[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 194 (Tuesday, October 6, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63160-63161]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-22003]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0379]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; 
Clearance of a New Approval of Information Collection: Operational 
Waivers for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA 
invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) approval for a new information collection. 
The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting 
comments on the following collection of information was published on 
April 10, 2010. The FAA proposes collecting information about requests 
for waivers from certain operational rules that apply to small unmanned 
aircraft systems (sUAS). The FAA will use the collected information to 
make determinations whether to authorize or deny the requested 
operations of sUAS. The proposed information collection is necessary to 
issue such authorizations or denials consistent with the FAA's mandate 
to ensure safe and efficient use of national airspace.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted by November 5, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular 
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeremy Grogan by email at: 
[email protected]; phone: (405) 666-1187.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspect of 
this information collection, including (a) Whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for FAA's performance; (b) the 
accuracy of the estimated burden; (c) ways for FAA to enhance the 
quality, utility and clarity of the information collection; and (d) 
ways that the burden could be minimized without reducing the quality of 
the collected information.
    OMB Control Number: 2120-XXXX.
    Title: Operational Waivers for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems.
    Form Numbers: N/A (online portal).
    Type of Review: New.
    Background: The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment 
period soliciting comments on the following collection of information 
was published on April 10, 2020 (85 FR 20333). The FAA has seen 
increased operations of small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) flying 
under 14 CFR part 107. Under 14 CFR 107.205, operators of small UAS may 
seek waivers from certain operational rules. The FAA is updating and 
modernizing the process for applying for such waivers using the 
DroneZone website. These improvements will facilitate the process of 
collecting and submitting the information required as part of a waiver 
application. The reporting burdens for operational waiver applications 
are currently covered by Information Collection Request (ICR) 2120-
0768. As part of this effort, the FAA is creating a new ICR just for 
operational waiver applications. In order to process operational waiver 
requests, the FAA requires the operator's name, the operator's contact 
information, and information related to the date, place, and time of 
the requested small UAS operation. Additional information is required 
related to the proposed waiver and any necessary mitigations. The FAA 
will use the requested information to determine if the proposed UAS 
operation can be conducted safely. This information is necessary for 
the FAA to meet its statutory mandate of maintaining a safe and 
efficient national airspace. See 49 U.S.C. 40103, 44701 and 44708.
    Respondents: sUAS Operators: 8,034 per year.
    Frequency: On occasion. For requests for operational waivers, a 
respondent

[[Page 63161]]

will need to provide the information once at the time of the request 
for the waiver. If granted, operational waivers may be valid for up to 
four (4) years.
    Estimated Average Burden per Response: 30 minutes. The FAA 
estimates 1.3 responses per respondent.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 0.65 hours per respondent, for a 
total of 5,222 hours.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on September 30, 2020.
Dwayne C. Morris,
Project Manager, Flight Standards Service, General Aviation and 
Commercial Division.
[FR Doc. 2020-22003 Filed 10-5-20; 8:45 am]
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