The Federal Register dated March 20, 2007 includes a rule from the Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation Security Administration spelling out user fees for the Transportation Worker Identification Credential. The standard fee will be $137.50. The reduced fee for applicants who have completed a “prior comparable threat assessment” is $105.25.The text of the rule appears below.
Mariners with a current z-card/merchant mariner document are eligible for the reduced-fee TWIC, but those individuals should note that such a credential may not be valid for the full five years. Rather, it will expire when the “threat assessment” on the z-card/merchant mariner document expires, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Mariners will have the option of applying for a standard-fee TWIC, which would be valid for five years.
In other TWIC news, the SIU is scheduled to host a meeting in early April at its headquarters building in Camp Springs, Md. involving the TWIC contractor, other maritime unions and other affected parties.
The first part of the TWIC program itself was set to launch in late March. Mariners will be required to carry a TWIC by September 2008. In the meantime a valid z-card along with a second form of identification will be considered as meeting the requirements of the TWIC program.
For the latest information, visit the TSA’s TWIC web site at www.tsa.gov/twic and the Coast Guard web site http://homeport.uscg.mil/. Additionally, the union continues to post updates at www.seafarers.org, normally in the “Heard at Headquarters” and Seafarers LOG sections. Seafarers also are encouraged to check with their port agent from time to time for updates.
The Federal Register dated March 20, 2007 includes a rule from the Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation Security Administration spelling out user fees for the Transportation Worker Identification Credential. The standard fee will be $137.50. The reduced fee for applicants who have completed a “prior comparable threat assessment” is $105.25.
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.
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 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.
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, 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 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.
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. 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).
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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