49 U.S.C. § 44904 : US Code - Section 44904: Domestic air transportation system security

Search 49 U.S.C. § 44904 : US Code - Section 44904: Domestic air transportation system security

(a) Assessing Threats. - The Under Secretary of Transportation
for Security and the Director of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation jointly shall assess current and potential threats to
the domestic air transportation system. The assessment shall
include consideration of the extent to which there are individuals
with the capability and intent to carry out terrorist or related
unlawful acts against that system and the ways in which those
individuals might carry out those acts. The Under Secretary and the
Director jointly shall decide on and carry out the most effective
method for continuous analysis and monitoring of security threats
to that system.
(b) Assessing Security. - In coordination with the Director, the
Under Secretary shall carry out periodic threat and vulnerability
assessments on security at each airport that is part of the
domestic air transportation system. Each assessment shall include
consideration of -
(1) the adequacy of security procedures related to the handling
and transportation of checked baggage and cargo;
(2) space requirements for security personnel and equipment;
(3) separation of screened and unscreened passengers, baggage,
and cargo;
(4) separation of the controlled and uncontrolled areas of
airport facilities; and
(5) coordination of the activities of security personnel of the
Transportation Security Administration, the United States Customs
Service, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, and air
carriers, and of other law enforcement personnel.
(c) Modal Security Plan for Aviation. - In addition to the
requirements set forth in subparagraphs (B) through (F) of section
114(t)(3), the modal security plan for aviation prepared under
section 114(t) shall -
(1) establish a damage mitigation and recovery plan for the
aviation system in the event of a terrorist attack; and
(2) include a threat matrix document that outlines each threat
to the United States civil aviation system and the corresponding
layers of security in place to address such threat.
(d) Operational Criteria. - Not later than 90 days after the date
of the submission of the National Strategy for Transportation
Security under section 114(t)(4)(A), the Assistant Secretary of
Homeland Security (Transportation Security Administration) shall
issue operational criteria to protect airport infrastructure and
operations against the threats identified in the plans prepared
under section 114(t)(1) and shall approve best practices guidelines
for airport assets.
(e) Improving Security. - The Under Secretary shall take
necessary actions to improve domestic air transportation security
by correcting any deficiencies in that security discovered in the
assessments, analyses, and monitoring carried out under this
section.