In an Interim Final Rule published today and effective October 23, 2006, the TSA has extended the compliance dates by which time certain requirements must be completed. The requirements for which the TSA is extending the compliance dates are: “That aircraft operators, foreign air carriers, and indirect air carriers (IACs) ensure that their employees and agents with unescorted access to cargo successfully complete a Security Threat Assessment (STA); that IACs ensure that their employees and agents performing security-related duties are trained in the IAC’s security program; and that airport operators ensure that individuals with unescorted access to expanded Security Identification Display Areas (SIDA) are subjected to a criminal history records check (CHRC) and a name-based security threat assessment (STA), receive proper security training, and hold appropriate personnel identification.”
The compliance dates are as follows:
Compliance date for STAs for employees under Sec. Sec. 1544.228, 1546.213, 1548.15, and for IAC proprietors, general partners, officers, directors and certain owners of the entity under Sec. 1548.16: Changed from December 1, 2006 to March 15, 2007.
Compliance date for STAs for agents under Sec. Sec. 1544.228, 1546.213 and 1548.15: Changed from December 1, 2006 to June 15, 2007.
Compliance date for training of IAC employees under Sec. Sec. 1548.11: Remains November 22, 2006.
Compliance date for training of IAC agents Sec. Sec. 1548.11: Changed from November 22, 2006 to June 15, 2007.
Compliance date for submission and approval of extension of Secure Identification Display Area (SIDA) boundaries to cargo areas under Sec. 1542.205(a)(2) and (3): Remains October 23, 2006.
Compliance date for full compliance with requirements for individuals with unescorted access to expanded SIDA under Sec. Sec. 1542.205(b)(2), 1542.209, 1542.211, 1542.213, and Security Directives: Changed from October 23, 2006 to January 22, 2007.
Affected parties submitting comments on the intial Final Rule were concerned about their ability to comply with the deadlines for completion of STAs and training for the employees and numerous agents of the regulated parties. The TSA determined that extending the compliance dates would allow the affected parties a sufficient amount of time to comply in the hope of achieving a higher overall level of compliance.
Comments on the extended compliance dates are due on or before December 26, 2006. If you would like more information on the final rule or the interim rule, you may contact Tamika McCree, Office of Transportation Security Network Management (TSA-28), Transportation Security Administration, 601 South 12th Street, Arlington, VA 22202; (571-227-2632); tamika.mccree@dhs.gov.
