[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 48 (Monday, March 15, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14360-14361]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-05013]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Bureau of Transportation Statistics

[DOT-OST-2014-0031 BTS Paperwork Reduction Notice]


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

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology 
(OST-R), Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), Department of 
Transportation.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 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 copy 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 (1) the audit 
reports are needed by BTS and DOT; (2) BTS accurately estimated the 
reporting burden; (3) there are other ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information collected; and (4) there are 
ways to minimize reporting burden, including the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

[[Page 14361]]


DATES: Written comments should be submitted by May 14, 2021.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT Docket ID Number 
DOT-OST-2014-0031 and the associated OMB approval #2138-0004 by any of 
the following methods:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
    Mail: Docket Services: U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, 
DC 20590-0001.
    Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    Fax: 202-366-3383.
    Instructions: Identify docket number, DOT-OST-2014-0031, at the 
beginning of your comments, and send two copies. To receive 
confirmation that DOT received your comments, include a self-addressed 
stamped postcard. Internet users may access all comments received by 
DOT at http://www.regulations.gov. All comments are posted 
electronically without charge or edits, including any personal 
information provided.
    Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all 
comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf 
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's 
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on 
April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78).
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov or the street 
address listed above. Follow the online instructions for accessing the 
dockets.

Electronic Access

    You may access comments received for this notice at http://www.regulations.gov, by searching docket DOT-OST-2014-0031.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Gorham, (202) 366-4406, 
[email protected], Office of Airline Information, RTS-42, Room E34, 
Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 
Washington, DC 20590-0001.

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: 60.
    Number of Responses: 60.
    Total Annual Burden: 20 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.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on March 1, 2021.
William Chadwick, Jr.,
Director, Office of Airline Information, Bureau of Transportation 
Statistics.
[FR Doc. 2021-05013 Filed 3-12-21; 8:45 am]
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