E9-6682. Intent To Request Renewal From OMB of One Current Public Collection of Information: Security Programs for Foreign Air Carriers

AGENCY:

Transportation Security Administration, DHS.

ACTION:

60 day reinstatement notice.

SUMMARY:

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) invites public comment on one currently approved Information Collection Request (ICR), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number 1652-0005. The ICR, which is abstracted below, will be submitted to OMB for reinstatement in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden. This information collection is mandatory for foreign air carriers and must be submitted prior to entry into the United States.

DATES:

Send your comments by May 26, 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, VA 20598-6011; telephone [phone]; e-mail: [e-mail].

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

1652-0005; Security Programs for Foreign Air Carriers, 49 CFR Part 1546. TSA uses the information collected to determine compliance with 49 CFR part 1546 and to ensure passenger safety by monitoring foreign air carrier security procedures. Foreign air carriers must carry out security measures to protect persons and property against acts of criminal violence, aircraft piracy, and terrorist activities. This information collection is mandatory for foreign air carriers and must be submitted prior to entry into the United States.

The information TSA collects includes identiftying information on foreign air carriers' flight crews and passengers. Specifically, TSA requires foreign air carriers to submit the following information: (1) A master crew list of all flight and cabin crew members flying to and from the United States; (2) the flight crew list on a flight-by-flight basis; (3) passenger information on a flight-by-flight basis; and (4) total amount of cargo screened, including cargo screened at 100 percent and cargo screened at 50 percent. Foreign air carriers are required to provide this information via electronic means. Foreign air carriers with limited electronic systems may need to modify their current systems or generate a new computer system in order to submit the requested information. Additionally, foreign air carriers must maintain these records as well as training records for crew members and individuals performing security-related functions, and make them available to TSA for inspection upon request.

Foreign air carriers must conduct a comparison of their passenger names against the TSA-issued watch lists and report passengers who have been confirmed as a match to the TSA watch lists. TSA will continue to collect information to determine foreign air carrier compliance with other requirements of 49 CFR part 1546.

TSA estimates that there will be approximately 252 respondents to the information collection, with an annual burden estimate of 747,462 hours.

Issued in Arlington, Virginia, on March 20, 2009.

Ginger LeMay,

Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, Office of Information Technology.