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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 36 (Thursday, February 22, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13356-13357]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-03537]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Transportation Security Administration

[Docket No. TSA-2014-001]

Intent To Request Revision From OMB of One Current Public 
Collection of Information: TSA PreCheckTM Application Program

AGENCY: Transportation Security Administration, Department of Homeland 
Security (DHS).

ACTION: 60-Day notice.

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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 1652-0059, 
abstracted below that we will submit to OMB for a revision in 
compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). This ICR is being 
revised to inform the public of the official launch of new TSA 
PreCheckTM enrollment providers, which has led to multiple 
price points for enrollments and renewals and additional enrollment 
locations; exploration of new enrollment capabilities to include 
remotely proctored enrollment; acceptance of Mobile Drivers Licenses 
and other Digital Identities upon TSA approval; and, revised customer 
experience surveys to better service the public. The ICR describes the 
nature of the information collection and its expected burden. The 
collection involves the voluntary submission of biographic and 
biometric information that TSA uses to verify identity and conduct a 
security threat assessment (STA) for the TSA PreCheckTM 
Application Program. The STA compares an applicant's information 
against criminal history, immigration, intelligence, and regulatory 
violations databases to determine if the person poses a low risk to 
transportation or national security and should be eligible for 
expedited screening through TSA PreCheckTM lanes at 
airports.

DATES: Send your comments by April 22, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be emailed to [email protected] or delivered 
to the TSA PRA Officer, Information Technology (IT), TSA-11, 
Transportation Security Administration, 6595 Springfield Drive, 
Springfield, VA 22150.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nicole Raymond at the above address, 
or by telephone (571) 227-2526.

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 will be 
available at https://www.reginfo.gov upon its submission to OMB. 
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. Consistent with the requirements of 
Executive Order (E.O.) 13771, Reducing Regulation and Controlling 
Regulatory Costs, and E.O. 13777, Enforcing the Regulatory Reform 
Agenda, TSA is also requesting comments on the extent to which this 
request for information could be modified to reduce the burden on 
respondents.

Information Collection Requirement

    Pursuant to the statutory authorities explained below, TSA has 
implemented a voluntary enrollment program for individuals to apply for 
the TSA PreCheckTM Application Program. Section 109(a)(3) of 
the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, Public Law 107-71 (115 
Stat. 597, 613, Nov. 19, 2001, codified at 49 U.S.C. 114 note) provides 
TSA with the authority to ``establish requirements to implement trusted 
programs and use available technologies to expedite security screening 
of passengers who participate in such programs, thereby allowing 
security screening personnel to focus on those passengers who should be 
subject to more extensive screening.'' In addition, TSA has express, 
statutory authority to establish and collect a fee for any registered 
traveler program by publication of a notice in the Federal Register as 
outlined in the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 
2006, Public Law 109-90 (119 Stat. 2064, 2088-89, Oct. 18, 2005).

Security Threat Assessment Process

    Under the TSA PreCheckTM Application Program, 
individuals may submit biographic and biometric \1\ information 
directly to TSA, which TSA uses to conduct identity verification and an 
STA of criminal, immigration, intelligence, and regulatory violation 
databases. Interested applicants must provide certain minimum required 
data elements, including, but not limited to, name, date of birth, 
gender, address, contact information, country of birth, images of 
identity documents, proof of citizenship or immigration status, and 
biometrics via a secure interface. TSA uses this information to verify 
identity at enrollment, conduct an STA, make a final eligibility 
determination for the TSA PreCheck\TM\ Application Program, and verify 
the identities of TSA PreCheck\TM\-enrolled and approved individuals 
when they are traveling.
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    \1\ Unless otherwise specified, or the purposes of this 
document, ``biometrics'' refers to fingerprints and/or facial 
imagery.
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    As part of this process, TSA sends the applicants' fingerprints and 
associated information to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for 
the purpose of comparing their fingerprints to other fingerprints in 
the FBI's Next Generation Identification (NGI) system or its successor 
systems including civil, criminal, and latent fingerprint repositories. 
The FBI may retain

[[Page 13357]]

applicants' fingerprints and associated information in NGI after the 
completion of their application and, while retained, their fingerprints 
may continue to be compared against other fingerprints submitted to or 
retained by NGI as part of the FBI's Rap Back program.\2\ In retaining 
applicants' fingerprints, the FBI conducts recurrent vetting of 
applicants' criminal history until the expiration date of the 
applicant's STA. TSA also transmits applicants' biometrics for 
enrollment into the Department of Homeland Security Automated 
Biometrics Identification System and its successor systems for 
recurrent vetting of applicants' criminal history, lawful presence, and 
ties to terrorism and for future support of TSA's biometric-based 
identification at airport checkpoints.
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    \2\ The FBI's Rap Back service allows authorized agencies to 
receive on-going status notifications of any criminal history 
reported to the FBI after the initial processing and retention of 
criminal or civil transactions using fingerprint identification.
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    TSA uses the STA results to decide if an individual poses a low 
risk to transportation or national security. TSA issues approved 
applicants a known traveler number (KTN) that they may use when making 
travel reservations. Airline passengers who submit a KTN when making 
airline reservations are eligible for expedited screening on flights 
originating from U.S. airports and select international locations 
including Nassau, Bahamas.\3\ TSA uses the traveler's KTN and other 
information during passenger prescreening to verify that the individual 
traveling matches the information on TSA's list of known travelers and 
to confirm TSA PreCheck\TM\ expedited screening eligibility.
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    \3\ Passengers who are eligible for expedited screening 
typically will receive more limited physical screening; e.g., will 
be able to leave on their shoes, light outerwear, and belt; to keep 
their laptop in its case; and to keep their ``3-1-1'' compliant 
liquids/gels bag in a carry-on.
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    When the STA is complete, TSA makes a final determination on 
eligibility for the TSA PreCheck\TM\ Application Program and notifies 
applicants of its decision. Most applicants generally should expect to 
receive notification from TSA within 3 to 5 days and up to 60 days of 
the submission of their completed applications. If initially deemed 
ineligible by TSA, applicants will have an opportunity to correct cases 
of misidentification or inaccurate criminal records. Applicants must 
submit a correction of any information they believe to be inaccurate 
within 60 days of issuance of TSA's letter. If a corrected record is 
not received by TSA within the specified amount of time, the agency may 
make a final determination to deny eligibility. Individuals who TSA 
determines are ineligible for the TSA PreCheck\TM\ Application Program 
will undergo standard or other screening at airport security 
checkpoints.

TSA PreCheck\TM\ Enrollment and Renewal Enhancements

    The introduction of additional enrollment providers, as discussed 
in the previous ICR revision, will allow enrollment providers to offer 
multiple price points for TSA PreCheck\TM\ enrollment and renewal as 
well as additional enrollment locations, which will allow the public to 
select the best option for their needs. TSA plans to explore \4\ new 
enrollment capabilities to include remote proctored enrollment to 
further expand TSA's ability to service the public. This revision also 
addresses TSA's plan to accept Mobile Drivers Licenses and other 
Digital Identities for identity verification at enrollment upon TSA 
approval. Lastly, TSA intends to continue to collect information from 
TSA PreCheck\TM\ members after enrollment through voluntary customer 
experience surveys to better serve the public.
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    \4\ Remote Proctored Enrollment refers to enrollments conducted 
in-person by the applicant and monitored remotely by a trusted agent 
via real-time video stream. The remote trusted agent maintains the 
integrity of the enrollment by monitoring the entire process from 
start-to-finish including the collection of identity documents and 
the traditional capture of contact fingerprints.
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* * * * *
    The TSA PreCheck\TM\ Application Program enhances aviation security 
by permitting TSA to better focus its limited security resources on 
passengers who are unknown to TSA and whose level of risk is 
undetermined, while also facilitating and improving the commercial 
aviation travel experience for the public. Travelers who choose not to 
enroll in this initiative are not subject to any limitations on their 
travel because of their choice; they will be processed through normal 
TSA screening before entering the sterile areas of airports. TSA also 
retains the authority to perform standard or other screening on a 
random basis on TSA PreCheck\TM\ Application Program participants and 
any other travelers authorized to receive expedited physical screening.
    TSA estimates that there will be an average of 4,948,845 
respondents over a 3-year period, for a total of 14,871,740 
respondents. This estimate is based on current and projected 
enrollments with TSA's existing program. TSA estimates that there will 
be an average annual hour burden of 5,031,067 hours over a 3-year 
projection, for a total of 15,093,202 hours. TSA estimates an average 
of 1.015 hours per respondent to complete the enrollment process, which 
includes time to fill out the enrollment or renewal application, round 
trip travel time to an enrollment center (as needed), providing 
biographic and biometric information to TSA (via an enrollment center 
or pre-enrollment options), the time burden for any records correction 
for the applicant, and time for surveys. The applicant fee per 
respondent for those who apply for the program directly with TSA will 
average $80 for initial enrollments, $70 for online renewals, and $75 
for in-person renewals, which covers TSA's program costs, TSA's 
enrollment vendor's costs, and the FBI fee for the criminal history 
records check.

    Dated: February 15, 2024.
Nicole Raymond,
TSA Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, Information Technology.
[FR Doc. 2024-03537 Filed 2-21-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-05-P
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