Intent To Request an Extension From OMB of One Current Public Collection of Information: Pipeline Corporate Security Review Program

Published date27 August 2021
Citation86 FR 48239
Record Number2021-18533
SectionNotices
CourtTransportation Security Administration
Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 164 (Friday, August 27, 2021)
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 164 (Friday, August 27, 2021)]
                [Notices]
                [Pages 48239-48240]
                From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
                [FR Doc No: 2021-18533]
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                DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
                Transportation Security Administration
                Intent To Request an Extension From OMB of One Current Public
                Collection of Information: Pipeline Corporate Security Review Program
                AGENCY: Transportation Security Administration, DHS.
                ACTION: 60-Day notice.
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                SUMMARY: The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) invites
                public comment on one currently-approved Information Collection Request
                (ICR), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number 1652-0056,
                abstracted below, that we will submit to OMB for an extension in
                compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). On July 15, 2021,
                OMB approved TSA's request for an emergency revision of this collection
                to address the ongoing cybersecurity threat to pipeline systems and
                associated infrastructure. TSA is now seeking to renew the collection,
                which expires on January 31, 2022, with incorporation of the subject of
                the emergency revision. The ICR describes the nature of the information
                collection and its expected burden. The collection allows TSA to assess
                the current security practices in the pipeline industry through TSA's
                Pipeline Corporate Security Review (PCSR) program. The PCSR program is
                part of the larger domain awareness, prevention, and protection program
                supporting TSA's and the Department of Homeland Security's missions.
                DATES: Send your comments by October 26, 2021.
                ADDRESSES: Comments may be emailed to [email protected] or delivered
                to the TSA PRA Officer, Information Technology (IT), TSA-11,
                Transportation Security Administration, 6595 Springfield Center Drive,
                Springfield, VA 20598-6011.
                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christina A. Walsh at the above
                address, or by telephone (571) 227-2062.
                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 will be
                available at http://www.reginfo.gov upon its submission to OMB.
                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
                 OMB Control Number 1652-0056; Pipeline Corporate Security Review
                (PCSR) Program. Under the Aviation and Transportation Security Act \1\
                and delegated authority from the Secretary of Homeland Security, TSA
                has broad responsibility and authority for ``security in all modes of
                transportation . . . including security responsibilities . . . over
                modes of transportation that are exercised by the Department of
                Transportation.'' \2\ TSA is specifically empowered to assess threats
                to transportation; \3\ develop policies, strategies, and plans for
                dealing with threats to transportation; \4\ oversee the implementation
                and adequacy of security measures at transportation facilities; \5\ and
                carry out other appropriate duties relating to transportation
                security.\6\ The Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission
                Act of 2007 (9/11 Act) included a specific requirement for TSA to
                conduct assessments of critical pipeline facilities.\7\
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                 \1\ Public Law 107-71 (115 Stat. 597; Nov. 19, 2001), codified
                at 49 U.S.C. 114.
                 \2\ See 49 U.S.C. 114(d). The TSA Administrator's current
                authorities under the Aviation and Transportation Security Act have
                been delegated to him by the Secretary of Homeland Security. Section
                403(2) of the Homeland Security Act (HSA) of 2002, Public Law 107-
                296 (116 Stat. 2135, Nov. 25, 2002), transferred all functions of
                TSA, including those of the Secretary of Transportation and the
                Under Secretary of Transportation of Security related to TSA, to the
                Secretary of Homeland Security. Pursuant to DHS Delegation Number
                7060.2, the Secretary delegated to the Administrator of TSA, subject
                to the Secretary's guidance and control, the authority vested in the
                Secretary with respect to TSA, including that in section 403(2) of
                the HSA.
                 \3\ 49 U.S.C. 114(f)(2).
                 \4\ 49 U.S.C. 114(f)(3).
                 \5\ 49 U.S.C. 114(f)(11).
                 \6\ 49 U.S.C. 114(f)(15).
                 \7\ See section 1557 of Public Law 110-53 (121 Stat. 266; Aug.
                3, 2007) as codified at 6 U.S.C. 1207.
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                Assessing Voluntary Implementation of Recommendations
                 Consistent with these authorities and requirements, TSA developed
                the PCSR program to assess the current security practices in the
                pipeline industry, with a focus on the physical and cyber security of
                pipelines and the crude oil and petroleum products, such as gasoline,
                diesel, jet fuel, home heating oil, and natural gas, moving through the
                system infrastructure. PCSRs are voluntary, face-to-face visits,
                usually at the headquarters facility of the pipeline owner/operator.
                Typically, TSA sends one to three employees to conduct a seven to eight
                hour interview with representatives from the owner/operator. The TSA
                representatives analyze the owner/operator's security plan and policies
                and compare their practices with recommendations in TSA's Pipeline
                Security Guidelines.
                 During the PCSR assessment, the PCSR program subject matter
                experts:
                 Meet with senior corporate officers and security managers.
                 Develop knowledge of security planning at critical
                pipeline infrastructure sites.
                 Establish and maintain a working relationship with key
                security staff who operate critical pipeline infrastructure.
                 Identify industry smart practices and lessons learned.
                 Maintain a dynamic modal network through effective
                communications with
                [[Page 48240]]
                the pipeline industry and government stakeholders.
                 Through this engagement, TSA is also able to establish and maintain
                productive working relationships with key pipeline security personnel.
                This engagement and access to pipeline facilities also enables TSA to
                identify and share smart security practices observed at one facility to
                help enhance and improve the security of the pipeline industry. As a
                result, participation in the voluntary PCSR program enhances pipeline
                security at both specific facilities and across the industry.
                 TSA has developed a Question Set to aid in the conducting of PCSRs.
                The PCSR Question Set structures the TSA-owner/operator discussion and
                is the central data source for the security information TSA collects.
                TSA developed the PCSR Question Set based on input from government and
                industry stakeholders on how best to obtain relevant information from a
                pipeline owner/operator about its security plan and processes. The
                questions are designed to examine the company's current state of
                security, as well as to address measures that are applied if there is a
                change in the National Terrorism Advisory System. The PCSR Question Set
                also includes sections for facility site visits and owner/operator
                contact information. By asking questions related to specific topics
                (such as security program management, vulnerability assessments,
                components of the security plan, security training, and emergency
                communications), TSA is able to assess the strength of owner/operator's
                physical security, cyber security, emergency communication
                capabilities, and security training.
                 This PCSR information collection provides TSA with real-time
                information on a company's security posture. The relationships these
                face-to-face contacts foster are critical to the Federal government's
                ability to reach out to the pipeline stakeholders affected by the
                PCSRs. In addition, TSA follows up via email with owner/operators on
                specific recommendations made by TSA during the PCSR.
                 When combined with information from other companies across the
                sector, TSA can identify and develop recommended smart practices and
                security recommendations for the pipeline mode. This information allows
                TSA to adapt programs to the changing security threat, while
                incorporating an understanding of the improvements owners/operators
                make in their security measures. Without this information, the ability
                of TSA to perform its security mission would be severely hindered.
                Establishing Compliance With Mandatory Requirements (Emergency
                Revision)
                 While the above listed collections are voluntary, on July 15, 2021,
                OMB approved TSA's request for an emergency revision of this
                information collection, allowing for the institution of mandatory
                requirements. See ICR Reference Number: 202107-1652-002. TSA is now
                seeking renewal of this information collection for the maximum three-
                year approval period.
                 The revision was necessary as a result of actions TSA took to
                address the ongoing cybersecurity threat to pipeline systems and
                associated infrastructure. On July 19, 2021, TSA issued a Security
                Directive (SD) applicable to owners/operators of critical hazardous
                liquid and natural pipelines and liquefied natural gas facilities.\8\
                These owners/operators are required to develop and adopt a
                Cybersecurity Contingency/Response Plan to ensure the resiliency of
                their operations in the event of a cybersecurity attack. Owners/
                operators must provide evidence of compliance to TSA upon request. In
                addition, owner/operators are required to have a third-party complete
                an evaluation of their industrial control system design and
                architecture to identify previously unrecognized vulnerabilities. This
                evaluation must include a written report detailing the results of the
                evaluation and the acceptance or rejection of any recommendations
                provided by the evaluator to address vulnerabilities. This written
                report must be made available to TSA upon request and retained for no
                less than 2 years from the date of completion. Finally, within 7 days
                of each deadline set forth in the SD, owner/operators must ensure that
                their Cybersecurity Coordinator or other accountable executive submits
                a statement to TSA via email certifying that the owner/operator has met
                the requirements of the SD. For convenience, TSA will provide an
                optional form (TSA Security Directive Pipeline 2021-02 Statement of
                Completion) for each submission deadline that owner/operators can
                complete and submit via email. This form is Sensitive Security
                Information (SSI) and will only be shared with the owner/operators and
                others with the need to know. TSA requires that certifications be made
                in a timely way. Documentation of compliance must be provided upon
                request.
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                 \8\ On May 28, 2021, TSA issued another SD which included three
                information collections. OMB control number 1652-0055, includes two
                of these information collections, requiring owner/operators to
                report cybersecurity incidents to CISA, and to designate a
                Cybersecurity Coordinator, who is required to be available to the
                TSA 24/7 to coordinate cybersecurity practices and address any
                incidents that arise, and who must submit contact information to
                TSA. OMB control number 1652-0050 contains the remaining information
                collection, requiring owner/operators to conduct a cybersecurity
                assessment, to address cyber risk, and identify remediation measures
                that will be taken to fill those gaps and a time frame for achieving
                those measures.
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                 Portions of PCSR responses that are deemed SSI are protected in
                accordance with procedures meeting the transmission, handling, and
                storage requirements of SSI set forth in parts 15 and 1520 of title 49,
                Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Information developed and submitted
                pursuant to TSA's SD is also SSI.
                 The annual hour burden for the voluntary information collection is
                estimated to be 220 hours based upon 20 PCSR visits per year, each
                lasting a total of eight hours and the follow-up regarding security
                recommendations, lasting up to three hours, ((20 x 8 = 160 hours) + (20
                x 3 = 60 hours) = 220 hours).
                 For the mandatory information collection, TSA estimates a total of
                97 owner/operators will provide the responses for the Cybersecurity
                Contingency/Response Plan; Third-Party Evaluation; and Certification of
                Completion. TSA estimates the total annual burden hours for the
                mandatory collection to be 12,610 hours.
                 TSA estimates that it will take approximately 80 hours to complete
                the response for the Cybersecurity Contingency/Response Plan, totaling
                7,760 hours (97 respondents x 80 hours = 7,760 hours). In addition, TSA
                estimates that it will require approximately 42 hours to complete the
                Third-Party Evaluation, totaling 4,074 hours (97 respondents x 42 hours
                = 4,074 hours). Finally, TSA estimates that it will take eight (8)
                hours to complete the Certification of completion of SD requirements,
                totaling 776 hours (97 respondents x 8 hours = 776 hours). Thus, the
                total annual burden hours for the mandatory collection is 12,610 hours
                (7,760 + 4,074 + 776 = 12,610).
                 TSA estimates the total respondents for the information collection
                is 97 and the combined annual burden hours for the voluntary and
                mandatory collections are 12,830 hours (220 + 7,760 + 4,074 + 776 =
                12,830).
                 Dated: August 24, 2021.
                Christina A. Walsh,
                TSA Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, Information Technology.
                [FR Doc. 2021-18533 Filed 8-26-21; 8:45 am]
                BILLING CODE 9110-05-P
                

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