[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 195 (Tuesday, October 7, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58708-58709]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-23731]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Innovative Technology Administration

[Docket: RITA 2008-0002 BTS Paperwork Reduction Notice]


Agency Information Collection; Bureau of Transportation 
Statistics; Activity Under OMB Review; Submission of Audit Reports--
Part 248

AGENCY: Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public 
Law 104-13, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics invites the general 
public, industry and other governmental parties to comment on the 
continuing need for and usefulness of BTS requiring U.S. large 
certificated air carriers to submit two true and complete copies of its 
annual audit that is made by an independent public accountant. If a 
carrier does not have an annual audit, the carrier must file a 
statement that no audit has been performed. Comments are requested 
concerning whether (1) The audit reports are needed by BTS and DOT; (2) 
BTS accurately estimated the reporting burden; (3) there are other ways 
to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information 
collected; and (4) there are ways to minimize reporting burden, 
including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted by December 8, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT Docket ID Number 
RITA 2008-0002 by any of the following methods:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.

[[Page 58709]]

    Mail: Docket Management Facility: U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building Ground 
Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    Fax: 202-493-2251.
    Instructions: Identify docket number, BTS 2008-0002, at the 
beginning of your comments, and send two copies. To receive 
confirmation that DOT received your comments, include a self-addressed 
stamped postcard. Internet users may access all comments received by 
DOT at http://www.regulations.gov. All comments are posted 
electronically without charge or edits, including any personal 
information provided.
    Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all 
comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf 
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's 
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on 
April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78) or you may visit http://DocketInfo.dot.gov.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov or the street 
address listed above. Follow the online instructions for accessing the 
dockets.

Electronic Access

    An electronic copy of this rule, a copy of the notice of proposed 
rulemaking, and copies of the comments may be downloaded at http://www.regulations.gov, by searching docket RITA 2008-0002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bernie Stankus, Office of Airline 
Information, RTS-42, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue Street, SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001, (202) 366-4387.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    OMB Approval No. 2138-0004.
    Title: Submission of Audit Reports--Part 248.
    Form No.: None.
    Type Of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Large certificated air carriers.
    Number of Respondents: 77.
    Number of Responses: 77.
    Total Annual Burden: 20 hours.
    Needs and Uses: BTS collects independent audited financial reports 
from U.S. certificated air carriers. Carriers not having an annual 
audit must file a statement that no such audit has been performed. In 
lieu of the audit report, BTS will accept the annual report submitted 
to the stockholders. The audited reports are needed by the Department 
of Transportation as (1) A means to monitor an air carrier's continuing 
fitness to operate, (2) reference material used by analysts in 
examining foreign route cases, (3) reference material used by analysts 
in examining proposed mergers, acquisitions and consolidations, (4) a 
means whereby BTS sends a copy of the report to the International Civil 
Aviation Organization (ICAO) in fulfillment of a United States treaty 
obligation, and (5) corroboration of a carrier's Form 41 filings.
    The Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency 
Act of 2002 (44 U.S.C. 3501 note), requires a statistical agency to 
clearly identify information it collects for non-statistical purposes. 
BTS hereby notifies the respondents and the public that BTS uses the 
information it collects under this OMB approval for non-statistical 
purposes including, but not limited to, publication of both 
Respondent's identity and its data, submission of the information to 
agencies outside BTS for review, analysis and possible use in 
regulatory and other administrative matters.

    Issued in Washington, DC on October 1, 2008.
M. Clay Moritz, Jr.,
Acting Assistant Director, Airline Information, Bureau of 
Transportation Statistics.
[FR Doc. E8-23731 Filed 10-6-08; 8:45 am]
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