The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently announced that it will begin offering Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWICTM) holders the option to pay a reduced fee when applying for a Hazardous Materials Endorsement (HME) Security Threat Assessment (STA) under its HME Security Threat Assessment Program (HTAP). TSA considers the TWIC and HTAP STAs to be comparable, as they maintain the same eligibility requirements, use the same fingerprint-based criminal history records check, and have a consistent waiver and appeal process.
As a result, the HME applicants who have received successful clearance results from a recent TWIC STA can have their HME STA application fee reduced by $22.25. The HME however, will be issued with the same expiration date as the individual's TWIC. Therefore, you should consider the expiration date of your current TWIC to determine whether it is cost- and time-effective to apply for a comparable HME STA. Conversely, TWIC applicants who have received successful clearance results from a recent HME STA do not have to pay the full price for the TWIC STA (the fee for the TWIC is reduced by $27.25).
Note that the HME requirements are specific to individual states, and due to specific state statutes, license cycles, and system limitations, not all states will be able to immediately offer a reduced fee for the HME STA to their HME applicants. Here's a list of states that currently support TWIC-HME comparability and also additional FAQs about TWIC-HME comparable STAs.
The newly implemented reduced-fee structure considers the impact of multiple programs on TWIC holders, and provides options to reduce the cost for obtaining the necessary credentials. I'll monitor further developments on the TWIC program and will continue to share updates.
Ryan Loughin is Director of Petrochemical & Energy Solutions for the Advanced Integration division of ADT- www.adtbusiness.com/petrochem. He provides security education to CFATS and MTSA-affected companies and is a member of the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association (NPRA), Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Associates (SOCMA), Energy Security Council (ESC) and American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS). Loughin has also completed multiple levels of CVI Authorized User training (Chemical-Terrorism Vulnerability Information) which was authored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
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