[Federal Register: March 20, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 53)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 13026-13027]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20mr07-12]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Transportation Security Administration
49 CFR Part 1572
[Docket No. TSA-2006-24191]
RIN 1652-AA41
Transportation Worker Identification Credential Fees
AGENCY: Transportation Security Administration, DHS.
ACTION: Rule.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through the
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the U.S. Coast Guard,
published a final rule on January 25, 2007 that establishes
requirements for merchant mariners and workers who need unescorted
access to secure areas of maritime facilities and vessels. These
individuals must successfully complete a security threat assessment
conducted by TSA and hold a Transportation Worker Identification
Credential (TWIC) in order to enter secure areas without escort. As
required by statute, all TWIC applicants must pay a user fee to cover
TSA's costs to enroll applicants, complete security threat assessments,
and issue biometric credentials. With this notice, we announce the user
fees as follows: The total standard fee for a TWIC applicant is $137.25
and the reduced fee for applicants who have completed a prior
comparable threat assessment is $105.25.
DATES: Effective March 20, 2007.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christine Beyer, Office of the Chief
Counsel, TSA-2, Transportation Security Administration, 601 South 12th
Street, Arlington, VA 22202-4220; telephone (571) 227-2657; facsimile
(571) 227-1380 e-mail Christine.Beyer@dhs.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Department of Homeland Security, through TSA and the U.S. Coast
Guard, published a final rule on January 25, 2007 \1\ that establishes
requirements for merchant mariners and workers who need unescorted
access to secure areas of maritime facilities and vessels. These
individuals must successfully complete a security threat assessment
conducted by TSA and hold a TWIC that TSA issues in order to enter
secure areas without escort.
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\1\ 72 FR 3492.
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As required by sec. 520 of the 2004 DHS Appropriations Act, Pub. L.
108-90, TSA must collect user fees to cover the costs of implementing
the TWIC program, including the cost to enroll all applicants, complete
security threat assessments, provide an appeal and waiver process, and
issue biometric credentials.
As stated in the final rule,\2\ the fee is made up of three
segments: Enrollment Segment; Full Card Production/Security Threat
Assessment Segment; and FBI Segment. Most applicants will pay the
Standard TWIC Fee, which includes all three segments. However,
applicants
[[Page 13027]]
who have completed a comparable threat assessment, such as the threat
assessment TSA conducts on commercial drivers with a hazardous
materials endorsement, will pay the Reduced TWIC Fee. These applicants
are not charged for the FBI Segment and pay a reduced fee for the Full
Card Production/Security Threat Assessment Segment.
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\2\ 72 FR 3506.
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In the preamble of the final rule, we discussed the potential range
of fees that would be charged for each Segment but did not publish
specific fees for each Segment in the final rule text because the
contract for enrollment and card production services was not finalized
at that time. We explained that when the contract was executed and
final fee amounts determined, we would publish a notice in the Federal
Register announcing them. TSA has executed the contract for TWIC
enrollment and card production and, with this notice, announces the
final fee amounts. The Enrollment Segment fee is $43.25, the Full Card
Production/Security Threat Assessment Segment fee is $72, and the FBI
Segment fee is $22. Therefore, the total Standard TWIC Fee is $137.25
($43.25 + 72 + 22). For applicants who have completed a prior
comparable threat assessment, there is no FBI Segment fee and the Card
Production/Security Threat Assessment Segment fee is $62. Therefore,
the total Reduced TWIC Fee is $105.25 ($43.25 + 62).
As stated in the final rule, the fee for a replacement credential
is $36, but we do not believe that amount adequately funds TSA's card
replacement costs. Our calculations indicate that $60 is the correct
amount for card replacement costs and invited comment on that issue.\3\
The comment period for increasing the card replacement fee closed on
February 26, 2007. We will examine all comments received and determine
the final card replacement fee. We will amend the rule text to include
all of the fees discussed in this notice and the card replacement fee,
so that they will appear in the Code of Federal Regulations, at 49 CFR
1572, subpart F, Fees for Security Threat Assessments for
Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC).
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\3\ 72 FR 3507-3508.
Issued in Arlington, Virginia, on March 14, 2007.
Kip Hawley,
Assistant Secretary, Transportation Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 07-1328 Filed 3-19-07; 8:45 am]
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