Pricing and Multilateral Affairs Division; Agency Information Collection Activities; Request for Comments; [Renewed Approval of] Information Collection: Exemption From Passenger Tariff-filing Requirements in Certain Instances, and Mandatory Electronic Filing of Residual Passenger Tariffs, 52445-52447 [E8-20851]
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 175 / Tuesday, September 9, 2008 / Notices
separate Republika Srpska institutions;
and
(3) Taking steps to implement policies
which reflect a respect for minority
rights and the rule of law.
This Determination and related
Memorandum of Justification shall be
provided to the appropriate committees
of the Congress. This Determination
shall be published in the Federal
Register.
Dated: September 2, 2008.
Condoleezza Rice,
Secretary of State, Department of State.
[FR Doc. E8–20914 Filed 9–8–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710–23–P
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 6345]
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
Defense Trade Advisory Group; Notice
of Meeting October 21, 2008
SUMMARY: The Defense Trade Advisory
Group (DTAG) will meet on October 21,
2008 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Loy
Henderson Conference Room at the U.S.
Department of State, Harry S. Truman
Building, Washington, DC. The meeting
will be open to the public. Entry and
registration will begin at 8:45. Please
use the building entrance located at
23rd Street, NW., Washington, DC
between C&D Streets. The purpose of
the meeting will be to discuss current
defense trade issues and topics for
further study.
As access to the Department of State
facilities is controlled, persons wishing
to attend the meeting must notify the
DTAG Executive Secretariat by COB
Tuesday, October 14, 2008. If notified
after this date, the DTAG Secretariat
cannot guarantee that the Department’s
Bureau of Diplomatic Security can
complete the necessary processing
required to attend the October 21
plenary. Each non-member observer or
DTAG member needing building access
that wishes to attend this plenary
session should provide: His/her name;
company or organizational affiliation;
phone number; date of birth; and
identifying data such as driver’s license
number, U.S. Government ID, or U.S.
Military ID, to the DTAG Secretariat
contact person, Allie Frantz, via e-mail
at FrantzA@state.gov. DTAG members
planning to attend the plenary session
should notify the DTAG Secretariat
contact person, Allie Frantz, at the email provided above. A RSVP list will
be provided to Diplomatic Security and
the Reception Desk at the 23rd Street
Entrance. One of the following forms of
valid photo identification will be
required for admission to the
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:08 Sep 08, 2008
Jkt 214001
Department of State building: U.S.
driver’s license, U.S. passport, U.S.
Government ID or other valid photo ID.
DATES: The DTAG meeting will be held
on October 21, 2008 from 9:30 a.m. to
1 p.m. and is open to the public.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in
the Loy Henderson Conference Room at
the U.S. Department of State, Harry S.
Truman Building, Washington, DC.
DTAG members and non-member
observers are required to pre-register
due to security reasons.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Members of the public who need
additional information regarding these
meetings or the DTAG should contact
the DTAG Executive Secretariat contact
person, Allie Frantz, PM/DDTC, SA–1,
12th Floor, Directorate of Defense Trade
Controls, Bureau of Political-Military
Affairs, U.S. Department of State,
Washington, DC 20522–0112; telephone
(202) 736–9220; FAX (202) 261–8199; or
e-mail FrantzA@state.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
(a) Background
The membership of this advisory
committee consists of private sector
defense trade representatives who
advise the Department on policies,
regulations, and technical issues
affecting defense trade. Individuals
interested in defense trade issues are
invited to attend and will be able to
participate in the discussion in
accordance with the Chair’s
instructions. Members of the public
may, if they wish, submit a brief
statement to the committee in writing.
October 21, 2008 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Meeting—Topics for discussion and
assigned time frames are as follows:
9:30–9:45 Call to order by DTAG
Chairman, followed by Opening
Remarks from Department of State
Official(s). 9:45–10 Update on the three
topics addressed at the June 19, 2008
open plenary; Self-Financing Options
for the Directorate of Defense Trade
Controls (including the DTAG Working
Group’s presentation of their report), the
UK-US Defense Trade Cooperation
Treaty Implementing Regulations, and
the new USML Category VIII regulations
implementing Section 17(c) of the
Export Administration Act. 10–11:15
DTAG Working Group on the U.S.
Munitions List (USML) Review
presentation. 11:30–12:45 DTAG
Working Group on ITAR Definitions
presentation. 12:45–1 Closing Remarks.
(b) Availability of Materials for the
Meetings
The agenda and materials pertaining
to the topics for discussion will be
PO 00000
Frm 00185
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
52445
posted on the Directorate of Defense
Trade Controls’ Web site at https://
pmddtc.state.gov/index.htm no later
than October 17, 2008.
(c) Procedures for Providing Public
Comments
The DTAG will accept written public
comments as well as oral public
comments. Comments should be
relevant to the topics for discussion.
Public participation at the open meeting
will be based on recognition by the
chair and may not exceed 5 minutes per
speaker. Written comments should be
sent to the DTAG Executive Secretariat
contact person no later than October 14,
2008 so that the comments may be made
available to the DTAG members for
consideration. Written comments
should be supplied to the DTAG
Executive Secretariat contact person at
the mailing address or email provided
above, in Adobe Acrobat or Word
format.
Note: The DTAG operates under the
provisions of the Federal Advisory
Committee Act, as amended, and all public
comments will be made available for public
inspection, and might be posted on DDTC’s
Web site.
(d) Meeting Accommodations
Individuals requiring special
accommodation to access the open
meeting referenced above should
contact Ms. Frantz at least five business
days prior to the meeting so that
appropriate arrangements can be made.
Dated: September 4, 2008.
Robert S. Kovac,
Designated Federal Official, Defense Trade
Advisory Group, Department of State.
[FR Doc. E8–20912 Filed 9–8–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710–25–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Office of the Secretary
[Docket No. DOT–OST–2008–0259; OMB
Control No.: 2106–0009]
Pricing and Multilateral Affairs
Division; Agency Information
Collection Activities; Request for
Comments; [Renewed Approval of]
Information Collection: Exemption
From Passenger Tariff-filing
Requirements in Certain Instances,
and Mandatory Electronic Filing of
Residual Passenger Tariffs
Office of the Secretary (OST),
U.S. Department of Transportation,
(DOT).
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
E:\FR\FM\09SEN1.SGM
09SEN1
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
52446
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 175 / Tuesday, September 9, 2008 / Notices
SUMMARY: In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
Public Law 104–13, this notice
announces the Department of
Transportation (DOT), Office of the
Secretary’s (OST) intention to request
clearance and renewal of a previously
approved information collection. This
Information Collection Request (ICR)
describes the nature of the information
collection and its expected burden. The
purpose of this notice is to allow the
public to submit comments on our
application to renew ICR 2106–0009, 14
CFR Part 221—Constructing,
Publications, Filing and Posting of
Tariffs of Air Carriers and Foreign Air
Carriers. The pre-existing information
collection request previously approved
by OMB expires on September 30, 2008.
DATES: Written comments should be
submitted by: November 10, 2008.
ADDRESSES: For submitting comments:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
online instructions for submitting
comments.
Mail or Hand Delivery: U.S.
Department of Transportation, Dockets
Management Facility, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue, SE., West Building, Room
W12–140, Washington, DC 20590.
Fax comments: 202–493–2251.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John
Kiser, 202–366–2435 or Bernice Gray,
202–366–2418, Pricing and Multilateral
Affairs Division, Office of the Secretary,
Department of Transportation, 1200
New Jersey Avenue, SE., Room W86–
319 or W86–433, Washington, DC
20590. Office hours are from 9 a.m. to
5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Exemption from Passenger
Tariff-filing Requirements in Certain
Instances, and Mandatory Electronic
Filing of Residual Passenger Tariffs.
OMB Control No.: 2106–0009.
Type of Request: Extension of a
currently approved information
collection.
Background: Section 41504 of Title 49
of the United States Code, requires
every U.S. and foreign air carrier to file
with the Department and keep open for
public inspection, tariffs showing all
prices for ‘‘foreign air transportation’’
between points served by that carrier, as
well as all the rules relating to that
transportation to the extent required by
the Department. This requirement
includes passenger fares, related charges
and governing rules. The detailed tarifffiling rules and authority for approvals,
rejections, and waivers are established
by 14 CFR Part 221. Once tariffs are
allowed to become effective by the
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:08 Sep 08, 2008
Jkt 214001
Department, these tariffs become legally
binding terms in the contract of carriage
for international air transportation.
In several rulemaking proceedings,
the Department determined that the
amount of tariff material filed by
carriers exceeded our regulatory
requirements in certain respects; that
alternative methods existed for
protecting consumers and other
elements of the public interest that are
more effective than filed tariffs; and that
procedures should be developed to
foster the electronic filing and the
review of those tariffs, which should
continue to be filed. On November 30,
1995, the Department published a final
rule (Exemption From Property TariffFiling Requirement for 14 CFR Parts 221
and 292, Docket No. 49827) exempting
carriers from their regulatory duty to file
tariffs for foreign air transportation of
cargo.
In the final rule (Notice of Exemption
from Passenger Tariff-Filing
Requirements In Certain Instances,
Docket OST–97–2050–12), issued July
21, 1999, the Department determined
that the filing of certain tariffs with the
Department for foreign air
transportation of passengers is no longer
necessary or appropriate, and
accordingly granted another exemption
from the tariff-filing requirement set
forth in Part 221. The rule also required
that all remaining tariffs be filed
electronically. A substantial number of
provisions in Part 221 were removed,
where redundant or out-dated given
present regulatory practices existed.
On October 7, 1999, the Assistant
Secretary issued a notice under 14 CFR
Part 293, Notice of Exemption from the
Department’s Tariff-Filing Requirement,
Docket OST–97–2050–14, specifying the
terms of the exemptions for markets in
Category A (no fare filing(s), Category B
(normal one-way economy fare filing(s)
only or Category C (filing all fares),
taking into account specific factors
present in each market. The notice also
specified which general rules must
continue to be filed.
On September 12, 2005, the Assistant
Secretary issued a Notice of Exemption
from the Department’s Tariff-Filing
Requirements, Docket OST–97–2050–
15, updating the list of countries added
to the tariff-filing exemptions under 14
CFR 293 for country-pair markets,
transferring more countries between
categories, and increasing the number of
exempted countries from the tariff-filing
requirements.
On April 8, 2008, the Assistant
Secretary issued a third notice (Notice
of Exemption from the Department’s
Tariff-Filing Requirements, Docket
OST–97–2050–18), updating the list of
PO 00000
Frm 00186
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
countries added to the tariff-filing
exemptions under 14 CFR 293 for
country-pair markets, transferring more
countries between categories and
increasing the number of exempted
countries from the tariff-filing
requirements. Most of the changes in the
2005 and 2008 notices moved countries
into Category A (not fare filing(s),
reflecting the increasing number of
‘‘open skies’’ air services agreements
between the United States and its
trading partners. The effect on the
burden hours can not be determined at
this time for the newest updated list of
tariff-filing exemptions. Because of
exemptions that have been granted to
U.S. and foreign carriers from the
statutory and regulatory duty to file
international passenger tariffs for many
markets, the burden of such filings has
been substantially reduced. When the
final rule was issued in July 1999, we
estimated the total annual burden on
respondents at 650,000 hours. In 2007,
the Department received 45,840
electronic filings, with an estimated
annual burden of 229,200 burden hours.
This reflected the fact that fewer
markets were subject to filing
requirements, but the reduction was
tempered somewhat by a higher
frequency of filings in markets still
subject to filing. Considering these
offsetting factors, we anticipate a
modest further reduction of burden in
the future.
Respondents: The vast majority of the
air carriers filing international tariffs are
large operators with revenues in excess
of several million dollars each year.
Small air carriers operating aircraft with
60 seats or less and 18,000 pounds
payload or less that offer on-demand airtaxi service are not required to file such
tariffs.
Frequency: The information will be
collected annually.
Estimated Average Burden per
Response: 5 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Burden
Hours: 229,200.
Public Comments Invited: You are
asked to comment on any aspect of this
information collection, including: (a)
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;
(b) the accuracy of the Department’s
estimate of the burden of the proposed
information collection; (c) ways to
enhance the quality, utility and clarity
of the information collection; and (d)
ways to minimize the burden of the
collection of information on
respondents, by the use of electronic
means, including the use of automated
E:\FR\FM\09SEN1.SGM
09SEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 175 / Tuesday, September 9, 2008 / Notices
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology.
All responses to this notice will be
summarized and included in the request
for OMB approval. All comments will
also become a matter of public record.
Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act
of 1995; 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended;
and 49 CFR 1.48.
Issued On: August 29, 2008.
Patricia Lawton,
IT Policy Oversight, Office of the Chief
Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E8–20851 Filed 9–8–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–62–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
[Docket No.: FAA–2009–22842]
Notice of Opportunity To Participate,
Criteria Requirements and Application
Procedure for Participation in the
Military Airport Program (MAP)
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of criteria and
application procedures for designation
or redesignation, for the fiscal year 2009
MAP.
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: In anticipation of congress
enacting an extension of the Airport
Improvement Program (AIP) the FAA is
publishing this annual notice. This
notice announces the criteria,
application procedures, and schedule to
be applied by the Secretary of
Transportation in designating or
redesignating, and funding capital
development annually for up to 15
current (joint-use) or former military
airports seeking designation or
redesignation to participate in the MAP.
While FAA currently has continuing
authority to designate or redesignate
airports, FAA does not have authority to
issue grants for fiscal year 2009 MAP,
and will not have authority until
Congress enacts legislation enabling
FAA to issue grants.
The MAP allows the Secretary to
designate current (joint-use) or former
military airports to receive grants from
the Airport Improvement Program (AIP).
The Secretary is authorized to designate
an airport (other than an airport
designated before August 24, 1994) only
if:
(1) The airport is a former military
installation closed or realigned under
the Title 10 U.S.C. Sec. 2687
(announcement of closures of large
Department of Defense installations
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:08 Sep 08, 2008
Jkt 214001
52447
after September 30, 1977), or under
Section 201 or 2905 of the Defense
Authorization Amendments and Base
Closure and Realignment Acts; or (2) the
airport is a military installation with
both military and civil aircraft
operations.
The Secretary shall consider for
designation only those current or former
military airports, at least partly
converted to civilian airports as part of
the national air transportation system,
that will reduce delays at airports with
more than 20,000 hours of annual
delays in commercial passenger aircraft
takeoffs and landings, or will enhance
airport and air traffic control system
capacity in metropolitan areas, or
reduce current and projected flight
delays (49 U.S.C. 47118(c)).
DATES: Applications must be received
on or before November 10, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Submit an original and two
copies of Standard Form (SF) 424,
‘‘Application for Federal Assistance,’’
prescribed by the Office of Management
and Budget Circular A–102, available at
https://www.faa.gov/airports_airtraffic/
airports/regional_guidance/
northwest_mountain/
airports_resources/forms/media/
applications/application_sf_424.doc
along with any supporting and
justifying documentation. Applicant
should specifically request to be
considered for designation or
redesignation to participate in the fiscal
year 2009 MAP. Submission should be
sent to the Regional FAA Airports
Division or Airports District Office that
serves the airport. Applicants may find
the proper office on the FAA Web site
https://www.faa.gov/airports_airtraffic/
airports/regional_guidance/ or may
contact the office below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Kendall Ball (Kendall.Ball@faa.gov),
Airports Financial Assistance Division
(APP–500), Office of Airport Planning
and Programming, Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), 800
Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20591, (202) 267–7436.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
These airports are also eligible to
receive grants from other categories of
AIP funding.
General Description of the Program
The MAP provides capital
development assistance to civil airport
sponsors of designated current (jointuse) military airfields or former military
airports that are included in the FAA’s
National Plan of Integrated Airport
Systems (NPIAS). Airports designated to
the MAP may obtain funds from a setaside (currently four percent) of AIP
discretionary funds for airport
development, including certain projects
not otherwise eligible for AIP assistance.
Designation Considerations
PO 00000
Frm 00187
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Number of Airports
A maximum of 15 airports per fiscal
year (FY) may participate in the MAP.
There are 5 slots available for
designation or redesignation in FY 2009.
There is no general aviation slot
available this year.
Term of Designation
The maximum term is five fiscal years
following designation. The FAA can
designate airports for a period of less
than five years. The FAA will evaluate
the conversion needs of the airport in its
capital development plan to determine
the appropriate length of designation.
Redesignation
Previously designated airports may
apply for redesignation of an additional
term not to exceed five years. Those
airports must meet current eligibility
requirements in 49 U.S.C. 47118(a) at
the beginning of each grant period and
have MAP eligible projects. The FAA
will evaluate applications for
redesignation primarily in terms of
warranted projects fundable only under
the MAP as these candidates tend to
have fewer conversion needs than new
candidates. The FAA wants MAP
airports to graduate to regular AIP
participation.
Eligible Projects
In addition to eligible AIP projects,
MAP can fund fuel farms, utility
systems, surface automobile parking
lots, hangars, and air cargo terminals up
to 50,000 square feet. Designated or
redesignated military airports can
receive not more than $7,000,000 for
each fiscal year after 2005 for projects to
construct, improve, or repair terminal
building facilities. Designated or
redesignated military airports can
receive not more than $7,000,000 for
each fiscal year after 2005 for MAP
eligible projects that include hangars,
cargo facilities, fuel farms, automobile
surface parking, and utility work.
In making designations of new
candidate airports, the Secretary of
Transportation may only designate an
airport (other than an airport so
designated before August 24, 1994) if it
meets the following general
requirements:
(1) The airport is a former military
installation closed or realigned under:
(A) Section 2687 of Title 10;
(B) Section 201 of the Defense
Authorization Amendments and Base
E:\FR\FM\09SEN1.SGM
09SEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 175 (Tuesday, September 9, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52445-52447]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-20851]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Office of the Secretary
[Docket No. DOT-OST-2008-0259; OMB Control No.: 2106-0009]
Pricing and Multilateral Affairs Division; Agency Information
Collection Activities; Request for Comments; [Renewed Approval of]
Information Collection: Exemption From Passenger Tariff-filing
Requirements in Certain Instances, and Mandatory Electronic Filing of
Residual Passenger Tariffs
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary (OST), U.S. Department of
Transportation, (DOT).
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 52446]]
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public
Law 104-13, this notice announces the Department of Transportation
(DOT), Office of the Secretary's (OST) intention to request clearance
and renewal of a previously approved information collection. This
Information Collection Request (ICR) describes the nature of the
information collection and its expected burden. The purpose of this
notice is to allow the public to submit comments on our application to
renew ICR 2106-0009, 14 CFR Part 221--Constructing, Publications,
Filing and Posting of Tariffs of Air Carriers and Foreign Air Carriers.
The pre-existing information collection request previously approved by
OMB expires on September 30, 2008.
DATES: Written comments should be submitted by: November 10, 2008.
ADDRESSES: For submitting comments: Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for
submitting comments.
Mail or Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Dockets
Management Facility, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building, Room
W12-140, Washington, DC 20590.
Fax comments: 202-493-2251.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Kiser, 202-366-2435 or Bernice
Gray, 202-366-2418, Pricing and Multilateral Affairs Division, Office
of the Secretary, Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue,
SE., Room W86-319 or W86-433, Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are
from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Exemption from Passenger Tariff-filing Requirements in
Certain Instances, and Mandatory Electronic Filing of Residual
Passenger Tariffs.
OMB Control No.: 2106-0009.
Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information
collection.
Background: Section 41504 of Title 49 of the United States Code,
requires every U.S. and foreign air carrier to file with the Department
and keep open for public inspection, tariffs showing all prices for
``foreign air transportation'' between points served by that carrier,
as well as all the rules relating to that transportation to the extent
required by the Department. This requirement includes passenger fares,
related charges and governing rules. The detailed tariff-filing rules
and authority for approvals, rejections, and waivers are established by
14 CFR Part 221. Once tariffs are allowed to become effective by the
Department, these tariffs become legally binding terms in the contract
of carriage for international air transportation.
In several rulemaking proceedings, the Department determined that
the amount of tariff material filed by carriers exceeded our regulatory
requirements in certain respects; that alternative methods existed for
protecting consumers and other elements of the public interest that are
more effective than filed tariffs; and that procedures should be
developed to foster the electronic filing and the review of those
tariffs, which should continue to be filed. On November 30, 1995, the
Department published a final rule (Exemption From Property Tariff-
Filing Requirement for 14 CFR Parts 221 and 292, Docket No. 49827)
exempting carriers from their regulatory duty to file tariffs for
foreign air transportation of cargo.
In the final rule (Notice of Exemption from Passenger Tariff-Filing
Requirements In Certain Instances, Docket OST-97-2050-12), issued July
21, 1999, the Department determined that the filing of certain tariffs
with the Department for foreign air transportation of passengers is no
longer necessary or appropriate, and accordingly granted another
exemption from the tariff-filing requirement set forth in Part 221. The
rule also required that all remaining tariffs be filed electronically.
A substantial number of provisions in Part 221 were removed, where
redundant or out-dated given present regulatory practices existed.
On October 7, 1999, the Assistant Secretary issued a notice under
14 CFR Part 293, Notice of Exemption from the Department's Tariff-
Filing Requirement, Docket OST-97-2050-14, specifying the terms of the
exemptions for markets in Category A (no fare filing(s), Category B
(normal one-way economy fare filing(s) only or Category C (filing all
fares), taking into account specific factors present in each market.
The notice also specified which general rules must continue to be
filed.
On September 12, 2005, the Assistant Secretary issued a Notice of
Exemption from the Department's Tariff-Filing Requirements, Docket OST-
97-2050-15, updating the list of countries added to the tariff-filing
exemptions under 14 CFR 293 for country-pair markets, transferring more
countries between categories, and increasing the number of exempted
countries from the tariff-filing requirements.
On April 8, 2008, the Assistant Secretary issued a third notice
(Notice of Exemption from the Department's Tariff-Filing Requirements,
Docket OST-97-2050-18), updating the list of countries added to the
tariff-filing exemptions under 14 CFR 293 for country-pair markets,
transferring more countries between categories and increasing the
number of exempted countries from the tariff-filing requirements. Most
of the changes in the 2005 and 2008 notices moved countries into
Category A (not fare filing(s), reflecting the increasing number of
``open skies'' air services agreements between the United States and
its trading partners. The effect on the burden hours can not be
determined at this time for the newest updated list of tariff-filing
exemptions. Because of exemptions that have been granted to U.S. and
foreign carriers from the statutory and regulatory duty to file
international passenger tariffs for many markets, the burden of such
filings has been substantially reduced. When the final rule was issued
in July 1999, we estimated the total annual burden on respondents at
650,000 hours. In 2007, the Department received 45,840 electronic
filings, with an estimated annual burden of 229,200 burden hours. This
reflected the fact that fewer markets were subject to filing
requirements, but the reduction was tempered somewhat by a higher
frequency of filings in markets still subject to filing. Considering
these offsetting factors, we anticipate a modest further reduction of
burden in the future.
Respondents: The vast majority of the air carriers filing
international tariffs are large operators with revenues in excess of
several million dollars each year. Small air carriers operating
aircraft with 60 seats or less and 18,000 pounds payload or less that
offer on-demand air-taxi service are not required to file such tariffs.
Frequency: The information will be collected annually.
Estimated Average Burden per Response: 5 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 229,200.
Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspect of
this information collection, including: (a) 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; (b) the accuracy of the Department's estimate
of the burden of the proposed information collection; (c) ways to
enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information collection;
and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on
respondents, by the use of electronic means, including the use of
automated
[[Page 52447]]
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of
public record.
Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C.
Chapter 35, as amended; and 49 CFR 1.48.
Issued On: August 29, 2008.
Patricia Lawton,
IT Policy Oversight, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E8-20851 Filed 9-8-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-62-P
