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Issues: TransportationOverview: Transportation Worker Identification Credential Program As a significant volume of fresh produce in the United States arrives through via ports across the nation, PMA is offering members the following information to members about important changes in port security that could delay your business if you have not taken steps to comply with this program. What is TWIC? The Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program was established by the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (MTSA) to require controlled access to maritime facilities. The program will accomplish this with biometric security credentials for individuals with unescorted access to secure areas of facilities and vessels and all mariners holding Coast Guard-issued credentials or qualification documents. The Transportation Security Administration anticipates that more than 1.2 million individuals will apply for a TWIC. This includes Coast Guard-credentialed merchant mariners, port facility employees, long shore workers, truck drivers, and others requiring unescorted access to secure areas of maritime facilities and vessels regulated by the MTSA. TWICs remain valid for five years, unless the expiration date was based on a comparable credential (Free and Secure Trade (FAST) card, Merchant Mariner Document/ License, or Hazmat Endorsement). The expiration date is displayed on the face of the TWIC. TWIC holders are responsible for knowing when to begin the renewal process. For individuals who pay the reduced fee, the expiration date of their TWIC will be five years from the date listed on the credential associated with the comparable security threat assessment. Who Needs a TWIC? Workers who require unescorted access to secure areas of maritime facilities and vessels and all U.S. credentialed mariners must enroll for a TWIC no later than April 15, 2009. Workers will be required to possess and facilities will be required to check for a TWIC on a gradual basis, by Captain of the Port zone (COTP). The compliance date for each COTP zone will be published via notice in the Federal Register 90 days prior to the compliance date. Port TWIC compliance dates announced for 2009 are:
Contractors (or individuals who are not direct employees of a port owner or operator, but rather are 'contract' employees) can apply for a TWIC as long as they meet the TWIC eligibility requirements and, at a minimum, are expecting to pursue contracts at MTSA-regulated vessels and facilities where the owners or operators have determined a need for unescorted access in secure areas. If circumstances change and the individuals no longer meet certain conditions, they are required to surrender their TWIC. Regulations allow a plant or facility owner to use their own plant/facility specific card as their access control measure, as long as they ensure individuals without a TWIC cannot gain unescorted access to secure areas and the TWIC is checked at least once before the specific card is reissued/accepted. There is no requirement to check/verify TWICs for access to restricted areas, only secure areas. During the initial rollout, TWIC will be used for visual identity checks. TWIC holders 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 conduct vessel and facility inspections and use hand-held readers during spot checks to ensure credentials are valid and identity is verified. A second rulemaking will establish access control requirements, including the use of electronic readers by certain vessel and facility owners and operators. Where Can I Get More Information? TWIC information and resources are available on the official TWIC Program Web site and through the TWIC help desk (1-866-DHS-TWIC), at no additional cost to the enrollment fee. All information about the TWIC Program, including the enrollment process, can be found here. These resources enable applicants to pre-enroll, schedule appointments for both enrollment and activation, locate a convenient enrollment center, and access comprehensive frequently asked questions – all at no additional cost, with minimal effort and time. The TSA encourages applicants to take advantage of these resources in order to save time and to obtain official information on the TWIC Program. (Note: it is important to realize that individuals or companies claiming or offering to assist in the pre-enrollment process for a TWIC are not sponsored or endorsed by the federal government, and the TSA cannot guarantee that the information they provide on the TWIC program is accurate.) For more information about TWIC and compliance, visit the Transportation Security Administration Web site. For additional transportation resources from PMA, visit the Transportation section of the PMA Web site.
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