E7-23903. Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC); Enrollment Dates for the Ports of Seattle, WA; New York/New Jersey; Wilmington, NC; Jacksonville, FL; Duluth-Superior, MN; and New Orleans, LA

AGENCY:

Transportation Security Administration; United States Coast Guard; DHS.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issues this notice of the dates for the beginning of the initial enrollment for the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) for the Ports of Seattle, WA; New York/New Jersey; Wilmington, NC; Jacksonville, FL; Duluth-Superior, MN; and New Orleans, LA.

DATES:

TWIC enrollment in Seattle will begin on December 13, 2007; New York/New Jersey on December 20, 2007; Wilmington, NC on December 27, 2007; Jacksonville, FL on December 28, 2007; Duluth-Superior, MN on December 28, 2007; and New Orleans, LA on December 28, 2007.

ADDRESSES:

You may view published documents and comments concerning the TWIC Final Rule, identified by the docket numbers of this notice, using any one of the following methods.

(1) Searching the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) Web page at http://www.regulations.gov;​;

(2) Accessing the Government Printing Office's Web page at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/​fr/​index.html;​; or

(3) Visiting TSA's Security Regulations Web page at http://www.tsa.gov and accessing the link for “Research Center” at the top of the page.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

James Orgill, TSA-19, Transportation Security Administration, 601 South 12th Street, Arlington, VA 22202-4220. Transportation Threat Assessment and Credentialing (TTAC), TWIC Program, [phone]; e-mail: [e-mail].

Background

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through the United States Coast Guard and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), issued a joint final rule (72 FR 3492; January 25, 2007) pursuant to the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA), Public Law 107-295, 116 Stat. 2064 (November 25, 2002), and the Security and Accountability for Every Port Act of 2006 (SAFE Port Act), Public Law 109-347 (October 13, 2006). This rule requires all credentialed merchant mariners and individuals with unescorted access to secure areas of a regulated facility or vessel to obtain a TWIC. In this final rule, on page 3510, TSA and Coast Guard stated that a phased enrollment approach based upon risk assessment and cost/benefit would be used to implement the program nationwide, and that TSA would publish a notice in the Federal Register indicating when enrollment at a specific location will begin and when it is expected to terminate.

This notice provides the start date for TWIC initial enrollment at the Ports of Seattle, New York/New Jersey, Wilmington, Jacksonville, Duluth-Superior, and New Orleans. Enrollment in Seattle will begin on December 13, 2007; New York/New Jersey on December 20, 2007; Wilmington, NC on December 27, 2007; Jacksonville, FL on December 28, 2007; Duluth-Superior, MN on December 28, 2007; and New Orleans, LA on December 28, 2007. The Coast Guard will publish a separate notice in the Federal Register indicating when facilities within the Captain of the Port Zone Puget Sound, including those in the Port of Seattle; Captain of the Port Zone New York, including those in the Port of New York/New Jersey; Captain of the Port Zone Cape Fear River, including those in the Port of Wilmington; Captain of the Port Zone Jacksonville, including those in the Port of Jacksonville; Captain of the Port Zone Duluth, including those in the Port of Duluth-Superior; and Captain of the Port Zone New Orleans, including those in the Port of New Orleans must comply with the portions of the final rule requiring TWIC to be used as an access control measure. That notice will be published at least 90 days before compliance is required.

To obtain information on the pre-enrollment and enrollment process, and enrollment locations, visit TSA's TWIC Web site at http://www.tsa.gov/​twic.

Issued in Arlington, Virginia, on December 4, 2007.

Stephen Sadler,

Director, Maritime and Surface Credentialing, Office of Transportation Threat Assessment and Credentialing, Transportation Security Administration.