[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 225 (Tuesday, November 23, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 65759]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-30498]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary


Reports, Forms and Recordkeeping Requirements; Agency Information 
Collection Activity Under OMB Review

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 3501, et seq.) this notice announces that the 
Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below has been 
forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and 
comment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and 
its expected burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment 
period soliciting comments on the following collection of information 
was published on September 1, 1999 (64 FR 47775).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before December 
23, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Torlanda Archer, Office of the 
Secretary, Office of Aviation Analysis, Department of Transportation, 
400 7th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. Phone Number: (202) 366-
2396. Copies of these collections can also be obtained.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Office of the Secretary

    Title: Public Charters--14 CFR part 380.
    OMB Control Number: 2106-0005.
    Affected Public: Public Charter Operators.
    Type of Request: Reinstatement, with changes of a previously 
approved collection for which approval has expired.
    Form(s): OMB 2106-0005.
    Abstract: In 14 CFR 380 (adopted 1979) of its Special Regulations 
the Department established the terms and conditions governing the 
furnishing of public charters in air transportation by direct air 
carriers and public charter operators. Public charter operators arrange 
transportation for groups of persons on aircraft chartered from direct 
air carriers. This arrangement is less expensive for the travelers than 
individually buying a ticket. Further, the charter operator books hotel 
rooms, tours, etc., at destination for the convenience of the traveler. 
Part 380 exempts charter operators from certain provisions of the U.S. 
Code in order that they may provide this service.
    A primary goal of Part 380 is to seek protection for the consumer. 
Accordingly, the rule stipulates that the charter operator must file 
evidence (a prospectus) with the Department for each charter program 
certifying that it has entered into a binding contract with a direct 
carrier to provide air transportation and that it has also entered into 
agreements with Department-approved financial institutions for the 
protection of the charter participants' funds. The prospectus must be 
approved by the Department prior to the operator's advertising, selling 
or operating the charter. The forms (OST Forms 4532, 4533, 4534 and 
4535) that comprise the operator's filing are the information 
collection at issue here.
    In September 1992, the Department issued a notice of proposed 
rulemaking (NPRM) (57 FR 42864), 9-16-92 to propose, among other 
revisions, that charter operators need no longer file prospectuses. The 
NPRM was in response to comments that prospectus filings were 
burdensome and unnecessary. However, the majority of respondents to the 
NPRM have urged the Department to retain the existing prospectus 
filing.
    On May 22, 1998 the Department of Transportation published a Final 
Rule amending its charter air transportation regulations to update the 
rules, make changes reflecting current operating procedures and 
including certain specific modifications.
    With these exceptions, the Department decided not to adopt many of 
the rule changes proposed in the NPRM. The Final Rule includes a full 
discussion of comments offered to the NPRM and the reasons for adopting 
or not adopting proposed changes in the rule. No comments have been 
received on the Final Aviation Charter Rules.
    Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 1,343 hours.
    Send comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget, 725-17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 
20503, Attention OST Desk Officer. Comments are invited on: whether the 
proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper 
performance of the functions of the Department, including whether the 
information will have practical utility; the accuracy of the 
Department's estimate of the burden of the proposed information 
collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology. 
Comments to OMB are best assured of having their effect if OMB receives 
them within 30 days of publication.


    Issued in Washington, DC, on November 15, 1999.
Michael Robinson,
Information Resource Management, U.S. Department of Transportation.
[FR Doc. 99-30498 Filed 11-22-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-62-P