Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2007/03/20/07-1327/air-cargo-security-requirements-compliance-dates-amendment
Timestamp: 2017-11-24 05:52:54
Document Index: 565199304

Matched Legal Cases: ['§\u20091544', '§\u20091548', '§\u20091544', '§\u20091544', '§\u20091548', '§\u20091544', '§\u20091548', '§\u20091544', '§\u20091546', '§\u20091548', '§\u20091548', 'art 1540']

13023-13026 (4 pages)
Amendment Nos. 1544-7, 1546-4, and 1548-4
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/07-1327 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/07-1327
Effective Date: This rule is effective March 20, 2007.
Comment Date: Comments must be received by May 21, 2007.
Compliance Dates: Compliance date for STAs for employees under §§ 1544.228, 1546.213, 1548.15, and for IAC proprietors, general partners, officers, directors and certain owners of the entity under § 1548.16: Changed from March 15, 2007, to a requirement that the operators submit names and other identifying information to TSA by May 15, 2007. The date that all covered individuals must have successfully completed the STAs is extended to a date that TSA will specify in a future notice in the Federal Register.
Compliance dates for STAs for agents under §§ 1544.228, 1546.213, and 1548.15: Changed from June 15, 2007, to a requirement that the operators submit names and other identifying information to TSA by July 15, 2007. The date that all covered individuals must have successfully completed the STAs is extended to a date that TSA will specify in a future notice in the Federal Register.
With each comment, please include your name and address, identify the docket number at the beginning of your comments, and give the reason for each comment. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the rulemaking, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. You may submit comments and material electronically, in person, by mail, or fax as provided under ADDRESSES, but please submit your comments and material by only one means. If you submit comments by mail or delivery, submit them in two copies, in an unbound format, no larger Start Printed Page 13024than 8.5 by 11 inches, suitable for copying and electronic filing.
On May 26, 2006, TSA published a final rule in the Federal Register (the Air Cargo Final Rule).[2] Certain compliance dates were changed by interim final rule on October 25, 2006.[3] The Air Cargo Final Rule, in part, as amended, requires that aircraft operators, foreign air carriers, and indirect air carriers (IACs) ensure that security threat assessments (STAs) are completed on their employees and agents with unescorted access to cargo under §§ 1544.228, 1546.213, and 1548.15; and on proprietors, general partners, officers, directors, and certain owners of an IAC entity under § 1548.16. Under the final rule, the compliance date for these sections is March 15, 2007. The compliance date for STAs to be completed for agents of these entities is June 15, 2007.
Since the publication of the interim rule in October 2006 extending the compliance dates for completion of STAs, TSA has encountered technical problems that will delay TSA's ability to process the large number of STA applications for air cargo employees, agents, and IAC proprietors, general partners, officers, directors, and certain owners of the entity (IAC proprietors). TSA is working diligently on these problems and expects to resolve them within the next few months. Accordingly, TSA is extending the compliance dates for STAs for employees and agents of aircraft operators, foreign air carriers, and IACs under §§ 1544.228, 1546.213, 1548.15; and for IAC proprietors under § 1548.16. Because TSA is not certain when it will be possible to assure expeditious vetting of the individuals required to complete STAs, TSA has decided not to establish specific dates for when all covered individuals must have completed the STA before having unescorted access to air cargo or performing another covered function. Instead, TSA now is setting the dates by which the operators must submit the names and other identifying information of these individuals for whom TSA requires STAs. This information must be submitted to TSA by May 15, 2007, for employees and by July 15, 2007, for agents. After those dates, the operators may not allow unescorted access to air cargo for any individual, or allow an individual to perform another function for which a STA is required under these sections, unless the operator has submitted the information for that individual to TSA. In the future, TSA will issue a notice in the Federal Register establishing dates after which employees and agents must have successfully completed their STAs in order to hold positions for which STAs are required.
TSA finds that good cause exists to issue this interim rule without providing the public prior notice and the opportunity for comment. Under 5 U.S.C. 553(b), the requirements of notice and opportunity for comment do not Start Printed Page 13025apply when the agency for good cause finds that it would be, “impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest” to delay implementation of a rule to allow for prior notice and comment. As detailed above, TSA believes that: (a) Regulated parties will be largely unable to comply with the regulations in the time specified because the TSA IT systems are not ready; (b) no party will be adversely affected by the extensions; and (c) the lack of notice will not cause any hardship. Further, because the current compliance deadlines begin on March 15, 2007, it would be impracticable to delay the extension of this deadline to allow for prior notice and comments. Accordingly, TSA finds that good cause exists under 5 U.S.C. 553(b) to implement this interim rule without prior notice and public comment on the extensions of the compliance dates in the provisions of the Air Cargo Final Rule.
For the same reasons, TSA also finds that good cause exists under 5 U.S.C. 553(d) to make this interim rule effective immediately upon publication in the Federal Register. TSA nevertheless invites written comments on this interim rule.
The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., as amended by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) of 1996), requires agencies to perform a review to determine whether a proposed or final rule will have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities when the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) requires notice and comment rulemaking. Consistent with the APA and for the reasons provided under “Good Cause for Immediate Adoption,” TSA is issuing this rule as an IFR. Accordingly, the regulatory flexibility analysis as described in the RFA is not required.
The energy impact of the action has been assessed in accordance with the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), Pub. L. 94-163, as amended (42 U.S.C. 6362). We have determined that this rulemaking is not a major regulatory action under the provisions of the EPCA.
2. Amend § 1544.228 to revise paragraph (d) and to add new paragraph (e) to read as follows:
(d) Operators must submit to TSA the names and other identifying information required by TSA of all individuals required to successfully complete an assessment under paragraph (b) not later Start Printed Page 13026than May 15, 2007, for direct employees and not later than July 15, 2007, for agents. After those dates, the operators may not allow an individual to perform a function for which a STA is required, unless the operator has submitted the information for that individual to TSA.
(e) Operators must comply with the requirements of paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of this section not later than the dates to be specified by TSA in a future rule in the Federal Register.
4. Amend § 1546.213 by revising paragraph (d) and add new paragraph (e) to read as follows:
(d) Operators must submit to TSA the names and other identifying information required by TSA of all individuals required to successfully complete an assessment under paragraph (b) not later than May 15, 2007, for direct employees and not later than July 15, 2007, for agents. After those dates, the operators may not allow an individual to perform a function for which a STA is required, unless the operator has submitted the information for that individual to TSA.
6. Amend § 1548.15 by revising paragraph (d) and add new paragraph (e) to read as follows:
7. Amend § 1548.16 by revising paragraph (a) and add new paragraph (d) to read as follows:
(a) Each indirect air carrier, or applicant to be an indirect air carrier, must ensure that the names and other identifying information required by TSA of each proprietor, general partner, officer, director, and owner of the entity have been submitted to TSA for a Security Threat Assessment under part 1540, subpart C, of this chapter not later than May 15, 2007. After those dates, the operators may not allow an individual to perform this function unless the operator has submitted the information for that individual to TSA.
2. 71 FR 30478. Certain compliance dates were corrected on June 2, 2006 (71 FR 31964).
3. 71 FR 62546.
[FR Doc. 07-1327 Filed 3-15-07; 2:14 pm]