40072 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 140 / Monday, July 26, 2021 / Notices 

experts in hydrology, hydraulics, and 

other pertinent sciences established to 

review conflicting scientific and 

technical data and provide 

recommendations for resolution. Use of 

the SRP only may be exercised after 

FEMA and local communities have been 

engaged in a collaborative consultation 

process for at least 60 days without a 

mutually acceptable resolution of an 

appeal. Additional information 

regarding the SRP process can be found 

online at https://www.floodsrp.org/pdfs/ 

srp_overview.pdf. 

The watersheds and/or communities 

affected are listed in the tables below. 

The Preliminary FIRM, and where 

applicable, FIS report for each 

community are available for inspection 

at both the online location https://

hazards.fema.gov/femaportal/ 

prelimdownload and the respective 

Community Map Repository address 

listed in the tables. For communities 

with multiple ongoing Preliminary 

studies, the studies can be identified by 

the unique project number and 

Preliminary FIRM date listed in the 

tables. Additionally, the current 

effective FIRM and FIS report for each 

community are accessible online 

through the FEMA Map Service Center 

at https://msc.fema.gov for comparison. 

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 

97.022, ‘‘Flood Insurance.’’) 

Michael M. Grimm, 

Assistant Administrator for Risk 

Management, Department of Homeland 

Security, Federal Emergency Management 

Agency. 

Community Community map repository address 

Escambia County, Florida and Incorporated Areas 

Project: 11–04–1993S Preliminary Date: January 27, 2017 

City of Pensacola ..................................................................................... Inspection Services, 222 West Main Street, Pensacola, FL 32502. 

Pensacola Beach-Santa Rosa Island Authority ....................................... Pensacola Beach-Santa Rosa Island Authority, 1 Via de Luna Drive, 

Pensacola Beach, FL 32561. 

Town of Century ....................................................................................... Planning and Zoning, 7995 North Century Boulevard, Century, FL 

32535. 

Unincorporated Areas of Escambia County ............................................. Escambia County Development Services Department, 3363 West Park 

Place, Pensacola, FL 32505. 

Walton County, Georgia and Incorporated Areas 

Project: 18–04–0003S Preliminary Date: July 29, 2020 

City of Good Hope .................................................................................... City Hall, 169 Highway 83, Good Hope, GA 30641. 

City of Monroe .......................................................................................... City Hall, 215 North Broad Street, Monroe, GA 30655. 

City of Social Circle .................................................................................. City Hall, 166 North Cherokee Road, Social Circle, GA 30025. 

Unincorporated Areas of Walton County ................................................. Walton County Planning and Development Office, 303 South Hammond Drive, Suite 98, Monroe, GA 30655. 

Hopewell City, Virginia (Independent City) 

Project: 16–03–2426S Preliminary Date: February 12, 2021 

City of Hopewell ....................................................................................... City Hall, 300 North Main Street, Hopewell, VA 23860. 

[FR Doc. 2021–15870 Filed 7–23–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 9110–12–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND 

SECURITY 

Transportation Security Administration 

Exemption for Exclusive Area 

Agreements at Certain Airports 

AGENCY: Transportation Security 

Administration, DHS. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: TSA is providing notice of 

temporary exemptions the agency is 

granting to three airport operators to 

permit them to enter into Exclusive 

Area Agreements (EAA) with Amazon 

Air, a subsidiary of Amazon.com Inc. 

The exemption applies to the following 

airport operators: Cincinnati/Northern 

Kentucky International Airport (CVG), 

Baltimore/Washington International 

Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), and 

Chicago Rockford International Airport 

(RFD). 

DATES: These exemptions take effect on 

July 26, 2021 and remain in effect until 

modified or rescinded by TSA through 

a notice published in the Federal 

Register. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric 

Byczynski, Airport Security Programs, 

Aviation Division, Policy, Plans, and 

Engagement; email to: eric.byczynski@

tsa.dhs.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Purpose 

TSA’s regulations provide that airport 

operators may enter into EAAs only 

with aircraft operators or foreign air 

carriers, subject to TSA approval of an 

amendment to each airport operator’s 

airport security program (ASP). See 49 

CFR 1542.111. Amazon Air is not an 

aircraft operator or foreign air carrier, 

but conducts significant operations at 

three airports on behalf of aircraft 

operators. 

TSA has determined it is in the public 

interest to authorize these airport 

operators to enter into EAAs with 

Amazon Air because this action will 

create operational and economic 

efficiencies for the airport operators and 

Amazon Air, to the economic benefit of 

the public and without detriment to 

security. The exemptions permit these 

airports to leverage significant private 

sector technologies with respect to 

access control and monitoring systems 

that enhance security and minimize 

insider threat. The exemptions will also 

facilitate the rapid hiring of significant 

numbers of new personnel to support 

Amazon Air’s expanded presence at 

these locations, aiding the economy in 

the surrounding areas. Finally, the 

exemptions will permit TSA to exercise 

direct regulatory oversight of Amazon 

Air concerning the security functions 

they will perform under the EAAs. All 

other provisions of 49 CFR 1542.111 

will apply to any EAA executed under 

these exemptions. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 140 / Monday, July 26, 2021 / Notices 40073 

1 49 CFR 1540.5 for definitions of terms used 

throughout this notice. 

2 49 CFR 1542.105(a). 

3 49 CFR part 1544. 

4 49 CFR part 1546. 

5 49 CFR 1542.111(a). 

6 49 CFR 1542.111(b). 

7 49 CFR 1542.111(b)(1)–(3). 

8Published at 43 FR 60792 (Dec. 28, 1978). 

9See 49 CFR 1544.101(h) for scope of a full allcargo security program. 

10For purposes of this exemption, applicable full 

all-cargo aircraft operators include Atlas Air, Air 

Transport International, ABX, Inc., and Sun 

Country Airlines. 

11An ‘‘authorized representative’’ is a person 

who performs TSA-required security measures as 

an agent of a TSA-regulated party. Although the 

authorized representative may perform the 

measures, the TSA-regulated party remains 

responsible for completion, and TSA holds the 

TSA-regulated party primarily accountable through 

enforcement action of any violations. TSA may also 

hold the authorized representative accountable if it 

causes the regulated party’s violation. See 49 CFR 

1540.105. 

12The term ‘‘jump seater’’ refers to an off duty 

commercial pilot who is permitted to travel by 

using the jumpseat in the cockpit of a commercial 

aircraft operator. 

II. Background 

A. Airport Security 

TSA administers a comprehensive 

regulatory program to govern the 

security of aviation, including standards 

for domestic airports, domestic aircraft 

operators, and foreign air carriers. The 

security requirements for domestic 

airports are codified at 49 CFR part 1542 

and include minimum standards for 

access control procedures, identification 

(ID) media, passenger screening, 

criminal history records checks (CHRCs) 

of airport workers, law enforcement 

support, training, contingency plans, 

TSA inspection authority, and incident 

management. These regulations require 

airport operators to conduct specified 

security measures in the secured area,1

air operations area (AOA), and security 

identification display area (SIDA) of the 

airport. Part 1542 requires airports to 

develop and follow TSA-approved 

ASPs 2 that establish security 

procedures specific to each airport, and 

Security Directives, which apply to all 

airports. 

TSA recognizes that, in certain 

circumstances, these security measures 

may be performed more effectively or 

efficiently by another TSA-regulated 

party, such as an aircraft operator or 

foreign air carrier, operating on the 

airport. Therefore, under 49 CFR 

1542.111, TSA may approve an 

amendment to an airport’s ASP that 

permits the airport operator to execute 

a legally binding EAA with an aircraft 

operator 3 or foreign air carrier.4 Under 

the EAA, the aircraft operator or foreign 

air carrier assumes responsibility from 

the airport operator for specified ASP 

security measures in all or specified 

portions of the secured area, AOA, or 

SIDA.5 TSA requires the EAA to be in 

writing, and signed by the airport 

operator and the aircraft operator or 

foreign air carrier.6 TSA also prescribes 

in detail the required contents of the 

EAA, including a description of the 

measures that become the responsibility 

of the aircraft operator or foreign air 

carrier.7

EAAs are an established part of TSA’s 

regulatory structure for airport 

operators, commonly used since 1978.8

Currently, there are more than 70 EAAs 

in place with aircraft operators and 

foreign air carriers at domestic airports. 

EAAs are typically used when an entire 

airport terminal is serviced exclusively 

by one aircraft operator. At locations 

with EAAs, TSA conducts standard 

compliance inspections, and may issue 

violations of the security standard set 

forth in the EAA against the aircraft 

operator or foreign air carrier that holds 

the EAA. 

B. Entities Subject to the Exemptions 

These exemptions are limited to three 

airports–CVG, BWI, and RFD–and the 

operations of Amazon Air at these 

locations. 

Amazon.com, Inc. is an American 

multinational technology company 

based in Seattle, Washington engaged in 

e-commerce, cloud computing, digital 

streaming, artificial intelligence, and 

cargo shipping. As of Spring 2021, 

Amazon reports that, less than 20 

percent of Amazon’s cargo is shipped by 

air. Due in part, however, to the COVID– 

19 public health crisis and impact on 

the economy, cargo shipment has 

increased dramatically, with a 

corresponding relative increase in the 

total volume of air cargo. 

Amazon’s subsidiary, Amazon Air, 

maintains operations at various 

domestic and international airports. 

Amazon Air owns air cargo aircraft, but 

does not operate the aircraft itself and 

is not an aircraft operator for purposes 

of TSA’s regulations. Amazon Air leases 

the aircraft to certain aircraft operators 

holding TSA full all-cargo security 

programs.9 Amazon Air then acts as an 

authorized representative for these full 

all-cargo aircraft operators 10 at certain 

airports, including the three covered by 

these Exemptions. 

As an authorized representative 11 at 

these locations, Amazon Air performs 

security functions under TSA’s Full AllCargo Aircraft Operator Standard 

Security Program on behalf of these 

aircraft operators, including the 

responsibility for preventing access to 

both aircraft and the cargo bound for 

those aircraft, and providing the Ground 

Security Coordinator, the individual at 

the facility responsible for coordinating 

these security responsibilities. Amazon 

Air has also assumed security 

responsibility for performing cargo 

acceptance and chain of custody; cargo 

screening, buildup, and consolidation; 

recordkeeping; cargo training; aircraft 

searches; screening ‘‘jump seaters’’ 12

and their property; incident reporting; 

comparing jump seaters and individuals 

who have access to aircraft and cargo 

against watchlists; and participation in 

table top exercises. 

Based on logistics and Amazon Air’s 

current transportation network, these 

airports have become high capacity 

locations. As noted above, these 

increases are due, in part, to the COVID 

pandemic, the public’s heightened 

reliance on online shopping for basic 

goods, and the Nation’s needs to move 

personal protective equipment and 

related products quickly. Amazon Air 

estimates that these trends will not 

significantly diminish when the public 

health crisis ends. 

To address the current and 

anticipated demand, Amazon Air is 

increasing use of its own employees for 

company services and operations, rather 

than contracting out for services. 

Amazon Air already has employees in 

place at the three locations within the 

scope of this exemption and has 

represented to TSA that it intends to 

hire significantly more employees over 

the next 12 to 18 months. 

Hiring surges can occur at all airports 

throughout the year due to seasonal 

changes or construction. Most airports 

can plan ahead for these surges to 

ensure sufficient staffing in the airport 

badging offices to begin the vetting 

process and issue ID media to new 

employees. However, when a new or 

existing employer has a significant, 

sudden increase in employees, all 

airport vendors can be adversely 

affected by the strain this places on the 

airport badging system. It takes 

significant time to collect the biometric 

and biographic information needed to 

initiate CHRCs and security threat 

assessments (STA), adjudicate CHRCs, 

and issue the ID media. 

Amazon Air has represented to TSA 

that it has the capability and capacity to 

assume certain security responsibilities 

under the ASPs at these airports. These 

security responsibilities include 

physical control of access points at the 

locations; adjudicating CHRCs for 

disqualifying offenses and submitting 

STAs for its employees; issuing ID 


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40074 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 140 / Monday, July 26, 2021 / Notices 

13See 49 U.S.C. 114(q). 

14Published at 81 FR 23417 (April 20, 2016). 

media; and conducting ID media 

accountability audits. 

TSA has determined that Amazon Air 

possesses the latest, sophisticated access 

control and monitoring systems that 

enhance security by significantly 

restricting access to cargo and aircraft. 

Amazon Air is in the process of 

installing these systems at access points 

at these locations. As a subsidiary of a 

profitable, private sector leader in 

technology, Amazon Air benefits from 

ample resources to purchase advanced 

equipment as needed, without regard to 

local government budget restrictions 

that many airports face. This factor 

provides a level of assurance that the 

security capability will remain 

consistent and substantial. Amazon 

Air’s independent economic stability 

also provides a level of assurance that 

it will be able to quickly obtain any 

necessary expertise it may need to carry 

out all of the EAA functions going 

forward. 

III. Authority and Determination 

TSA may grant an exemption from a 

regulation if TSA determines that the 

exemption is in the public interest.13

TSA finds this exemption to be in the 

public interest for several reasons. First, 

TSA has evaluated Amazon Air’s 

security apparatus with respect to 

access control and monitoring, vetting 

and ID media issuance, and cargo 

management and movement, and 

determined it to be modern, strong, and 

resilient. Second, Amazon Air’s 

significant personnel expansion at these 

locations may strain the resources of 

airport operator and aircraft operator 

badging offices, adversely affecting 

other airport vendors, and limiting new 

hire capability. Amazon Air’s ability 

under an EAA to initiate the employee 

vetting functions that the airport 

authorities would otherwise be required 

to conduct will more efficiently manage 

volume as needed. This factor should 

reap economic benefits for the 

surrounding areas in terms of 

employment, and to other airport 

vendors who will not be adversely 

affected by a sudden increase in airport 

ID media issuance. Moreover, extending 

the authorities under an EAA to 

Amazon Air at these locations is 

consistent with Executive Order 13725 

of April 16, 2016 (Steps to Increase 

Competition and Better Inform 

Consumers and Workers to Support 

Continued Growth of the American 

Economy 14 to promote competition and 

reduce regulatory restrictions where 

possible. Finally, under the EAAs, TSA 

will have direct oversight of Amazon 

Air’s security activities, rather than 

indirectly through an aircraft operator 

for which Amazon Air is an authorized 

representative. Given the scale of 

Amazon Air’s commercial activities and 

physical infrastructure that must be 

secured at these airports, TSA 

compliance oversight will be more 

efficient and effective if conducted 

directly over Amazon Air. 

Therefore, TSA has determined that it 

is in the public interest to grant CVG, 

BWI, and RFD an exemption from the 

provision in 49 CFR 1542.111 that limits 

the persons with whom an airport 

operator may execute an EAA to aircraft 

operators and foreign air carriers. Under 

this exemption, CVG, BWI, and RFD, 

respectively, may enter into an EAA 

with Amazon Air consistent with TSA 

EAA-requirements. These exemptions 

apply only to these airports and their 

respective EAAs with Amazon Air. 

IV. Exemptions 

Applicability: These exemptions 

apply to CVG, BWI, and RFD. 

Exemption: For the duration of each 

exemption, CVG, BWI, and RFD, 

respectively, may apply for an 

amendment to their airport security 

program that permits the airport 

operator to enter into an EAA in 

accordance with 49 CFR 1542.111 with 

Amazon Air, notwithstanding that 

Amazon Air is not a TSA-regulated 

aircraft operator or foreign air carrier. 

The terms of the EAA replace the 

requirements in 49 CFR part 1542 so 

long as Amazon Air complies with the 

EAA. This amendment and the EAA 

must require Amazon Air to comply 

with all relevant Security Directives and 

Emergency Amendments issued by 

TSA. 

Duration: These exemptions take 

effect on July 26, 2021. At CVG, BWI, 

and RFD, Amazon Air may begin 

performing as an EAA-holder on the 

date on which TSA approves an 

amendment to the respective airport 

operator’s airport security program 

implementing each executed EAA. Each 

exemption will remain in effect while 

the airport operator’s TSA-approved 

airport security program remains in 

effect. TSA may direct revisions to the 

ASP amendment and EAA with regard 

to one or more of the covered airport 

operators, for security reasons under 49 

CFR 1542.105(b). TSA may rescind the 

ASP amendment and EAA, and may 

rescind or modify the exemption, with 

regard to one or more of the covered 

airport operators, at any time. 

Dated: July 19, 2021. 

David P. Pekoske, 

Administrator. 

[FR Doc. 2021–15902 Filed 7–22–21; 4:15 pm] 

BILLING CODE 9110–05–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND 

URBAN DEVELOPMENT 

[Docket No. FR–7034–N–43; OMB Control 

No.: 2502–New] 

30-Day Notice of Proposed Information 

Collection: Housing Counseling 

Agency Activity Report 

AGENCY: Office of the Chief Information 

Officer, HUD. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: HUD has submitted the 

proposed information collection 

requirement described below to the 

Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB) for review, in accordance with 

the Paperwork Reduction Act. The 

purpose of this notice is to allow for an 

additional 30 days of public comment. 

DATES: Comments Due Date: August 25, 

2021. 

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are 

invited to submit comments regarding 

this proposal. Written comments and 

recommendations for the proposed 

information collection should be sent 

within 30 days of publication of this 

notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/ 

Start Printed Page 15501PRAMain. Find 

this particular information collection by 

selecting ‘‘Currently under 30-day 

Review—Open for Public Comments’’ or 

by using the search function. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Colette Pollard, Reports Management 

Officer, QDAM, Department of Housing 

and Urban Development, 451 7th Street 

SW, Washington, DC 20410; email 

Colette Pollard at Colette.Pollard@

hud.gov or telephone 202–402–3400. 

This is not a toll-free number. Persons 

with hearing or speech impairments 

may access this number through TTY by 

calling the toll-free Federal Relay 

Service at (800) 877–8339. 

Copies of available documents 

submitted to OMB may be obtained 

from Ms. Pollard. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 

notice informs the public that HUD has 

submitted to OMB a request for 

approval of the information collection 

described in Section A. The Federal 

Register notice that solicited public 

comment on the information collection 

for a period of 60 days was published 

on May 19, 2021 at 86 FR 27100. 


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