not set a limit on the number of BASE reviews to
conduct, TSA estimates it will conduct approximately 100 BASE reviews
on an annual basis and does not intend to conduct more than one BASE
review per transit system in a single year. The total hour burden
dedicated to the assessment and collection of security-related
documents for review varies depending upon the size of the system and
scope of its security program and activities. The hours estimated
represent a sampling of BASE reviews completed in 2010. The sampling
was derived from 15 transit agencies varying in size from small to
large. Actual inspection hours were utilized in the sampling. TSA
estimates that the hour burden per transit agency to engage their
security and/or operating officials with inspectors in the interactive
BASE review process is approximately 18 hours for a small transit
agency, approximately 144 hours for a large transit agency, or an
average of 46 hours for a moderately-sized agency. Thus, the total
annual hour burden for the BASE review (140 agencies identified) is
estimated on the low end of 2520 hours (140 x 18 = 2520) annually and
the high end of 6440 hours (140 x 46 = 6440) annually. This number will
most likely increase as transit agencies volunteer to participate.
Issued in Arlington, Virginia, on February 11, 2011.
Joanna Johnson,
TSA Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, Office of Information Technology.
[FR Doc. 2011-3602 Filed 2-16-11; 8:45 am]
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