[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 104 (Friday, May 30, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 29313]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-14158]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary

14 CFR Part 243

RIN 2105-AC62
[Docket No. OST-97-2198, Notice No. 97-6]


Domestic Passenger Manifest Information

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary (OST), DOT.

ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM); Reopening of 
comment period.

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SUMMARY: At the request of the Air Transport Association, the 
Department is reopening the comment period for the domestic passenger 
manifest rulemaking to allow airlines to conduct passenger surveys on 
some of the issues raised in the advance notice of rulemaking. The 
comment period, which closed on May 12, 1997, is reopened and now 
closes on June 20, 1997.

DATES: Comments must be received by June 20, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the advance notice of proposed rulemaking should 
be filed with: Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of Transportation, Room 
PL-401, Docket No. OST-97-2198, 400 7th Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20590. Five copies are requested, but not required.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dennis Marvich, Office of 
International Transportation and Trade, DOT, (202) 366-4398; or, for 
legal questions, Joanne Petrie, Office of the General Counsel, DOT, 
(202) 366-9306.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 13, 1997, the Department issued an 
advance notice of proposed rulemaking (62 FR 11789) concerning 
passenger manifest information on domestic air flights. The ANPRM 
requested information concerning operational and cost issues related to 
U.S. air carriers collecting basic information (e.g., full name, date 
of birth and/or social security number, emergency contact and telephone 
number) from passengers traveling on flights within the United States. 
The ANPRM provided 60 days for comments, and the comment period closed 
on May 12, 1997.
    On May 9, 1997, the Air Transport Association (ATA) requested an 
extension of the comment period to June 20, 1997, in order to allow the 
airlines to provide more responsive information to the issues and 
questions posed in the ANPRM. In particular, a number of ATA's members 
developed a passenger survey to help determine the likely impact 
resulting from the collection of passenger manifest information. ATA 
stated that some of the carriers that intend to participate in the 
survey have not been able to conduct it because they have diverted 
their in-house personnel who would be involved in the survey to the 
ongoing Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) domestic passenger 
baggage match test. According to ATA, when that test is completed on 
May 19, 1997, the affected air carriers will reassign personnel to 
performing the survey and evaluating its results. ATA noted that, 
``[i]n view of the importance of the issues raised in the ANPRM and the 
current demands being placed on carrier resources because of the FAA 
bag match test, we ask that the comment period in this docket be 
extended until June 20. This will enable carriers to perform the 
survey, and ATA and its members to analyze the results, and better 
answer in joint comments the questions that the ANPRM poses.''
    We agree that the ANPRM raises important issues and we are anxious 
to examine real-world data concerning the impacts of such potential 
requirements. The survey information should provide helpful information 
both for the Department in its deliberations in this rulemaking, and 
for the Task Force on Assistance to Families in Aviation Disasters. We 
are, therefore, reopening the comment period for the time requested. 
Comments are now due June 20, 1997.

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 40101, 40113, 40114, 41708, 41709, 41711 , 
41702, 46301, 46310, 46316.

    Issued in Washington, DC on 21, May 1997.
Rodney E. Slater,
Secretary of Transportation.
[FR Doc. 97-14158 Filed 5-29-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-62-P