### 15780 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 57 / Thursday, March 24, 2016 / Notices

1 Operating Limitations at John F. Kennedy International Airport, 79 FR 16855 (March 26, 2014). Operating Limitations at New York LaGuardia Airport, 79 FR 17223 (March 26, 2014). Operating Limitation at Newark Liberty International Airport, 79 FR 16.859 (March 26, 2014). (mail or email) by April 18, 2016, so that
the information can be made available
to COMSTAC members for their review and consideration before the April 27– 28, 2016 meeting. Written statements should be supplied in the following formats: One hard copy with original signature and/or one electronic copy via
email.

An agenda will be posted on the FAA
Web site at www.faa.gov/go/ast. For specific information concerning the
times and locations of the COMSTAC working group meetings, contact the
Contact Person listed below.

Individuals who plan to attend and need special assistance, such as sign language interpretation or other reasonable accommodations, should
inform the Contact Persons listed below in advance of the meeting.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Michael Beavin, telephone (202) 267– 9051; email Michael.beavin@faa.gov, FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation, 800 Independence Avenue SW., Room 331, Washington,

DC 20591.

Complete information regarding
COMSTAC is available on the FAA Web

site at: http://www.faa.gov/about/office

_ org/headquarters

_ offices/ast/advisory

_ committee/

.

Issued in Washington, DC, March 18, 2016. George C. Nield, Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation.

[FR Doc. 2016–06690 Filed 3–23–16; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 4910–13–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION**

**Federal Aviation Administration**

**Orders Limiting Operations at John F. Kennedy International Airport,**  **LaGuardia Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport** 

**AGENCY :**  Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

**ACTION :**  Notice of availability of limited waiver of the slot usage requirement.

**SUMMARY :**  This action announces a limited waiver of the requirement to use Operating Authorizations (slots) at John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and Newark Liberty International Airport due to significant impacts of winter weather in January 2016. This policy is effective from January 22, 2016, through January 26,
2016. Carriers who seek to obtain a
waiver must submit information on flight cancellations and the slots for which relief is requested. **DATES :**  Effective Date: Effective upon publication.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  For questions concerning this Notice contact: Susan Pfingstler, System Operations Services, Air Traffic Organization, Federal Aviation Administration, 600 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone (202) 267–6462; email susan.pfingstler@faa.gov

. **SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :** 
Background

Under the FAA’s Orders limiting operations at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA), and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), slots must be used at least 80 percent of
the time. 1 This usage requirement is expected to accommodate routine
cancellations under all but the most
unusual circumstances. Slots not meeting the minimum usage rules will
be withdrawn or not receive historic precedence for the following scheduling season, depending on the airport. The FAA may grant a waiver from the minimum usage requirement in highly unusual and unpredictable conditions that are beyond the control of the carrier and affect carrier operations for five or more consecutive days at JFK, LGA, and

EWR.

Recent weather on the East Coast severely disrupted aviation and other modes of transportation. A winter storm from January 22 to January 24, 2016, impacting the mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions, resulted in record snowfall levels in several locations, including the New York City area. The storm impacted a widespread area in the eastern U.S., including airports with regularly scheduled flights to or from the New York City area. The storm resulted in reduced airport capacity due to snow accumulation on runways and taxiways. Further, this storm covered a wide geographical area and impacted capacity and operations at outlying airports with service to EWR, JFK, and

LGA.

Carriers responded to the forecasted storm by proactively cancelling flights to avoid stranding passengers, to
minimize the number of aircraft on the ground at airports affected by the storm, and to position aircraft and crews to implement network recovery plans and resume normal operations as soon as possible. Cumulative effects from the storm impacted operations for some carriers until January 26, 2016.

FAA operational data (OPSNET) on
the number of actual air carrier and air taxi operations at EWR, JFK, and LGA indicate flight cancellations began on January 22 and the impacts were most significant on Saturday, January 23 and Sunday, January 24. On January 22, about 20 percent of EWR and LGA flights were cancelled compared to other Fridays in January while about ten percent of JFK flights were cancelled. On January 23, EWR had 18 air carrier and air taxi operations, JFK had 58 and LGA had three. On January 24, EWR had 67 air carrier and air taxi operations, JFK had 447, and LGA had 107. On January 25 and 26, EWR had less than 60 percent of typical January traffic
levels while snow removal efforts continued. All three airports were at typical operation levels by Wednesday, January 27. Consequently, some carriers have advised the FAA of plans to request a waiver of the minimum slot usage requirements due to the number of flight cancellations and the extent and duration of disruptions.

Statement of Policy

The FAA has determined that the
facts described above meet the criteria
for a limited waiver of the minimum slot usage requirement. The winter
storm caused cumulative effects with operational disruptions that impacted carriers at the New York City area slot controlled airports lasting five consecutive days. The FAA believes the impact of this storm on air travel constitutes unusual and unpredictable

circumstances.

The FAA has determined that adopting a policy setting forth conditions for a waiver of the usage policy during the January 22–26, 2016, period is warranted in these circumstances. However, this waiver will apply only to flights that were scheduled to operate on one or more of the impacted days. A carrier seeking to
obtain the relief consistent with this Notice is required to submit detailed information regarding scheduled flights, cancellations, and the associated slots at each airport for each day relief is requested, as discussed further in this

Notice.

As the FAA has stated previously, waivers to the usage requirements will not be granted routinely. Slot rules allow for up to 20 percent nonuse, including planned and unplanned cancellations. This is expected to
accommodate weather and other cancellations or planned non-use of


### 15781 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 57 / Thursday, March 24, 2016 / Notices

slots under all but the most unusual circumstances. Carriers should plan
schedules in order to meet the minimum usage requirement.

Consistent with this Notice, the FAA will treat as used, any slot allocated to a carrier on January 22 through 26, 2016, for which there was a planned flight that was subsequently cancelled. A waiver will not apply to slots without a corresponding scheduled flight as the carrier should have already factored nonuse on those days into their usage plans. In order to obtain a waiver under this policy, a carrier must provide a listof the cancelled flights at each slotcontrolled airport, including the reported slot identification number, operating carrier, flight number, date, scheduled time of operation, scheduled origin or destination airport, and the diversion airport, if applicable.

Carriers must submit the detailed slot and flight information to the FAA Slot Administration Office by email to 7-awa-slotadmin@faa.gov. Carriers atLGA, which reported usage in midMarch, will have until April 8, 2016, to submit additional information to request
a waiver under the terms of this Notice. At JFK and EWR, usage reports for the winter 2015–2016 scheduling season are due by April 25, 2016. Carriers at JFK and EWR must request a waiver request under this Notice by the due date of the reports. The FAA will review the
submission to determine if it meets the
terms of this limited waiver. Based on the submitted information, the FAA will respond to individual carriers via email confirming the slots that will be treated as used under this policy.

Issued in Washington, DC, on March 21,

2016. Lorelei Peter, Assistant Chief Counsel for Regulations.

[FR Doc. 2016–06692 Filed 3–23–16; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 4910–13–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION**

**Federal Railroad Administration**

**[Docket No. FRA 2016–0002–N–8]**

**Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment**  **Request**

**AGENCY :**  Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of Transportation.

**ACTION :**  Notice and request for

comments.

**SUMMARY :**  In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and its implementing regulations, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) hereby announces that it is seeking an extension of the following currently approved information collection activities. On February 19, 2016, FRA published in the Federal Register its request for Emergency Clearance for new Form FRA F 6180.167, Bridge Inspection Report Public Version Request Form. See 81 FR 8588. The
information collection activities
associated with Form FRA F 6180.167 received a six-month emergency approval from OMB on February 25, 2016. FRA seeks a regular clearance (extension of the current approval for three years) to continue this effort to provide a means for a State or a political subdivision of a State to obtain a public version of a bridge inspection report generated by a railroad for a bridge located within their respective jurisdiction. Before submitting these information collection requirements for clearance by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), FRA is soliciting public comment on specific aspects of
the activities identified below.

**DATES :**  Comments must be received no later than May 23, 2016.

**ADDRESSES :**  Submit written comments on any or all of the following proposed activities by mail to either: Mr. Robert Brogan, Information Collection Clearance Officer, Office of Railroad Safety, Regulatory Safety Analysis Division, RRS–21, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., Mail Stop 17, Washington, DC 20590, or Ms. Kimberly Toone,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, Office of Information Technology, RAD–20, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., Mail Stop 35, Washington, DC 20590. Commenters requesting FRA to acknowledge receipt of their respective
comments must include a self-addressed stamped postcard stating, ‘‘Comments
on OMB control number 2130–0586.’’ Alternatively, comments may be transmitted via facsimile to (202) 493– 6216 or (202) 493–6497, or via email to Mr. Brogan at Robert.Brogan@dot.gov, or to Ms. Toone at Kim.Toone@dot.gov. Please refer to the assigned OMB control number in any correspondence
submitted. FRA will summarize comments received in response to this notice in a subsequent notice and
include them in its information
collection submission to OMB for approval.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :** 

Mr. Robert Brogan, Information Collection Clearance Officer, Regulatory Safety Analysis Division, RRS–21, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., Mail Stop 25, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493–6292) or Ms. Kimberly Toone,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, Office of Information Technology, RAD–20, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., Mail Stop 35, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493–6132).(These telephone numbers are not tollfree.)

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :** 

The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Public Law 104–13, sec. 2, 109 Stat. 163 (1995) (codified as revised at 44 U.S.C. 3501–3520), and its implementing regulations, 5 CFR part 1320, require Federal agencies to provide notice to the public for
comment on information collection activities before seeking approval for reinstatement or renewal by OMB. 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A); 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), 1320.10(e)(1), 1320.12(a). Specifically, FRA invites interested respondents to comment on the following summary of proposed information collection activities regarding (i) whether the
information collection activities are necessary for FRA to properly execute its functions, including whether the activities will have practical utility; (ii) the accuracy of FRA’s estimates of the
burden of the information collection activities, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used to determine the estimates; (iii) ways for FRA to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information being collected; and (iv) ways for FRA to
minimize the burden of information collection activities on the public by automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology ( e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses). See 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)(I)–(iv); 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1)(I)–(iv). FRA believes that soliciting public comment will promote
its efforts to reduce the administrative and paperwork burdens associated with
the collection of information mandated by Federal regulations. In summary,
FRA reasons that comments received will advance three objectives: (i) Reduce reporting burdens; (ii) ensure that it organizes information collection requirements in a ‘‘user friendly’’ format to improve the use of such information; and (iii) accurately assess the resources expended to retrieve and produce information requested. See 44 U.S.C.

3501.

Below is a brief summary of the currently approved information collection request that FRA will submit for clearance by OMB as required under
the PRA: