TSA Revises STA System of Records

The DHS Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is publishing a notice in Monday’s Federal Register (79 FR 46862-46866) concerning changes being made to the DHS Privacy Act System of Records for the Security Threat Assessment (STA) program. This is the system of records that TSA uses to collect and maintain information on STA’s and employment investigations for programs like the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) and the Hazardous Materials Endorsement (HME) for State commercial driver’s licenses.

TSA is modifying the “Purposes” portion of the system of records description to update the actual uses TSA and DHS make of the information collected in the STA program. One interesting change is moving two categories of records (‘known or suspected terrorists’ and personnel requesting redress actions) from the “Categories of individuals” to the “Categories of Records” section of the description.

Interestingly, there is still no mention in this revised description of the STA system of records for use by the Chemical Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program’s personnel surety program (PSP). The OMB’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) still has not approved the CFATS program’s personnel surety program (an very likely will not until it Congress acts or fails to act on the CFATS bill (HR 4007) now pending in the Senate.