(a) Preventing or deterring the carriage of any explosive or incendiary. Each certified cargo screening facility must use the facilities, equipment, and procedures described in its security program to prevent or deter the carriage onboard an aircraft of any unauthorized explosives, incendiaries, and other destructive substances or items in cargo onboard an aircraft, as provided in the facility's security program.

(b) Screening and inspection of cargo. Each certified cargo screening facility must ensure that cargo is screened and inspected for any unauthorized explosive, incendiary, and other destructive substance or item as provided in the facility's security program before it is tendered to another certified cargo screening facility, an aircraft operator with a full program under part 1544, a foreign air carrier operating under §§ 1546.101(a) or (b), or an indirect air carrier operating under § 1548.5 for transport on a passenger aircraft. Cargo that the facility represents as screened, must be screened in accordance with this part.

(c) Refusal to transport. Each certified cargo screening facility must refuse to offer to another certified cargo screening facility, an aircraft operator with a full program under part 1544, a foreign air carrier operating under §§ 1546.101(a) or (b), or an indirect air carrier operating under § 1548.5 for transport on a passenger aircraft any cargo, if the shipper does not consent to a search or inspection of that cargo in accordance with this part, or parts 1544, 1546, or 1548 of this chapter.

(d) Chain of custody. Each certified cargo screening facility must protect the cargo from unauthorized access from the time it is screened until the time it is tendered to another certified cargo screening facility as approved by TSA, an indirect air carrier under 49 CFR part 1548, an aircraft operator under part 1544, or a foreign air carrier under part 1546.

(a) Security threat assessments. Each certified cargo screening facility must ensure that individuals listed in 49 CFR 1540.201(a)(6), (7), (8), (9), and (12) relating to a certified cargo screening facility complete a security threat assessment or comparable security threat assessment described in part 1540, subpart C of this chapter, before conducting screening or supervising screening or before having unescorted access to screened cargo, unless the individual is authorized to serve as law enforcement personnel at that location.

(b) Training required. Each certified cargo screening facility must ensure that individuals have received training, as specified in this section and its security program, before such individual perform any duties to meet the requirements of its security program.

(c) Knowledge and training requirements. Each certified cargo screening facility must ensure that each individual who performs duties to meet the requirements of its security program have knowledge of, and annual training in, the—

(1) Applicable provisions of this chapter, including this part, part 1520, and § 1540.105;

(2) The certified cargo screening facility's security program, to the extent that such individuals need to know in order to perform their duties;

(3) Applicable Security Directives and Information Circulars; and

(4) The applicable portions of approved airport security program(s) and aircraft operator security program(s).

(d) Screener qualifications. Each certified cargo screening facility must ensure that each individual who screens cargo or who supervises cargo screening—

(1) Is a citizen or national of the United States, or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence;

(2) Has a high school diploma, a General Equivalency Diploma, or a combination of education and experience that the certified cargo screening facility has determined to have equipped the person to perform the duties of the position;

(3) Has basic aptitudes and physical abilities including color perception, visual and aural acuity, physical coordination, and motor skills to the extent required to effectively operate cargo screening technologies that the facility is authorized to use. These include:

(i) The ability to operate x-ray equipment and to distinguish on the x-ray monitor the appropriate imaging standard specified in the certified cargo screening facility security program. Wherever the x-ray system displays colors, the operator must be able to perceive each color.

(ii) The ability to distinguish each color displayed on every type of screening equipment and explain what each color signifies.

(iii) The ability to hear and respond to the spoken voice and to audible alarms generated by screening equipment.

(4) Has the ability to read, write and understand English well enough to carry out written and oral instructions regarding the proper performance of screening duties or be under the direct supervision of someone who has this ability, including reading labels and shipping papers, and writing log entries into security records in English.

(a) Each certified cargo screening facility must maintain records demonstrating compliance with all statutes, regulations, directives, orders, and security programs that apply to operation as a certified cargo screening facility, including the records listed below, at the facility location or other location as approved by TSA:

(1) Records of all training and instructions given to each individual under § 1549.103. The CCSF must retain these records for 180 days after the individual is no longer employed by the certified cargo screening facility or is no longer acting as the facility's agent.

(2) Copies of all documents related to applications for, or renewals of, TSA certification to operate under part 1549.

(3) Documents establishing TSA's certification and renewal of certification as required by part 1549.

(4) Records demonstrating that each individual has complied with the security threat assessment provisions of § 1549.111.

(b) Unless otherwise stated, records must be retained until the next re-certification.

Each certified cargo screening facility must have a Security Coordinator and designated alternate Security Coordinator appointed at the corporate level. In addition, each certified cargo screening facility must have a facility Security Coordinator and alternate facility Security Coordinator appointed at the facility level. The facility Security Coordinator must serve as the certified cargo screening facility's primary contact for security-related activities and communications with TSA, as set forth in the security program. The Security Coordinator and alternate appointed at the corporate level, as well as the facility Security Coordinator and alternate, must be available on a 24-hour, 7-days a week basis.

(a) TSA may issue an Information Circular to notify certified cargo screening facilities of security concerns.

(b) When TSA determines that additional security measures are necessary to respond to a threat assessment, or to a specific threat against civil aviation, TSA issues a Security Directive setting forth mandatory measures.

(1) Each certified cargo screening facility must comply with each Security Directive that TSA issues to it, within the time prescribed in the Security Directive for compliance.

(2) Each certified cargo screening facility that receives a Security Directive must comply with the following:

(i) Within the time prescribed in the Security Directive, acknowledge in writing receipt of the Security Directive to TSA.

(ii) Within the time prescribed in the Security Directive, specify the method by which the measures in the Security Directive have been implemented (or will be implemented, if the Security Directive is not yet effective).

(3) In the event that the certified cargo screening facility is unable to implement the measures in the Security Directive, the certified cargo screening facility must submit proposed alternative measures and the basis for submitting the alternative measures to TSA for approval.

(i) The certified cargo screening facility must submit the proposed alternative measures within the time prescribed in the Security Directive.

(ii) The certified cargo screening facility must implement any alternative measures approved by TSA.

(4) Each certified cargo screening facility that receives a Security Directive may comment on it by submitting data, views, or arguments in writing to TSA.

(i) TSA may amend the Security Directive based on comments received.

(ii) Submission of a comment does not delay the effective date of the Security Directive.

(5) Each certified cargo screening facility that receives a Security Directive or Information Circular, and each person who receives information from a Security Directive or Information Circular, must—

(i) Restrict the availability of the Security Directive or Information Circular, and information contained in either document, to those persons with a need-to-know; and

(ii) Refuse to release the Security Directive or Information Circular, and information contained in either document, to persons other than those with a need-to-know without the prior written consent of TSA.

(a) Scope. This section applies to the following:

(1) Each individual the certified cargo screening facility authorizes to perform cargo screening or supervise cargo screening.

(2) Each individual the certified cargo screening facility authorizes to have unescorted access to cargo at any time from the time it is screened until the time it is tendered to another certified cargo screening facility, an indirect air carrier under 49 CFR part 1548 for transport on a passenger aircraft, an aircraft operator under part 1544, or a foreign air carrier under part 1546.

(3) The senior manager or representative of its facility in control of the operations.

(4) The security coordinators and their alternates.

(b) Security threat assessment. Before a certified cargo screening facility authorizes an individual to perform the functions described in paragraph (a) of this section, and before the individual performs those functions—

(1) Each individual must successfully complete a security threat assessment or comparable security threat assessment described in part 1540, subpart C of this chapter; and

(2) Each certified screening facility must complete the requirements in 49 CFR part 1540, subpart C.