### 39323 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 130 / Thursday, July 8, 2010 / Notices

**DATES :**  The Department will accept comments from the public up for up to 30 days from July 8, 2010.

**ADDRESSES :**  You may submit comments by any of the following methods:

• E-mail: AllowancesO@state.gov.

• Mail (paper, disk, or CD–ROM submissions): Office of Allowances (A/ OPR/ALS), Room L314 SA–1, Department of State, Washington, DC

20522–0103.

• Fax: (202) 261–8707 or (202) 261–

8708.

• Hand Delivery or Courier: Office of Allowances (A/OPR/ALS), Room L314, Department of State, 2401 E Street, NW., Washington, DC 20037.

• If you have access to the Internet you may view and comment on this notice by going to ‘‘http:// www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/ home.html#home’’

.

You must include the DS form number (if applicable), information collection title, and OMB control number in any correspondence.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Direct requests for additional information regarding the collection listed in this notice, including requests for copies of the proposed information collection and supporting documents, to George W. Indyke, Director, Office of Allowances, Room L314 SA–1, Washington, DC 20522–0103, who may be reached on (202) 261–8700 or at AllowancesO@state.gov.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department to:

• Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is necessary for the proper performance of our functions.

• Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the burden of the proposed collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used.

• Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected.

• Minimize the reporting burden on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of technology.

Abstract of proposed collection: The collected data is used by the Department of State to carry out its responsibilities under 5 U.S.C. 5924(1), and Executive Orders 10903 and by the Department of Defense to carry out responsibilities under 37 U.S.C. 405. It is the primary source of information used to establish/ justify post (cost of living) allowances for all Federal civilian employees assigned abroad and cost of living allowances for uniformed service members. The respondents are the store/ department managers of approximately 40 retail outlets at each foreign post and approximately 48 retail outlets in the Washington, DC area.

Methodology: U.S.G. employees or contractors visit the retail outlets and gather prices personally. The estimated burden for respondents is based on the time the Price Collectors may spend with them to explain the purpose of the data collection and seek their cooperation with having the price collector gather prices. Once the price collector has completed the cost data collection, the information is entered in the eAllowances program for electronic submission to the Department of State’s Office of Allowances.

Dated: June 21, 2010. George W. Indyke, Jr., Director, Office of Allowances, Bureau of Administration, Department of State.

[FR Doc. 2010–16672 Filed 7–7–10; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 4710–24–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF STATE**

**[Public Notice: 7047]**

**Amendment to the Biometric Visa Program** 

**AGENCY :**  Department of State.

**ACTION :**  Notice of Amendment to the Biometric Visa Program.

This public notice announces an amendment to the Biometric Visa Program. Section 303 of the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2002 has required, since October 26, 2004, that all visas issued by the Department must be machine-readable and tamper-resistant and use biometric identifiers. In consultation with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Department determined that fingerprints and a photo image should be required as biometric identifiers. When the biometric visa program began, available technology allowed for the efficient capture and comparisons of only two fingerscans. As a result of technological improvements, the Department instituted a ten fingerscan standard to raise the accuracy rate in matching fingerscans and enhanced our ability to detect and thwart persons who are eligible for visas.

In establishing the Biometric Visa Program, the Department coordinated closely with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The Biometric Visa Program is a partner program to the DHS US–VISIT Program that is in effect at U.S. ports of entry and that uses the same biometric identifiers. By coordinating these two programs, the two departments have ensured the integrity of the U.S. visa. This is accomplished by sending the fingerscans and photos of visa applicants to DHS databases. When a person to whom a visa has been issued arrives at a port of entry, his or her photo is retrieved from a database and projected on the computer screen of the Customs and Border Protection officer. The person’s fingerscans are compared to the fingerscans in the database to ensure that the person presenting the visa is the same as the person to whom the visa was issued.

Certain exemptions to the fingerscans under the Biometric Visa Program were also coordinated with the Department of Homeland Security to coincide with the exemptions to fingerscans under the US–VISIT Program. Under the Biometric Visa Program, applicants for diplomatic or official visas, for visas to represent their governments at recognized international organizations such as the United Nations or for visas to serve as employees of such organizations, for NATO visas, or for government officials on official transit through the U.S. are exempt from the fingerscans. The aforementioned are represented by visa categories: A–1, A–2, G–1, G–2, G–3, G– 4, NATO–1, NATO–2, NATO–3, NATO– 4, NATO–5, NATO–6 and C–3 (except for attendants, servants, or personal employees of accredited officials). In addition, persons under age 14 and persons age 80 or above are generally exempt from the fingerscans, unless the person is applying for a visa at a consular post in Mexico and in Yemen. In Mexico, fingerscans are required for applicants beginning at age 7 and above under the program for issuance of biometric Border Crossing Cards (commonly known as ‘‘laser visas’’), which began in 1998. We have recently expanded that policy to include visa applicants in Yemen, and may further expand it to include additional countries in the future. The Secretary of State retains the authority to require fingerscans of children under age 14 or adults age 80 or above in all other countries. All visa applicants are required to submit a photograph with the visa application, except at consular posts in Mexico where most nonimmigrant visa applicants have a live-capture photo taken at post. All persons, regardless of whether they submit fingerscans or not, are reviewed against the Department’s facial recognition database, one of the largest facial recognition databases in the world.

By checking fingerscans against a biometric watchlist, the Biometric Visa


### 39324 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 130 / Thursday, July 8, 2010 / Notices

Program enables consular officers to deny visas to persons on the watchlist who are ineligible for visas. For the great majority of travelers, the Biometric Visa Program performs a travel facilitation function by allowing for biometric identity verification at ports of entry, which serves to facilitate admission to the United States.

**DATES :**  Effective upon date of publication in the Federal Register

. **FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Lauren Prosnik, Visa Analyst, U.S. Department of State, 2401 E Street, NW., Room L603, Washington, DC 20520. Phone 202–633–2951.

Dated: June 25, 2010. Janice L. Jacobs, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Department of State.

[FR Doc. 2010–16671 Filed 7–7–10; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 4710–06–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION**

**Office of the Secretary: Notice of Applications for Certificates of Public**  **Convenience and Necessity and Foreign Air Carrier Permits Filed Under**  **Subpart B (formerly Subpart Q) During the Week Ending June 26, 2010** 

The following Applications for Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity and Foreign Air Carrier Permits were filed under Subpart B (formerly Subpart Q) of the Department of Transportation’s Procedural Regulations ( See 14 CFR 301.201 et

seq. ). The due date for Answers, Conforming Applications, or Motions to Modify Scope are set forth below for each application. Following the Answer period DOT may process the application by expedited procedures. Such procedures may consist of the adoption of a show-cause order, a tentative order, or in appropriate cases a final order without further proceedings.

Docket Number: DOT–OST–2010–

0163.

Date Filed: June 24, 2010. Due Date for Answers, Conforming Applications, or Motion to Modify Scope: July 15, 2010.

Description: Application of Continental Airlines, Inc., and United Air Lines, Inc. requesting: (1) Approval of a defacto transfer of the certificates and other economic authority held by Continental, Continental Micronesia and Air Micronesia to the same carriers under common ownership with United and vice versa, (2) reissue the certificates and other authority issued to Continental, Continental Micronesia and Air Micronesia to Continental and/ or United, and (3) reissue the certificates and other authority issued to United to United and/or Continental, Continental Micronesia and Air Micronesia.

Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket Operations, Federal Register Liaison.

[FR Doc. 2010–16614 Filed 7–7–10; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 4910–9X–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION**

**Office of the Secretary**

**Notice of Applications for Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity**  **and Foreign Air Carrier Permits Filed Under Subpart B (formerly Subpart Q)**  **During the Week Ending June 5, 2010**

The following Applications for Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity and Foreign Air Carrier Permits were filed under Subpart B (formerly Subpart Q) of the Department of Transportation’s Procedural Regulations (See 14 CFR 301.201 et seq.).

The due date for Answers, Conforming Applications, or Motions to Modify Scope are set forth below for each application. Following the Answer period DOT may process the application by expedited procedures. Such procedures may consist of the adoption of a show-cause order, a tentative order, or in appropriate cases a final order without further proceedings.

Docket Number: DOT–OST–2006–

25940.

Date Filed: June 3, 2010. Due Date for Answers, Conforming Applications, or Motion to Modify Scope: June 24, 2010.

Description: Application of Kuzu Havayollari Kargo Tasimacilik A.S requesting the Department issue an amended foreign air carrier permit of its current charter authority in the name of ULS Havayollari Kargo Tasimacilik S.A.

Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket Operations, Federal Register Liaison.

[FR Doc. 2010–16609 Filed 7–7–10; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 4910–9X–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION** 

**Office of the Secretary**

**Notice of Applications for Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity**  **and Foreign Air Carrier Permits Filed Under Subpart B (Formerly Subpart Q)**  **During the Week Ending June 12, 2010**

The following Applications for Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity and Foreign Air Carrier Permits were filed under Subpart B (formerly Subpart Q) of the Department of Transportation’s Procedural Regulations ( See 14 CFR 301.201 et

seq. ). The due date for Answers, Conforming Applications, or Motions to Modify Scope are set forth below for each application. Following the Answer period DOT may process the application by expedited procedures. Such procedures may consist of the adoption of a show-cause order, a tentative order, or in appropriate cases a final order without further proceedings.

Docket Number: DOT–OST–2010–

0148.

Date Filed: June 8, 2010. Due Date for Answers, Conforming Applications, or Motion to Modify Scope: June 29, 2010.

Description: Application of Privilege Style, S.A. requesting an exemption and foreign air carrier permit to conduct charter foreign air transportation of persons, property and mail between a point or points in the European Community and the Member States of the European Union, and a point or points in the United States, to the full extent allowed under the Air Transport Agreement between the United States and the European community and the Member States of the European Union.

Docket Number: DOT–OST–2010–

0150.

Date Filed: June 9, 2010. Due Date for Answers, Conforming Applications, or Motion to Modify Scope: June 30, 2010.

Description: Application of Acropolis Aviation Limited requesting an exemption and a foreign air carrier permit authorizing Acropolis Aviation to engage in charter foreign air transportation of persons, property and mail to and from points in the United States to the full extent permitted by its homeland operating authority and the EU–U.S. open-skies agreement, as well as other charters pursuant to the prior approval requirements.

Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket Operations, Federal Register Liaison.

[FR Doc. 2010–16621 Filed 7–7–10; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 4910–9X–P**