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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Bureau of Transportation Statistics

Reports, Forms and Recordkeeping Requirements; Agency Information

Collection Activity Under OMB Review

AGENCY: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 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 extension of currently

approved collections. The ICR describes the nature of the information

collection and its expected burden. The Federal Register Notice with a

60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection

of information was published on June 10, 1999 (64 FR 31345).

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before November 26, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bernie Stankus, (202) 366-4387.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS)

Title: Submission of Audit Reports, Part 248.

Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved Collection.

OMB Control Number: 2138-0004.

Form(s): None.

Affected Public: Certificated Air Carriers.

Abstract: BTS collects independent audited financial reports from

U.S. certificated air carriers. Carriers not having an annual audit

must file a statement that no such audit has been performed. In lieu of

the audit report, the Department will accept the annual report

submitted to the stockholders. The audited reports are needed by DOT as

(a) a means to monitor an air carrier's continuing fitness to operate,

(b) reference material used by analysts in examining foreign route

cases, (c) reference material used by analysts in examining proposed

acquisitions, mergers, and consolidations, (d) a means whereby the

Department sends a copy of the report to International Civil Aviation

Organization (ICAO) in fulfillment of a U.S. treaty obligation, and (e)

corroboration of carriers' Form 41 filings.

Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 21 hours.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory

Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725-17th Street, NW.,

Washington, DC 20503, Attention BTS Desk Officer.

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 October 21, 1999.

Timothy E. Carmody,

Director, Office of Airline Information.

[FR Doc. 99-28005 Filed 10-26-99; 8:45 am]

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