Flying Armed SupStmt

4

1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary. Identify any legal or administrative requirements that necessitate the collection. Attach a copy of the appropriate section of each statue and regulation mandating or authorizing the collection of information. (Annotate the CFR parts/sections affected).

With the establishment of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) under the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, Public Law 107-71, on November 19, 2001, the responsibilities for civil aviation security were transferred from the Federal Aviation Administration to the TSA. As a result, TSA assumed responsibility for the Law Enforcement Officers (LEOs) Flying Armed Training program. TSA requires all LEOs who have a mission need to fly armed to complete this training under 49 CFR 1544. 219. “Armed,” for purposes of this program, means that the LEO carries the firearm on his or her person, and not in checked baggage. The course is a non-tactical overview of the conditions under which an officer may fly armed, the expected behavior of the officer while flying armed, and the scope of authority of the LEO during flight. TSA will gather information from federal, state and local law enforcement agencies who have requested the LEO Flying Armed training course.

2. Indicate how, by whom, and for what purpose the information is to be used. Except for a new collection, indicate the actual use the agency has made of the information received from the current collection.

TSA will gather information from law enforcement agencies who have requested the LEO Flying Armed training course. TSA will gather the information to confirm that the agencies are eligible for this program (i.e. that they are active law enforcement agencies whose officers have an operational need to fly armed). To obtain access to the LEO Flying Armed training course, Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies must contact the TSA/FAMS via official agency email. Once TSA/FAMS receives the email they respond with a an email to provide the full name of the officer, agency name, and agency address, as well as the name of each individual employee who will receive the training. Once the respondent has supplied the needed information, TSA/FAMS then contacts via phone to verify all information provided. The FAMS will maintain a record of law enforcement agencies which have received the training materials. If an issue arises during the screening and verification process regarding the authenticity of an agency that requests training materials, TSA will not supply any training materials until that issue has either been confirmed or resolved and will maintain a record of the issue.

3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses, and the basis for the decision for adopting this means of collection. Also describe any consideration of using information technology to reduce burden. [Effective 03/22/01, your response must SPECIFICALLY reference the Government Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA), which addresses electronic filing and recordkeeping, and what you are doing to adhere to it. You must explain how you will provide a fully electronic reporting option by October 2003, or an explanation of why this is not practicable.]

Consistent with the Government Paperwork Elimination Act, this is a fully electronic collection of information. As described in Question 2, the information will be collected via email (or phone if law enforcement agencies prefer).

4. Describe efforts to identify duplication. Show specifically why any similar information already available cannot be used or modified for use for the purpose(s) described in Item 2 above.

This information is not collected in any form, and therefore is not duplicated.

5. If the collection of information has a significant impact on a substantial number of small businesses or other small entities (Item 5 of the Paperwork Reduction Act submission form), describe the methods used to minimize burden.

This information does not have an impact on small businesses or other small entities.

6. Describe the consequence to Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently, as well as any technical or legal obstacles to reducing burden.

This is a one-time collection from each law enforcement agency that wishes to receive the LEO Flying Armed Training. Without proper vetting, the flying public and air safety in general could be put in jeopardy without the ability to verify the requesting agencies request.

7. Explain any special circumstances that require the collection to be conducted in a manner inconsistent with the general information collection guidelines in 5 CFR 1320.5(d)(2).

This collection will be conducted in a manner consistent with the general information collection guidelines in 5 CFR 1320.5(d)(2).

8. Describe efforts to consult persons outside the agency to obtain their views on the availability of data, frequency of collection, the clarity of instructions and recordkeeping, disclosure, or reporting format (if any), and on the data elements to be recorded, disclosed, or reported. If applicable, provide a copy and identify the date and page number of publication in the Federal Register of the agency's notice, required by 5 CFR 1320.8(d) soliciting comments on the information collection prior to submission to OMB. Summarize public comments received in response to that notice and describe actions taken by the agency in response to these comments. Specifically address comments received on cost and hour burden.

TSA published a Federal Register notice, with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments, of the following collection of information on June 03, 2008, 73 FR 31706. To TSA’s knowledge, no comments were received in response to this notice.

9. Explain any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees.

There is no offer of monetary or material value for this information collection.

10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for the assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.

There are no assurances of confidentiality provided to the respondents for this information collection.

11. Provide additional justification for any questions of sensitive nature, such as sexual behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered private.

There are no questions of sensitive nature.

12. Provide estimates of hour burden of the collection of information.

TSA plans to receive approximately 600 annual requests for the LEO Flying Armed Training from federal, state and local law enforcement agencies via e-mail or phone.

Each law enforcement agency will be required to submit the full names of their employees requesting the training, along with the agency address and the name of the individuals’ supervisor.

TSA estimates, at most, each agency will spend approximately 5 minutes to provide the information TSA needs to confirm the law enforcement agencies are eligible to receive the training. This would amount to 600 agencies multiplied by 5 minutes equals 50 hours (600 agencies X 5 min = 3,000 min [50 hrs]).

We therefore estimate the total annual hours requested to be 50 hours.

13. Provide an estimate of the total annual cost burden to respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the collection of information.

There is no cost to respondents resulting from this collection of information.

14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal Government. Also, provide a description of the method used to estimate cost, and other expenses that would not have been incurred without this collection of information.

There is no cost to the federal government for this information collection.

15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments reported in Items 13 or 14 of the OMB Form 83-I.

Prior to 2006 the TSA LEO Flying Armed training was an on-line training course requiring the collection of personal data from the requester to receive access to the on-line training. The contractor maintaining the data base was charging TSA for the collection of data on the requester. TSA no longer uses a contractor to issue the LEO Flying Armed training course. TSA now supplies the training materials via email to the requesting agency at no cost via email. TSA no longer requires the requester to complete a evaluation once they complete the LEO Flying Armed training. Therefore, the burden estimates have been reduced from the previous ICR.

16. For collections of information whose results will be published, outline plans for tabulation and publication. Address any complex analytical techniques that will be used. Provide the time schedule for the entire project, including beginning and ending dates of the collection of information, completion of report, publication dates, and other actions.

This information collection will not be published for statistical purposes.

17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection, explain the reasons that display would be inappropriate.

TSA will display the expiration date for OMB approval of this information collection.

18. Explain each exception to the certification statement identified in Item 19, “Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions,” of OMB Form 83-I.

TSA does not request an exception to the certification of this information collection.