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11 October 2011

TSA to Hide Condition of 100 Critical Pipelines


[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 196 (Tuesday, October 11, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62818-62819]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-26188]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Transportation Security Administration


Extension of Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB 
Review: Critical Facility Information of the Top 100 Most Critical 
Pipelines

AGENCY: Transportation Security Administration, DHS.

ACTION: 30-day Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces that the Transportation Security 
Administration (TSA) has forwarded the Information Collection Request 
(ICR), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number 1652-0050, 
abstracted below to OMB for review and approval of an extension of the 
currently approved collection under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). 
The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its 
expected burden. TSA published a Federal Register notice, with a 60-day 
comment period, soliciting comments of the following collection of 
information on June 16, 2011, 76 FR 35229. The 9/11 Act required TSA to 
develop and implement a plan to inspect critical pipeline systems.

DATES: Send your comments by November 10, 2011. A comment to OMB is 
most effective if OMB receives it within 30 days of publication.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments on 
the proposed information collection to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, OMB. Comments should be addressed to Desk Officer, 
Department of Homeland Security/TSA, and sent via electronic mail to 
oira_submission@omb.eop.gov or faxed to (202) 395-6974.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joanna Johnson, TSA PRA Officer, 
Office of Information Technology (OIT), TSA-11, Transportation Security 
Administration, 601 South 12th Street, Arlington, VA 20598-6011; 
telephone (571) 227-3651; e-mail TSAPRA@dhs.gov.

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

    Title: Critical Facility Information of the Top 100 Most Critical 
Pipelines.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    OMB Control Number: 1652-0050.
    Forms(s): Critical Facility Security Review (CFSR).
    Affected Public: Pipeline companies.
    Abstract: Section 1557(b) of the Implementing the Recommendations 
of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 specifically tasked TSA to develop 
and implement a plan for inspecting critical facilities of the 100 most 
critical pipeline systems. See Public Law 110-53, 121 Stat. 266, 475 
(Aug. 3, 2007). Operators determined their critical facilities based on 
guidance and criteria set forth in the Department of Transportation's 
(DOT) September 5, 2002, ``Pipeline Security Information Circular'' and 
June 2002 ``Pipeline Security Contingency Planning Guidance.'' With OMB 
approval (OMB Control Number 1652-0050), TSA reached out to the 
operators of the top 125 critical pipeline systems and requested they 
submit a listing of their critical facilities to TSA. This critical 
facility information was submitted to TSA between November 2008 and 
August 2009. In April 2011, TSA updated the ``Pipeline Security 
Guidelines'' in consultation with stakeholders and DOT. TSA is now 
seeking to renew its OMB approval to request critical facility 
information from the top 125 pipeline operators. TSA anticipates that 
each operator will report, on average, a total of 5 critical facilities 
on their system, for a total of approximately 600 critical facilities 
across the top 125 operators.
    Once updated critical facility information is obtained, TSA intends 
to visit critical pipeline facilities and collect site-specific 
information from pipeline operators on facility security policies, 
procedures, and physical security measures. Information obtained on the 
visits will be collected on a Critical Facility Security Review (CFSR) 
Form. The CFSR will differ from TSA's Corporate Security Review (CSR) 
in that a CSR looks at corporate or company-wide security management 
plans and practices while the CFSR will look at individual pipeline 
facility security measures and procedures. TSA is seeking OMB approval 
to utilize the CFSR document during critical facility reviews in order 
to collect facility security information. Information collected from 
the reviews would be analyzed and used to determine strengths and 
weaknesses at the nation's critical pipeline facilities, areas to 
target for risk reduction strategies, pipeline industry implementation 
of the voluntary guidelines, and the need for regulations in accordance 
with Section 1557(d) of the Implementing the Recommendations of the 9/
11 Commission Act of 2007. TSA anticipates visiting 120 critical 
facilities each year.

[[Page 62819]]

    As part of this collection process, TSA intends to follow-up with 
pipeline operators on their implementation of security improvements and 
recommendations made during facility visits. During critical facility 
visits, TSA documents and provides recommendations to improve the 
security posture of the facility. TSA intends to follow-up with 
pipeline operators via email on their status toward implementation of 
the recommendations made during the critical facility visits. The 
follow-up will be conducted between approximately 12 and 24 months 
after the facility visit.
    TSA will use the information collected to determine to what extent 
the pipeline industry is implementing the 2011 guidance document and 
security improvement recommendations made during critical facility 
visits. The information provided by owners or operators for each 
information collection is Sensitive Security Information (SSI), and it 
will be protected in accordance with procedures meeting the 
transmission, handling and storage requirements of SSI set forth in 49 
CFR parts 15 and 1520.
    Number of Respondents: 125 for the renewal of the critical facility 
information and 590 for the critical facility security reviews and 
recommendations follow-up.
    Estimated Annual Burden Hours: An estimated 2,730 hours in the 
first year and 1,080 hours annually in subsequent years.

    Issued in Arlington, Virginia, on October 4, 2011.
Joanna Johnson,
TSA Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, Office of Information Technology.
[FR Doc. 2011-26188 Filed 10-7-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-05-P