TIACA: Technologies needed for 100% screening

TIACA: Technologies needed for 100% screening    The International Air Cargo Association said Tuesday it is urging the U.S. Transportation Security Administration to expedite its evaluation of new technologies to support the pending 100 percent cargo screening mandate for air freight, scheduled to take effect in August 2010.
   TIACA submitted comments to TSA regarding its 'Interim Final Rule of Air Cargo Screening (IFR)', saying it is concerned that much of the equipment currently certified for use for screening is 'inadequate and ill-suited for processing palletized air cargo.'
   Existing technologies, TIACA said, are mostly only appropriate for the passenger-screening environment.
   'Air cargo screening requirements detailed in the IFR rely on existing technologies, notably TSA-approved methods of screening that include X-ray, explosives trace detection, explosives detection systems, explosives detection canine teams, and physical inspection along with verification of the description of the cargo on the shipping manifest,' TIACA said.
   TIACA said it has broadly welcomed TSA's vision for implementing the air cargo screening requirements of the Implementing the Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 and, in particular, for clearly defining the scope of the rule with respect to foreign-originating flights.
   The association also commended TSA for using the rule to harmonize, 'to the extent practicable, all requirements for air cargo screening and chain of custody,' as the lack of harmonization has, in the past, created confusion and occasional dislocation in the air cargo supply chain.'
   'New technologies geared towards the air cargo environment and capable of screening at the consolidated level are urgently needed,' said TIACA Chairman Ulrich Ogiermann. 'The availability of such technologies could have a significant impact on how the 100 percent screening threshold is met.'
   TIACA also took issue with TSA's plan to require personnel with access to air cargo to undergo threat assessments every five years.
   'Whilst accepting the general rationale behind TSA's requirement that personnel with unescorted access to air cargo must obtain Security Threat Assessments (STAs) as a means of securing the supply chain, TIACA questioned the decision to impose a five-year expiration date on STAs, requiring a reapplication and payment of another fee,' the association said. 'A more reasonable solution is to design the STA database in an organic manner, to retain information on all STA applicants and recipients, and to periodically cross-check that information with any new information/red flags generated from the various terrorist and law enforcement databases used by TSA to vet individuals.
   'TIACA also noted that its members and other companies may have overpaid for STAs in the past based on the proposed cost stated in the IFR of approximately $13-$21. The association called for any overpayments to be refunded to the companies concerned or credited to future STA applications.'