[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 154 (Thursday, August 11, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 46919]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-15914]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Innovative Technology Administration


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

AGENCY: Research & Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), Bureau 
of Transportation Statistics (BTS), DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information 
Collection Request (ICR) described below is being forwarded to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for extension of currently 
approved collections. 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 December 17, 2004 (69 FR 75602).

DATES: Written comments should be submitted by September 12, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bernie Stankus, Office of Airline 
Information, RTS-42, Room 4125, RITA, BTS, 400 Seventh Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20590-0001, Telephone Number (202) 366-4387, Fax Number 
(202) 366-3383 or e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS)

    Title: Submission of Audit Reports--Part 248.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved reporting 
requirement.
    OMB Control Number: 2138-0004.
    Affected Public: Certificated air carriers.
    Number of Respondents: 85.
    Number of Responses: 85.
    Total Annual Burden: 21 hours.
    Abstract: 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.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725-17th Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20503, Attention: BTS Desk Officer.
    Comments are invited on: whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the Department of Transportation. Comments should address 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 of information on respondents, including the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 5, 2005.
Donald W. Bright,
Assistant Director, Office of Airline Information.
[FR Doc. 05-15914 Filed 8-10-05; 8:45 am]
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