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General FAQs about TWIC Wednesday, December 12, 2007 How was TWIC created? Congress, through the Maritime Transportation Security Act, or MTSA, directed the federal government to issue a biometric transportation security credential to any individual with unescorted access to secure areas of facilities and vessels and all mariners holding Coast Guard issued credentials or qualification documents. Controlling access to secure areas is a critical component of the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) efforts to enhance port security. What is TWIC? TWIC is a common identification credential for all personnel requiring unescorted access to secure areas of MTSA-regulated facilities and vessels, and all mariners holding Coast Guard-issued credentials. TSA will issue workers a tamper-resistant "Smart Card" containing the worker's biometric (fingerprint template) to allow for a positive link between the card itself and the individual. ?How will the TWIC be used? During the initial rollout of TWIC, workers will present their cards to authorized personnel, who will compare the holder to his or her photo, inspect security features on the TWIC and evaluate the card for signs of tampering. The Coast Guard will verify TWICs when conducting vessel and facility inspections and during spot checks using hand-held scanners, ensuring credentials are valid. A second rulemaking will propose enhanced access control requirements, including the use of electronic readers by certain vessel and facility owners and operators. Will TWICs be used for access control? Yes. Upon the effective compliance date for their Captain of the Port (COTP) Sector, owners and operators will be required to visually inspect the TWIC for each worker granted unescorted access to secure areas of a facility or vessel. Also, some owners and operators may choose to integrate TWIC cards into their existing access control systems, although owners and operators are not required to purchase, install, or maintain card readers until technologic and logistic improvements are complete and are included in a second rulemaking. The Coast Guard will conduct checks using handheld readers to confirm the identity of TWIC holders during regular inspections and unannounced spot checks. A second regulation will propose card reader requirements that utilize all of the unique technologies employed in the TWIC. Where can I read the TWIC rule? The TWIC final rule is available on TSA's website here and more information on port security is available at the U.S. Coast Guard's Homeport site here. It can also be accessed at the DOT Docket Management system here, by searching on docket number 24196 and document number 857. Was the public involved in the rulemaking? Yes. In addition to direct involvement from the National Maritime Security Advisory Committee, TSA and the U.S. Coast Guard held four public meetings around the nation and received more than 1,900 comments from workers, port owners and operators, small businesses and others who would be affected by the new program. All comments were carefully considered and significant changes to the NPRM were made in the development of the final rule. What is the enrollment schedule? TWIC enrollment began October 16, at the Port of Wilmington and will be phased in, at both small and large ports to ensure the smooth implementation of the program, over the course of 2007 and 2008. Click here to view the Quarterly Deployment Plan. What are the addresses for the enrollment centers? The enrollment center addresses, for those locations that have been announced through the Federal Register Notice process, are below: October 16, 2007 — Wilmington, DE: 1 Hausel Road Wilmington, DE 19801-5852 November 1, 2007 — Corpus Christi, TX: 7433 Leopard Street Corpus Christi, TX 78409 November 7, 2007 — Baton Rouge, LA: Safety Council for Louisiana Capital Area 8180 Siegen Lane Baton Rouge, LA 70810-1914 — Honolulu, HI: 1347 Kapiolani Blvd. Suite 204 Honolulu, HI 96814-4512 — Tacoma, WA: 5009 Pac Hwy E Suite 17 Fife Business Park Tacoma, WA 98424-3432 November 8, 2007 — Beaumont, TX: Ford Convention Center Tyler Room 5155 IH-10 South Beaumont, TX 77705-4213 —Oakland, CA: Oakland Maritime Support Services (OMSS) 11 Burma Road Oakland, CA 94607-1010 November 14, 2007 — Houston, TX: West Gulf Maritime Association 1717 Turning Basin Houston, TX 77029-3003 —Providence, RI: 17 Virginia Ave Suite 105 Providence, R.I. 02905-5443 November 15, 2007 — Chicago/Calumet, IL: 8741 South Greenwood Dixon Building Chicago, IL 60619-7061 — Port Arthur, TX: 3800 Highway 365 Suite 123 Port Arthur, TX 77642-7566 — Savannah, GA: 5214 Augusta Rd Garden City, GA 31408-1606 November 21, 2007 — Dundalk/Baltimore, MD 2200 Broening Hwy Suite 220 Baltimore, MD 21224-6623 — Lake Charles, LA 700 W. McNeese Street Lake Charles, LA 70605-5532 — Minneapolis, MN 34 13th Avenue, NE Minneapolis, MN 55413-1002 — St. Paul, MN 2161 University Avenue St. Paul, MN 55114-1300 November 28, 2007 — Charleston, SC 4600 Goer Drive, Ste 112 North Charleston, SC 29406-6500 November 29, 2007 — Cleveland, OH 3100 E45th Street Suite 226 Cleveland, OH 44127-1091 — Detroit, MI c/o Delray mechanical 667 S. Post Street Detroit, MI 48209-3053 — Port Fourchon, LA c/o Port Fourchon Harbor Police 108 A.O. Rappelet Road Port Fourchon, LA 70357-0000 November 30, 2007 — Boston, MA 28 Damrell St. Suite 104 Boston, MA 02127-2775 December 5, 2007 — Brownsville, TX 1000 Foust Road Brownsville, TX 78521 — Mobile, AL 250 North Water Street Mobile, AL 36602-4000 December 7, 2007 — Indiana Harbor, IN 200 Russell Street Suite 110 Hammond, IN 46320-1825 December 12, 2007 — Brunswick, GA Georgia Power Plant McManus 1 Crispen Island Drive Brunswick, GA 31523 — Long Beach, CA 301 E. Ocean Boulevard Suite 500 Long Beach, CA 90802 — Milwaukee, WI Chase Commerce Center 3073 South Chase Avenue Suite 620 Building 28 Floor 1 Milwaukee, WI 53207-2668 December 13, 2007 — Albany, NY 102 Smith Boulevard Albany, NY 12202-1067 — Philadelphia, PA Philadelphia Regional Port 3460 North Delaware Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19134-6311 — Seattle, WA Fraternal Order of Eagles (FOE) AERIE # 1 6205 Corson Avenue South Seattle, WA 98108 December 14, 2007 — Tulsa, OK 5350 Cimarron Road Catoosa, OK 74015-3027 December 20, 2007 — NY/NJ – Staten Island, NY Howland Hook Marine Terminal 241 Western Avenue Staten Island, NY 10303-1103 — Joliet, IL c/o Three Rivers Safety Council 1615 W. Jefferson Street Suite TWIC Joliet, IL 60435-6724 — Peoria, IL 111 W. Washington Street Suite 346 East Peoria, IL 61611-2532 December 27, 2007 — NY/NJ – New York, NY Whitehall Ferry Terminal 4 South Street Room 210 New York, NY 10004-1940 — Wilmington, NC Suite 102 5704 Oleander Drive Wilmington, NC 28403-4761 — Memphis, TN 3865 Viscount Avenue Suite 2 Memphis, TN 38118-6000 December 28, 2007 — Jacksonville, FL 955 Tallyrand Avenue Jacksonville, FL 32206-6049 — Duluth-Superior, MN 1310 Port Terminal Road Duluth, MN 55802 — New Orleans, LA 170 James Drive East Suite 104 St. Rose, LA 70087-4005 — Buffalo, NY 2680 Grand Island Boulevard Suite 1 Grand Island, NY 14072 January 4, 2008 — NY/NJ – South Hackensack, NJ Northern New Jersey / Bergen County 89 Leuning Street Suite G South Hackensack, NJ 07606-1345 What are the compliance dates for the TWIC program? Owners and operators of vessels and all U.S. credentialed mariners will be required to comply with the provisions of the final TWIC rule by September 25, 2008. Compliance for facilities will be phased in by Captain of the Port zone (COTP), and the compliance date for each zone will be published via notice in the Federal Register 90 days prior to the compliance date. Who can I contact to get more information on TWIC? TSA is responsible for conducting background checks, reviewing waivers and appeals , card issuance, revocation and renewal. The Coast Guard is responsible for enforcing the TWIC program as an access control measure and incorporating compliance into existing inspection policies. Both agencies are participating in stakeholder outreach activities. Since TSA and the USCG perform different roles, each agency established a Help Desk to address questions and concerns. TSA's TWIC Program Help Desk can be reached at 1-866-DHS-TWIC (1-866-347-8942). The help desk will be available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 a.m. EST. USCG's TWIC Help Desk can be reached at 1-877-MTSA-AID. You may also correspond by email at uscg-twic-helpdesk@uscg.mil. For specific questions regarding implementation for 105 or 106 facilities, owners/operators/FSOs/CSOs are encouraged to seek guidance directly from the local Captain of the Port. What measures are in place to protect small businesses, such as small passenger vessels? TSA and the Coast Guard worked with the Small Business Administration to minimize adverse financial and operational impacts on small businesses wherever possible. The rule includes provisions that allow MTSA-regulated passenger vessels (excluding cruise ships) to establish employee access areas for crewmembers that do not require unescorted access to secure areas such as the pilot house and engine room. Employee access areas are areas that support the passenger areas, and crewmembers who are typically in these areas are waiters, entertainers, and galley staff. This provision reduces the impact on employees who rarely need to use spaces beyond those designated for support of passengers, while maintaining the integrity of a vessel's secure areas. Other measures include the production and distribution of a What are secure areas, passenger access areas, employee access areas, and public access areas Secure areas are required to meet specific security measures for access control in accordance with a Coast Guard approved security plan. Once the new credentialing program is in place, an individual will be required to have a TWIC in order to gain unescorted access to these sections of the facility or vessel. A ferry, passenger vessel, or cruise ship may designate areas within the vessel as passenger access areas. These are areas that passengers frequent and does not require a TWIC for unescorted access. If passenger access areas are designated, the owner or operator must maintain a visual representation onboard the vessel with the approved Vessel Security Plan (VSP) detailing where these areas are located as required by 33 CFR 104.120(c). Examples of areas that may be considered as passenger access areas include; dining rooms, seating areas, parking decks, public restrooms, and bars. A ferry or passenger vessel, excluding cruise ships, may designate areas within the vessel as employee access areas. An employee access area is a defined space with access controls that is open only to employees . It is not a secure area and does not require a TWIC for unescorted access. Employee access areas may not include any areas defined as restricted areas in the vessel security plan . If employee access areas are designated, the owner or operator must maintain a visual representation onboard the vessel with the approved VSP detailing where these areas are located as required by 33 CFR 104.120(c). Examples of areas that may be considered as employee access areas include; galleys, storage areas, dressing rooms, and food service areas. A public access area is a defined space within a facility that is open to all persons and provides pedestrian access through the facility from public thoroughfares to the vessel. Any facility serving ferries or passenger vessels certificated to carry more than 150 passengers, other than cruise ships, may designate an area with in the facility as a public access area. Public access areas were previously outlined in 33 CFR 105.106. Therefore, approved facility security plans have already incorporated this definition upon implementation of MTSA. How do I know my personal information is safeguarded? Privacy and the security of your personal information are critical to the TWIC program. Information collected at the enrollment center or during the pre-enrollment process, including the signed privacy consent form and identity documents, is scanned into the TWIC system for storage. Information is encrypted and stored at a secure government facility using methods that protect the information from unauthorized retrieval or use. What technologies are being used on the TWIC? The TWIC will be a Smart Card (i.e., a card with a small integrated circuit chip embedded in the card) and will contain the following technologies:
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Message from the President- February 2011 I recently had the privilege of representing the NJMTA at a reception held at the Governor's residence Drumthwacket. We were invited due to the generosity of two of our members, Lacey's Express, Inc. and National Retail Systems, Inc. who responded to a request for tractor donations Message From President - January 2011 As I prepared to write my first article for the NJMTA membership as the acting President, my thoughts are focused on the recent tragedy that occurred in Arizona where a Congressman was seriously wounded and 6 others murdered at a political rally. I find myself asking just what is happening to our country.
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