The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) developed the
Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC™) Program in
response to the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (MTSA).
MTSA requires use of a biometric identification credential by
individuals who require unescorted access to secure areas of maritime
facilities and vessels. Before issuing a TWIC, TSA must conduct a
security threat assessment on the TWIC™ applicant. An applicant who, as
a result of the assessment, is determined to not pose a security
threat, will be issued a TWIC.
Each applicant for a TWIC™ must provide biographic information,
identity documents, biometric information (fingerprints), sit for a
digital photograph, and pay the established TWIC™ fee. TSA will send
pertinent parts of the enrollment record to the FBI, as well as within
the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), so that appropriate
terrorist threat, criminal history, and immigration checks can be
performed. TSA will review the results of the checks to determine if
the person poses a security threat, and will notify the applicant of
the results. When TSA determines that an applicant qualifies to
receive a TWIC, a credential will be produced and sent to the
enrollment center at which the applicant applied. The applicant will
return to the enrollment center for issuance and activation of the
TWIC. Possession of a TWIC™ does not guarantee access to secure areas
because the owner/operator controls which individuals are granted
unescorted access to the facility or vessel. Rather, TWIC™ is a secure,
verified credential that can be used in conjunction with the
owner/operator's risk-based security program that is
required in security regulations issued by the Coast Guard.
PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT:
Authority: The authority for collecting this
information is 49 U.S.C. 114, 40113, and 49 U.S.C. 5103a.
Purpose: This information is needed to verify your
identity and to conduct a security threat assessment to evaluate your
eligibility for a Transportation Worker Identification Credential.
Routine Uses: Routine uses of this information
include disclosure to the FBI to retrieve your criminal history
record; to TSA contractors or other agents who are providing services
relating to the security threat assessments; to appropriate
governmental agencies for licensing, law enforcement, or security
purposes, or in the interests of national security; and to foreign and
international governmental authorities in accordance with law and
international agreement.
Disclosure: Furnishing this information, including
your SSN or alien registration number, is voluntary; however, failure
to provide it will delay and may prevent completion of your security
threat assessment.
PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT STATEMENT:
Statement of Public Burden: TSA is collecting this information to determine your eligibility for a TWIC. This is a voluntary collection of information but failure to provide the information may result in an inability to approve your eligibility for a TWIC. TSA estimates that the total average burden per response associated with this collection for enrollment is approximately 90 minutes. 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 control number assigned to this collection is OMB 1652-0047, which expires 10/31/2012.