Aviation Security Progress Report
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Michael Fickes
The GAO report acknowledged this program but complained that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), within which TSA operates, had not provided the GAO with evidence that these actions provide for effective perimeter security.
Finally, the TSA e-mail did not discuss the use of technology at the perimeter. In the past, terrorists have caused serious problems at airports that failed to secure their perimeters. “The IRA planted mortars around Heathrow Airport and disrupted airport operations tremendously,” Jackson says. “A weapon on the perimeter is certainly a scenario to worry about.”
Controlling access to secure areas
The GAO report voiced concern about how TSA was controlling access to secure areas in airports. While TSA has evaluated the controls that limit access to secure airport areas, the report said, the agency was still working to ensure that all airport workers with access to secured areas had been properly vetted prior to being hired and trained.
TSA's e-mail response indicates that these procedures are now in place. TSA authorizes airports to issue identification badges to airport employees. These include SIDA badges that are required for certain sterile and secure areas of airports.
TSA has confidence in the badges because of the vetting system now used to issue them. When an airport decides to hire a new employee, an airport human resources official submits background information supplied by the prospective employee to the Airport Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) Transportation Security Clearinghouse, a conduit for information connected to background checks made on all prospective airport employees. The Clearinghouse forwards the data to TSA, which conducts a security threat assessment, which must prove satisfactory before credentials are issued.
The assessment checks employees against the Terrorist Screening Database (TSDB), and scans other databases looking for outstanding immigration, terrorist or federal warrants connected to the prospect. Threat assessments take 72 hours.
At the same time, the airport conducts its own background investigation by checking fingerprints and the individual's name for any of 28 disqualifying crimes.
After clearing each investigation, the employee receives a SIDA badge and the airport operator sets up the access control system to admit the employee through appropriate doors.
Establish procedures for biometric access control
According to the GAO report, TSA has made progress in implementing the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program in the nation's ports. TWIC smart cards have the capacity to use biometric verification of identity.
However, continued the report, “DHS has not yet determined how and when it will implement a biometric identification system for access controls at commercials (sic) airports. We have initiated ongoing work to further assess DHS's efforts to establish procedures for implementing biometric identifier systems for airport secured areas access control.”
TSA counters the GAO position by stating in its e-mail that these procedures were established years ago in the “Guidance Package, Biometrics for Airport Access Control,” which was released Sept. 30, 2005.
The package, continues the e-mail statement, was compiled in response to legislative language set forth in the “Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, Title IV - Transportation Security, Section 4011(a)(5)-Provision for the use of Biometric or Other Technology, and in accordance with regulations governing airport security found in Title 49, code of Federal Regulation (CFR), Chapter XII, Part 1542: Airport Security. The criteria and standards in the document were developed based on TSA's technical expertise and consultation with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and representatives of the aviation and biometric identifier industry.”
The statement does not directly address the GAO's question: how and when will a biometric identification system for access controls at commercial airports be implemented?
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