Coast Guard Seeks TWIC Comments

The Coast Guard is taking the first step in defining how facilities should use electronic readers for the Transportation Worker Identification Credential.

The agency is asking for industry comments to help them draft a proposed rule, according to project manager Lt. Cdr. Jonathan Maiorine.

Maiorine said the principal feature of the proposal is a set of requirements for the use of a TWIC reader based on a facility’s vulnerability to attack. Facilities would be defined as high- low- or medium-risk facilities.

How the TWIC reader should be used is also divided three ways based on the maritime threat level (Marsec level) declared by the Coast Guard.

For example, a low-risk facility during normal security conditions (Marsec 1) may only require the TWIC to be used as a photo ID card. The highest-risk sites during the highest security level (Marsec 3) would require card holders to match the biometric data embedded on the card, plus electronic validation of the card.

TWIC rules were originally proposed in 2006, but a year later the Coast Guard and Transportation Security Administration separated requirements for the card and card reader, Maiorine said.

Missing from Friday’s proposal are technical specifications for the TWIC reader. Maiorine said that specifications based on current pilot testing will be added before the Coast Guard publishes the proposed rule.

The deadline for public comment on the preliminary proposal is May 26. The text of the proposed rule may be found online at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-6852.htm .