
[Federal Register: November 28, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 230)]
[Notices]               
[Page 72557]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28no08-138]                         


[[Page 72557]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary

 
Agency Information Collection; Activity Under OMB Review; (14 CFR 
Part 221--Exemption From Passenger Tariff-Filing Requirements in 
Certain Instances and Mandatory Electronic Filing of Residual Passenger 
Tariffs)

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary (OST), DOT.
    Docket: OST-2008-0259, Pricing and Multilateral Affairs Division.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments; Extension of a currently 
approved information collection.

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    Correction: The 30-day Federal Register Notice is amended to change 
the number of responses from 229,200 to 46,000, and change the total 
annual burden from 45,840 to 230,000. In the original 30-day notice, 
the figures for number of responses and burden hours were transposed. 
In addition to correcting the transposition, we are rounding the 
figures.
SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public 
Law 104-13, (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) this notice announces that the 
Information Collection Request, abstracted below, is being forwarded to 
the Office of Management and Budget for (notice and request for 
comments) of currently approved (Exemption from Passenger Tariff-Filing 
Requirements in Certain Instances, and Mandatory Electronic Filing of 
Residual Passenger Tariffs). Earlier, a Federal Register Notice with a 
60-day comment period was published (September 9, 2008) (Volume 73, 
Number 175) (Page 52445-52447). One comment was received from Airline 
Tariff Company (ATPCO) that states that it files fares and rules data 
electronically with the Department of Transportation (DOT) through a 
single industry centralized tool, the ATPCO Government Filing System 
(GFS). If a decision is made to continue the current tariff-filing 
process, ATPCO believes that a single industry centralized tool is the 
best solution, and it will partner with DOT to explore additional 
efficiencies.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted by December 29, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bernice Gray, 202-366-2418 or John 
Kiser, (202-366-2435), Pricing and Multilateral Affairs Division, 
Office of the Secretary, Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue, SE., Room W86-319 or W86-433, Washington, DC 20590. Office 
hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.
    Comments: Comments should be sent to OMB: Attention DOT/OST Desk 
Officer, Officer of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of 
Management and Budget, Docket Library, Room 10102, 725 17th Street, 
NW., Washington, DC 20503 or oira_submission@omb.eop.gov (e-mail).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    OMB Control No.: 2106-0009.
    Title: Exemption from Passenger Tariff-filing Requirements in 
Certain Instances and Mandatory Electronic Filing of Residual Passenger 
Tariffs.
    Respondents: The vast majority of the air carriers filing 
international tariffs are large operators with revenues in excess of 
several million dollars each year. Small air carriers operating 
aircraft with 60 seats or less and 18,000 pounds payload or less that 
offer on-demand air-taxi service are not required to file such tariffs.
    Number of Respondents: 148.
    Number of Responses: 46,000.
    Total Annual Burden: 230,000.
    Abstract: Chapter 415 of Title 49 of the United States Code 
requires that every air carrier and foreign air carrier file with the 
Department of Transportation (DOT), publish and keep open (i.e., post) 
for public inspection tariffs showing all ``foreign'' or 
``international'' fares, and related charges for air transportation 
between points served by it, and any other air carrier or foreign air 
carrier when through services, fares and related charges have been 
established; and showing, to the extent required by DOT regulations, 
all classifications, rules, regulations, practices, and services in 
connection with such air transportation. Once tariffs are filed and 
approved by DOT, they become a legally binding contract of carriage 
between carriers and users of foreign air transportation.
    Part 221 of the Department's Economic Regulations (14 CFR part 221) 
set forth specific technical and substantive requirements governing the 
filing of tariff material with the DOT Office of International 
Aviation's Pricing and Multilateral Affairs Division. A carrier 
initiates an electronic tariff filing whenever it wants to amend an 
existing tariff for commercial and competitive reasons or when it 
desires to file a new one. Electronic tariffs filed pursuant to part 
221 are used by carriers, computer reservation systems, travel agents, 
DOT, other government agencies and the general public to determine the 
prices, rules and related charges for international passenger air 
transportation. In addition, DOT needs U.S. and foreign air carrier 
passenger tariff information to monitor international air commerce, 
carry out carrier route selections and conduct international 
negotiations.
    Part 293 exempts carriers from their statutory and regulatory duty 
to file international tariffs in many specific markets.
    Comments are invited on: (a) 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; (b) the accuracy of the Department's estimate of the burden of 
the proposed information collection; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information collection; and d) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, by 
the use of electronic means, including the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of 
public record.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on November 20, 2008.
Patricia Lawton,
DOT PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E8-28277 Filed 11-26-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-62-P
