Reports, Forms and Recordkeeping Requirements; Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary

Reports, Forms and Recordkeeping Requirements; Agency Information

Collection Activity Under OMB Review

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44

U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information

Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for renewal and comment. The ICR

describes the nature of the information collection and its expected

cost and burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment

period soliciting comments on the following collection of information

was published on June 9, 1997 [62 FR 31470].

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before September 18, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Luther R. Dietrich, Office of

Aviation Analysis, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 7th Street,

SW., Washington, DC 20590. Telephone (202) 366-1046.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Office of the Secretary (OST)

Title: Supporting Statements--Air Carriers' Claims for Subsidy

Payments.

Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information

collection.

OMB Control Number: 2106-0044.

Affected Public: Small air carriers selected by the Department in

docketed cases to provide subsidized essential air service.

Abstract: The requested collection of information covers OST Form

397 and OST Form 398.

Need: In 14 CFR part 271 of its Aviation Economic Regulations, the

Department provided that subsidy to air carriers for providing

essential air service will be paid to the carriers monthly, and that

payments will vary according to the actual amount of service performed

during the month. The reports of subsidized air carriers of essential

air service performed on the Department's OST Form 397, ``Air

[[Page 44166]]

Carrier's Report of Departures Performed in Scheduled Service'' and OST

Form 398, ``Air Carrier's Claim for Subsidy'' establish the fundamental

basis for paying these air carriers on a timely basis.

Annual Estimated Burden Hour: 4,020*.

*The annual estimated burden has been reduced from 7,500 hours

primarily because the essential air service program has been reduced,

both in terms of the number of communities served and in the amount of

service supported (number of round trips per week) in response to

decreased funding from Congress.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to Office of Information and

Regulatory Affairs, Attention: DOT Desk Officer; Office of Management

and Budget; Washington, DC 20503.

Comments are invited on: whether the proposed collection of

information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of

the Department, including whether the information will have practical

utility; the accuracy of the Department's estimate of the burden of the

proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility,

and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize

the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including

the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of

information technology.

Issued in Washington, DC, on August 14, 1997.

Vanester M. Williams,

Clearance Officer, United States Department of Transportation.

[FR Doc. 97-21903 Filed 8-18-97; 8:45 am]

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