Overview
Title
Extension of Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review: TSA InfoBoards
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The TSA wants to keep using a special website, called infoBoards, where people who work in transportation can share important info. They're asking for ideas from the public to make sure this is useful and not too hard for people to use.
Summary AI
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA), part of the Department of Homeland Security, has issued a notice about an extension request for its Information Collection Request titled TSA infoBoards, under the Paperwork Reduction Act. TSA infoBoards serve as a voluntary information-sharing platform for stakeholders in the transportation security community, allowing users to access mission-critical information. The TSA seeks public comments on the necessity, accuracy, and impact of this information collection and aims to ensure it meets practical utility and minimizes burdens on users. Comments are welcomed until January 6, 2025, and the extension seeks to continue using forms TSA 1427 and TSA 1430 for registration and information collection purposes.
Abstract
This notice announces that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has forwarded the Information Collection Request (ICR), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number 1652-0065, abstracted below to OMB for review and approval of an extension of the currently approved collection under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden. TSA infoBoards are an information-sharing environment designed to serve stakeholders in the transportation security community and are used to disseminate mission-critical information. Utilizing and inputting information into TSA infoBoards is completely voluntary.
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AnalysisAI
The document presented is a notice from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), part of the Department of Homeland Security, regarding the extension of an Information Collection Request for the TSA infoBoards. These infoBoards are voluntary online platforms designed to facilitate information sharing among stakeholders in the transportation security community. The TSA is calling for public comments on whether the information collection process is necessary, accurate, and effectively minimizing burdens on users. These comments are welcomed until early January 2025.
General Summary
The TSA aims to continue collecting information using forms TSA 1427 and TSA 1430, which serve for user registration and gathering relevant information related to the transportation security field. The agency is seeking feedback to ensure the information collected through the InfoBoards is valuable and does not impose unnecessary burdens on respondents.
Significant Issues or Concerns
The document presents several points of concern. First, the notice does not detail the expected costs associated with the maintenance or expansion of the TSA infoBoards, raising potential concerns about efficient use of resources. Further uncertainty arises from the lack of information on how the TSA plans to evaluate the effectiveness of these infoBoards. Insights into a review process or accountability mechanisms that might be in place would be beneficial to illustrate compliance with policies and regulations.
Moreover, the estimated annual burden of 10,000 hours for respondents seems high, particularly without context or a breakdown to justify and evaluate these figures. Additionally, while the voluntary nature of participation is noted, it raises questions about how effectively the InfoBoards function if stakeholders choose not to participate.
Impact on the Public
The broad public may not see direct consequences from the TSA infoBoards initiative. However, improvements in transportation security through better information-sharing could indirectly benefit the general populace by potentially heightening security measures and responses. Despite this, the operational details are technical and somewhat inaccessible, which might limit public engagement in providing comments during the period allocated for feedback.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
Specific stakeholders in the transportation security domain, such as airport security coordinators and international transportation security coordinators, may be positively affected through more streamlined and coordinated information sharing facilitated by TSA infoBoards. However, these stakeholders might also bear the brunt of the burden hours associated with compliance. Ensuring that these processes are efficient and effective is crucial to maintaining their engagement and cooperation.
In summary, while the TSA’s initiative could provide improved coordination within the transportation security community, clarity on cost, effectiveness evaluation, and the feedback utilization process would bolster confidence and potentially enhance participation and effectiveness. Therefore, the public and affected stakeholders might benefit from greater transparency and simplicity regarding these concerns.
Issues
• The document does not specify the expected cost or budget allocation for maintaining or expanding the TSA infoBoards, making it difficult to assess potential wasteful spending.
• There is no indication of a review process or criteria TSA will use to assess the effectiveness of the infoBoards, which could be necessary to justify the continued use of resources.
• It is unclear whether there is a mechanism for oversight or accountability in the use of TSA infoBoards to ensure compliance with relevant policies and regulations.
• The estimated burden hours appear high at 10,000 hours annually, but without breakdown or context for these figures, it is challenging to evaluate their accuracy or necessity.
• The complex language used to describe delegated authorities and legal citations might be confusing to readers lacking advanced legal or governmental background.
• The voluntary nature of participation in TSA infoBoards is stated, but it could be unclear how this impacts the completeness and utility of the information collected in a decentralized manner.
• The notice lacks detail on how the feedback collected during the comment period will be utilized or addressed, leaving the effectiveness of this public interaction open to question.