New Recommendations to Contribute to Improved Security in Air Cargo 10/1/2003
From: Brian Turmail of the Transportation Security Administration, 571-227-2829 WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 -- The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) took a significant step toward improving air cargo security today when it received 40 recommendations covering 22 topic areas from the agency's Aviation Security Advisory Committee (ASAC). The committee's recommendations include strengthening the Known Shipper Program by improving technology links between carriers and the federal government, leveraging new technology to create a more layered cargo security approach, and augmenting requirements to achieve Known Shipper status. Dissenting opinions were also received from six members of the ASAC working groups. These opinions represented a group that believed the recommendations were too extensive and others who felt the recommendations did not go far enough. TSA Deputy Administrator, Stephen McHale, said, "We listened to everyone -- security experts, cargo experts, pilots, unions, and victims of past attacks. Our challenge moving forward is to build on the improvements we have already made and implement the best possible cargo security program to protect the American people." ASAC is composed of 27 organizations with a stake in securing the aviation sector. In April of this year, ASAC established three Air Cargo Security Working Groups, and one General Aviation Working Group to provide recommendations on ways the federal government can improve security in these areas. Members include groups representing victims and survivors of terrorist acts, corporate shippers, freight forwarders, aircraft owners, airports, state aviation officials, aircraft manufacturers, and representatives of passenger and cargo airline management and labor. The General Aviation Working Group has reported its findings to the full ASAC for its evaluation and expects to release its recommendations in the coming weeks. The next step for TSA is to review these recommendations and develop a strategic plan by the end of October. Once that plan is developed a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) will be made by December 31, 2003. Stephen A. Alterman, President of the Cargo Airline Association, served on all three ASAC air cargo security working groups and presented the final report to ASAC. According to Alterman, "The intensive five month ASAC working group process has resulted in a report which, if implemented, will significantly enhance air cargo security while at the same time ensuring that the world's commerce is not disrupted. Credit for the report should go to TSA, which established the working groups, and to the broad spectrum of aviation interests that put aside individual interests to arrive at the product approved today." Bill McReynolds represented the Air Line Pilots Association in the working group process. Said McReynolds, "The Air Line Pilots Association advocates participation in joint government and stakeholder working groups. We were pleased to participate in the process. ALPA hopes that these recommendations are part of future regulation to improve air cargo security and that these recommendations do not go unheeded." ------ FACT SHEET The Aviation Security Advisory Committee (ASAC) is a standing committee composed of federal and private sector organizations that was created in 1989 in the wake of the crash of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. In May 2003, three working groups of ASAC met for the first time to develop recommendations to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to enhance air cargo security. The working groups developed almost forty recommendations covering twenty-two topic areas; these are summarized below. TSA will review these recommendations, and other materials, as it develops a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for enhancing air cargo security. ASAC Recommendations Strengthen the Known Shipper Program -- Improve technology links between air carriers and forwarders and the federal government to ensure that known shippers are vetted against all relevant government watch lists -- Expand databases using the latest advancements in link analysis as well as commercial data sources to further verify shipper legitimacy -- Simplify certain program regulations to improve compliance Leverage new technology -- Implement a layered approach to cargo security that includes cargo profiling, inspection and detection. -- Pursue further research and development of cargo screening technologies with industry involvement in review of such technologies. Enhance regulation of Indirect Air Carriers (IAC) -- Raise the security of IAC agents and contractors -- Require pre-employment screening of all persons with access to freight -- Set minimum federal standards for background checks similar to those used in the passenger airport environment -- Develop tools that industry can use to ensure greater compliance with TSA requirements Strengthen security for all-cargo aircraft -- Raise perimeter security at all-cargo facilities -- Enhance personnel security procedures at all-cargo facilities -- Establish a revised "prohibited items" list for cargo personnel -- Reinforce measures to ensure the security of cargo aircraft -- Improve communication between TSA and aircraft operators to facilitate compliance with new regulations and allow for rapid response to potential security incidents ASAC Dissentions -- One member of the committee believed the group's recommendations went too far -- Other ASAC members felt the committee did not go far enough in their recommendations to enhance security Text of the Aviation Security Advisory Committee report is Sensitive Secret Information and cannot be released publicly. |