The Department of Homeland Security has published a final rule addressing Transportation and Worker Identity Card (TWIC) regulations and amending certain earlier regulations, according to information published in the Federal Register January 26.
The Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) is applying its security threat assessment standards that currently apply to commercial drivers authorized to transport hazardous materials to merchant mariners and workers who require unescorted access to secure areas on vessels and at maritime facilities.
The final rule also:
•Minimizes redundant background checks of workers.
•Amends the threat assessment standards to include a process by which TSA determines if a security threat assessment conducted by another governmental agency or by TSA for another program is comparable to the standards in the rule.
•Amends the qualification standards by changing the list of crimes that disqualify an individual from holding a TWIC or a hazardous materials endorsement.
•Establishes the user fee for the TWIC and invites comment on one component of the fee, the card-replacement fee. Comments on the card-replacement fee must be received February 26, 2007.
Although the rule goes into effect on March 26, 2007, the requirements to hold a TWIC and to restrict access to secure areas of a facility will be effective only after the regulated party is notified by DHS. These notifications will be published in the Federal Register. Those seeking unescorted access to secure areas aboard affected vessels and all Coast Guard credentialed merchant mariners must possess a TWIC by September 25, 2008.
Click here to see the information in the Federal Register.