[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 242 (Friday, December 17, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 75602]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-27590]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Bureau of Transportation Statistics


Agency Information Collection; 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 a true and complete 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 
the audit reports are needed by BTS and DOT; BTS accurately estimated 
the reporting burden; there are other ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information collected; and 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 February 15, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be directed to: Office of Airline 
Information, K-14, Room 4125, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 400 
Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001, fax no. 366-3383 or e-
mail [email protected].
    Comments: Comments should identify the OMB  2138-0004. 
Persons wishing the Department to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
must submit with those comments a self-addressed stamped postcard on 
which the following statement is made: Comments on OMB  2138-
0004. The postcard will be date/time stamped and returned.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bernie Stankus Office of Airline 
Information, K-14, Room 4125, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 400 
Seventh Street, SW., 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: 84.
    Number of Responses: 84.
    Total Annual Burden: 21 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 analyst 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.

Donald W. Bright,
Assistant Director, Airline Information, Bureau of Transportation 
Statistics.
[FR Doc. 04-27590 Filed 12-16-04; 8:45 am]
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