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

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 for 

Users, 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 


asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
2468 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 11 / Friday, January 16, 2015 / Notices 

1With 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. 

2See 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. 

3Section 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. 

4See 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. 

5See 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.’’ 

6See 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 


asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES