[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 201 (Wednesday, October 16, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 53990]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-26513]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Office of the Secretary
Reports, Forms and Recordkeeping Requirements
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice lists those forms, reports, and recordkeeping
requirements imposed upon the public which were transmitted by the
Department of Transportation to the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) for its approval in accordance with the requirements of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 USC Chapter 35). The Federal
Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the
following collection of information was published on August 8, 1996 [FR
61, page 41440].
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before November
15, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Written comments on the DOT information collection requests
should be forwarded, as quickly as possible, to Edward Clarke, Office
of Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, Room 10202,
Washington, D.C. 20503. If you anticipate submitting substantive
comments, but find that more than 10 days from the date of publication
are needed to prepare them, please notify the OMB official of your
intent immediately.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Copies of the DOT information
collection requests submitted to OMB may be obtained from Mr. Scott
Keller or Mr. Charles McGuire, Office of the Secretary, Office of
Aviation Analysis, X-57, Department of Transportation, at the address
above. Telephone: (202) 366-1031/4534.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 3507 of Title 44 of the United
States Code, as adopted by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
requires that agencies prepare a notice for publication in the Federal
Register, listing those information collection requests submitted to
OMB for approval or renewal under that Act. OMB reviews and approves
agency submissions in accordance with criteria set forth in that Act.
In carrying out its responsibilities, OMB also considers public
comments on the proposed forms and the reporting and recordkeeping
requirements. OMB approval of an information collection requirement
must be renewed at least once every three years.
Title: Public Charters.
OMB Control Number: 2106-0005.
Type of Request: Reinstatement, without change, of a previously
approved information collection for which approval has expired.
Affected Public: Public charter operators.
Abstract: In 14 CFR 380 (adopted 1979) of its Special Regulations
the Department established the terms and conditions governing the
furnishing of public charters in air transportation by direct air
carriers and public charter operators. Public charter operators arrange
transportation for groups of persons on aircraft chartered from direct
air carriers. This arrangement is less expensive for the travelers than
individually buying a ticket. Further, the charter operator books hotel
rooms, tours, etc., at destination for the convenience of the traveler.
Part 380 exempts charter operators from certain provisions of the
U.S. Code in order that they may provide this service. A primary goal
of Part 380 is to seek protection for the consumer. Accordingly, the
rule stipulates that the charter operator must file evidence (a
prospectus) with the Department for each charter program certifying
that it has entered into a binding contract with a direct carrier to
provide air transportation and that it has also entered into agreements
with Department-approved financial institutions for the protection of
the charter participants' funds. The prospectus must be approved by the
Department prior to the operator's advertising, selling or operating
the charter. The forms (OST Forms 4532, 4533, 4534 and 4535) that
comprise the operator's filing is the information collection at issue
here.
In September 1992, the Department issued a notice of proposed
rulemaking (NPRM) [57 FR 42864, 9-16-92] to propose, among other
revisions, that charter operators need no longer file prospectuses. The
NPRM was in response to comments that prospectus filings were
burdensome and unnecessary. However, the majority of respondents to the
NPRM have urged the Department to retain the existing prospectus filing
requirements. They desire the more complete consumer protection
provided by the current rule. Without a complete prospectus it would be
extremely difficult to assure that financial security and other
consumer protection requirements are in place for each public charter
operation.
The collection involved here requests general information about the
charter operator and direct air carrier that will provide a public
charter and requires each to certify that it has contracted with the
other to provide the transportation. The routing, charter price and
tour itinerary of the proposed charter are also identified. The
collection also requires the charter operator, direct air carrier and
financial institution(s) involved to certify that proper financial
instruments are in place or other arrangements have been made to
protect the charter participants' funds and that all parties will abide
by the Department's public charter regulations.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 31,343 hours.
Issued in Washington, DC on October 9, 1996.
Phillip A. Leach,
Information Collection Officer, United States Department of
Transportation.
[FR Doc. 96-26513 Filed 10-15-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-62-P
