02-4414. Procedures for Compensation of Air Carriers

AGENCY:

Office of the Secretary, DOT.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35, as amended), this notice announces the Department of Transportation's (DOT) intention to request the extension of a previously approved collection.

DATES:

Comments on this notice must be received April 26, 2002.

ADDRESSES:

Comments should be directed to the Competition and Policy Analysis Division (X-55), Office of Aviation Analysis, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jack Schmidt, Competition and Policy Analysis Division (X-55), Office of Aviation Analysis, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Procedures For Compensation of Air Carriers.

OMB Control Number: 2105-0546.

Type of Request: Authority for the currently approved data collection expires on February 28, 2002. By this notice, the Department is requesting an extension until February 28, 2003.

Abstract: As a consequence of the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, the U.S. commercial aviation industry suffered severe financial losses. These losses placed the financial survival of many air carriers at risk. Acting rapidly to preserve the continued viability of the U.S. air transportation system, President Bush sought and Congress enacted the Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act (“the Act”), Pub. L. 107-42.

Under section 101(a)(2)(A-B) of the Act, a total of $5 billion in compensation is provided for “direct losses incurred beginning on September 11, 2001, by air carriers as a result of any Federal ground stop order issued by the Secretary of Transportation or any subsequent order which continue or renews such stoppage; and the incremental losses incurred beginning September 11, 2001 and ending December 31, 2001, by air carriers as a direct result of such attacks.” The Department of Transportation previously disbursed initial estimated payments of nearly $2.5 billion of the $5 billion amount that Congress authorized, using procedures set forth in the Department's Program Guidance Letters that were widely distributed and posted on the Department' Web site.

On October 29, 2001 (66 FR 54616), the Department published in the Federal Register a final rule and request for comments to establish procedures for air carriers who had received or wished to receive compensation under the Act. The rule covered such subjects as eligibility, deadlines for application, information and forms required of applicants, and audit requirements. The Department has received submissions from many carriers pursuant to this rule and is continuing to process requests for compensation.

Respondents: U.S. air carriers.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 430.

Estimated Total Burden on Respondents: 5,320 hours.

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 to be collected, and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information of respondents, 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 February 14, 2002.

Randall D. Bennett,

Director, Office of Aviation Analysis.