### 2467 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 11 / Friday, January 16, 2015 / Notices

**DATES :**  Submit comments directly to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) up to February 17, 2015.

**ADDRESSES :**  Direct comments to the Department of State Desk Officer in the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). You may submit comments by any of the following methods:

• Email: oira

_submission@ omb.eop.gov. You must include the DS form number, information collection title, and the OMB control number in the subject line of your message.

• Fax: 202–395–5806. Attention: Desk Officer for Department of State.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Direct requests for additional information regarding the collection listed in this notice, including requests for copies of the proposed collection instrument and supporting documents, to Robin J. Lerner, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Private Sector Exchange, ECA/EC, SA–5, Floor 5, Department of State, 2200 C Street NW., Washington, DC 20522–0505, who may be reached on

202–632–3206 or at JExchanges@ state.gov.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :** 

• Title of Information Collection: Annual Report—J–NONIMMIGRANT Exchange Visitor Program.

• OMB Control Number: 1405–0151.

• Type of Request: Revision of a Currently Approved Collection.

• Originating Office: Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Office of Private Sector Exchange, ECA/EC.

• Form Number: Form DS–3097.

• Respondents: Designated J– NONIMMIGRANT program sponsors.

• Estimated Number of Respondents:
1,400.

• Estimated Number of Responses:
1,400.

• Average Time per Response: 2 hours.

• Total Estimated Burden Time: 2,800 hours.

• Frequency: Annually.

• Obligation to Respond: Required to Obtain or Retain Benefits.

We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department to:

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

• Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this 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 information technology.

Please note that comments submitted in response to this Notice are public record. Before including any detailed personal information, you should be aware that your comments as submitted, including your personal information, will be available for public review.
Abstract of Proposed Collection

Annual reports from designated program sponsors assist the Department in oversight and administration of the J– NONIMMIGRANT Exchange Visitor Program. The reports provide qualitative data on the number of exchange participants an organization sponsored annually per category of exchange. The reports also provide a summary of the activities in which exchange visitors were engaged and indicate information about program effectiveness. Program sponsors include government agencies, academic institutions, and private sector not-for-profit and for-profit entities. Annual reports are completed through the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and then printed and signed by a sponsor official, and sent to the Department by mail or fax.

Dated: January 7, 2015. Robin Lerner, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Private Sector Exchange, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State.

[FR Doc. 2015–00621 Filed 1–15–15; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 4710–05–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF STATE**

**[Public Notice 9001]**

**Culturally Significant Objects Imported for Exhibition Determinations: ‘‘On**  **Kawara: Silence’’ Exhibition**

**SUMMARY :**  Notice is hereby given of the following determinations: Pursuant to the authority vested in me by the Act of October 19, 1965 (79 Stat. 985; 22 U.S.C. 2459), Executive Order 12047 of March 27, 1978, the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998 (112 Stat.
2681, et seq.; 22 U.S.C. 6501 note, et

seq. ), Delegation of Authority No. 234 of October 1, 1999, Delegation of Authority No. 236–3 of August 28, 2000 (and, as appropriate, Delegation of Authority No. 257 of April 15, 2003), I hereby determine that the objects to be included in the exhibition ‘‘On Kawara: Silence,’’ imported from abroad for temporary exhibition within the United States, are of cultural significance. The objects are imported pursuant to loan agreements with the foreign owners or custodians. I also determine that the exhibition or display of the exhibit objects at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, New York, from on or about February 6, 2015, until on or about May 3, 2015, and at possible additional exhibitions or venues yet to be determined, is in the national interest. I have ordered that Public Notice of these Determinations be published in the Federal Register

. **FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  For further information, including lists of the exhibit objects, contact Julie Simpson, Attorney-Adviser, Office of the Legal Adviser, U.S. Department of State (telephone: 202–632–6467). The mailing address is U.S. Department of State, SA–5, L/PD, Fifth Floor (Suite 5H03), Washington, DC 20522–0505.

Dated: January 9, 2015. Kelly Keiderling, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of State.

[FR Doc. 2015–00620 Filed 1–15–15; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 4710–05–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION**

**Intelligent Transportation Systems Program Advisory Committee; Notice**  **of Meeting**

**AGENCY :**  ITS Joint Program Office, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology, U.S. Department of Transportation.

**ACTION :**  Notice.

The Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Program Advisory Committee (ITSPAC) will hold a meeting on February 4, 2015, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (EST) and on February 5, 2015, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (EST) in the Potomac Ballroom Salon F of the Crystal City Marriott at Reagan National Airport, 1999 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA.

The ITSPAC, established under Section 5305 of Public Law 109–59, Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy forUsers, August 10, 2005, and reestablished under Section 53003 of Public Law 112–141, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century, July 6, 2012, was created to advise the Secretary of Transportation on all matters relating to the study, development, and implementation of intelligent transportation systems. Through its sponsor, the ITS Joint Program Office (JPO), the ITSPAC makes recommendations to the Secretary


### 2468 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 11 / Friday, January 16, 2015 / Notices

1 With respect to slot transactions, this Notice relates to the DOT’s practice for reviewing slot transactions that result from proposed airline mergers or acquisitions. It does not apply to DOT’s review of standalone slot transactions. For more information regarding DOT’s authority and proposed procedures for reviewing standalone slot transactions at the New York City area airports, please see the notice of proposed rulemaking titled, Slot Management and Transparency for LaGuardia Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, and Newark Liberty International Airport, RIN 2120– AJ89, available in the docket for the rulemaking at www.regulations.gov.

2 See 49 U.S.C. 41712, authorizing DOT to investigate and prohibit any unfair or deceptive practice or an unfair method of competition of an air carrier, foreign air carrier, or ticket agent.

3 Section 7 of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. 18, prohibits mergers and stock acquisitions whose effect ‘‘may be substantially to lessen competition, or to tend to create a monopoly’’ in a relevant market.

4 See 15 U.S.C. 21, authorizing the Secretary to enforce section 7 of the Clayton Act, and 15 U.S.C. 18, prohibiting U.S. and foreign air carrier acquisitions that may substantially lessen competition or tend to create a monopoly.

5 See 49 U.S.C. 40103(b), authorizing the FAA to ‘‘develop plans and policy for the use of the navigable airspace and assign by regulation or order the use of the airspace necessary to ensure . . . the efficient use of airspace [and] to modify or revoke an assignment when required in the public
interest.’’

6 See 49 U.S.C. 40101(a), which directs the Secretary to consider identified matters, ‘‘among others,’’ as being in the public interest. See also 49 U.S.C. 40101(d), which directs the Administrator to consider identified matters (including enhancing safety) ‘‘among others,’’ as being in the public
interest. regarding ITS Program needs, objectives, plans, approaches, content, and

progress.

The following is a summary of the tentative meeting agenda. February 4: (1) Welcome and Opening Remarks, (2) Future + 10 Year—U.S. DOT Secretary’s 30-year Briefing, (3) Data Policy, (4) Multimodal Transportation, (5) Institutional Issues, and (6) Subcommittee Organization. February 5: (1) Connected Vehicle Update, (2) Subcommittee Meetings, (3) Subcommittee Updates to Committee, and (4) Discussion of Action Items and Next Meeting.

The meeting will be open to the public, but limited space will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Members of the public who wish to participate in the meeting must submit a request to: Mr. Stephen Glasscock, the Committee Designated Federal Official, at (202) 366–9126, not later than January 28, 2015. In addition, for planning purposes, your request must also indicate whether you wish to present oral statements during the meeting.

Questions about the agenda or written comments may be submitted by U.S. Mail to: U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology, ITS Joint Program Office, Attention: Stephen Glasscock, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., HOIT, Washington, DC 20590 or faxed to (202) 493–2027. The ITS JPO requests that written comments be submitted not later than January 28,

2015.

Notice of this meeting is provided in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act and the General Services Administration regulations (41 CFR part 102–3) covering management of Federal advisory committees.

Issued in Washington, DC, on the 13th day of January 2015. Stephen Glasscock, Designated Federal Official, ITS Joint Program Office.

[FR Doc. 2015–00589 Filed 1–15–15; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 4910–22–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION**

**U.S. Department of Transportation Notice of Practice Regarding Proposed**  **Airline Mergers and Acquisitions**

**AGENCY :**  Office of the General Counsel, U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

**ACTION :**  Notice of DOT authorities and practice. **SUMMARY :**  This notice explains the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) authorities and practice in the areas of proposed airline mergers and acquisitions.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  I. Background

This Notice describes the U.S. Department of Transportation’s practice and authorities with regard to airline mergers and acquisitions, including those that involve a transfer of slots. The Notice is not proposing any changes, new procedures, or new approaches.
II. Legal Authority To Review Slot Transactions Resulting From Proposed Airline Mergers and Acquisitions

The DOT has authority over slot transactions that stem from proposed airline mergers and acquisitions. 1 The authority arises from several statutory provisions, as outlined below.

Under 49 U.S.C. 41712, DOT is authorized to prohibit airline conduct comparable to antitrust violations. Specifically, DOT may prohibit conduct that it determines is an ‘‘unfair method of competition.’’ 2 In addition, like several other agencies with respect to their regulated entities, DOT has independent authority under the Clayton Act. 3 This independent authority derives from 15 U.S.C. 21, under which DOT may prohibit airline acquisitions and mergers that may reduce competition or tend to create a monopoly in the airline industry. 4

The DOT/Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also has authority to administer airline slots under 49
U.S.C. 40103. 5 This authority permits the FAA to assign the use of airspace to ensure its efficient use and modify or revoke a slot assignment when required in the public interest. Section 40101, Title 49, directs DOT and the FAA, in carrying out aviation programs, to consider certain enumerated factors, plus additional factors that may be considered in the Secretary or FAA Administrator’s discretion, as being in the public interest, 6 including furthering airline competition.
III. The DOT Review of Airline Merger or Acquisition Transactions

With respect to DOT’s competition and public interest review authorities, DOT’s practice has been to use its expertise with respect to the airline industry to provide the Department’s views and otherwise assist the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in DOJ’s analysis of airline mergers or acquisitions. The DOT will continue this practice for airline mergers and acquisitions under DOJ review. DOT will consult with DOJ, inform DOJ as early as possible regarding any concerns, and defer to DOJ judgment where DOJ determines that a merger or acquisition violates the antitrust laws and should be enjoined. The DOT will not duplicate review or enforcement activities carried out by DOJ and will not create undue expense or burdens upon parties to an airline merger or acquisition.

In the event that DOT has concerns that fall outside the DOJ competition review process, DOT, in the discretion of the Secretary, may seek independent resolution of these concerns, as has been its practice. In doing so, DOT will work with the relevant parties, including DOJ, as it did in the recent merger between US Airways and American Airlines, to determine whether public interest remedies are appropriate, and if so, to pursue such remedies. In that case, DOT applied the Section 40101 public interest policy considerations to maintain and enhance service to small communities with respect to the merger between US Airways and American Airlines. The DOT entered into an agreement under which the carriers committed to use certain slots at Reagan Washington National Airport to