OTA Dispatch Issue 4 2018

34 Oregon Trucking Associations, Inc. Oregon Truck Dispatch TSA Offers BASE Program to Improve Security in the Trucking Industry OTA HAS RECENTLY partnered with Transportation Security Administration (TSA) explosives specialists to help trucking industry members improve their security methods and to prevent potentially dangerous situations. A few TSA members spoke at our Annual Safety Conference last year as well as our Security Summit in October and offered plenty of insight into how transportation plays a part in terrorism and, of course, instilled fear into every attendee present! Transportation Security Inspectors (TSIs) ` ` The TSI mission is to support all modes of transportation and to improve the security posture of all transportation infrastructure in our AOR and throughout the nation. ` ` Surface TSIs perform inspections related to CFR 49 parts 1570, 1572, and 1580 security regulations for mass transit, freight rail, and TWIC, respectively. Currently, TSIs do not have a regulatory or compliance role in highway transportation. ` ` TSIs are tasked with multiple outreach programs for all modes of surface transportation to include school bus districts, over the road trucking, charter bus companies, marine security organizations (ports, marine side industry), mass transit, and freight rail. These outreach types include: 1. Baseline Assessment for Security Enhancement (BASE). The BASE is a deep dive security assessment covering 17 security action items. 2. Site security observations. 3. TWIC inspections and training presentations. 4. Modal specific Security Summits. 5. Tabletop and Practical Security Exercises. TSA Explosives Specialists ` ` The TSA Explosives Specialists’ primary mission is to support aviation operations at federalized airports throughout the nation accomplished through training, Baseline Assessment for Security Enhancement (BASE) The Transportation Security Administration (TSA), in coordination with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the American Public Transit Association (APTA) and various Mass Transit and Highway trade associations developed the BASE program in support of TSA’s Risk Based Security (RBS) initiative. The BASE program is provided to Mass Transit and Highway stakeholders at no cost. SCOPE  The BASE program is designed to establish standards for security programs, identify strengths as well as potential vulnerabilities and assess progress with TSA’s stakeholders within the mass transit, passenger rail and highway modes. The BASE is aligned with the requirements identified in the 9/11 Commission Act’s security assessment section, which directs the TSA to identify critical assets, infrastructure and systems and their vulnerabilities and assist public transportation authorities to address their security programs. GOAL  The BASE program is intended to elevate the security posture and readiness throughout the mass transit and highway surface transportation modes by implementing and sustaining baseline security measures applicable to the operating environment and system characteristics. DOCUMENTS  Prior to the assessment, TSA inspectors will request documents such as security plans, safety plans, emergency response plans, driver manuals, IT plans, etc. While not required, these documents will assist the Inspectors in completing a comprehensive evaluation of program elements, which include but are not limited to the transit agency’s security plans, security awareness and emergency response training, drills/exercise programs, public outreach efforts, and background check programs. PROCESS  A BASE is typically conducted by a team of two inspectors who will sit down with the company’s personnel to review a series of questions related to security. The questions for the BASE are broken down into categories called Security Action Items (SAIs) and cover a variety of topics ranging from security and emergency response plans, facility and vehicle security, security and emergency training, to maintaining a public security and emergency awareness program. The assessment team will request various department heads to be available during the interview process in order to answer questions pertinent to the BASE. COMPLETION  Inspectors use the results of the in-person interview, onsite observation, as well as review of all available documents provided, to develop an Executive Summary report. The Executive Summary outlines strengths that your company has, as well as provides options for considerations for future security improvements. PLANNING  If your agency would like to participate in a BASE, you are encouraged to contact your local TSA Surface office. If you require this contact information, please contact the TSA HQ Surface Program at stsip@dhs.gov for further information.