[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 80 (Tuesday, April 26, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24686-24687]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-09690]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Membership in the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group
Aviation Rulemaking Committee
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: By Federal Register notice (See 81 FR 290, January 5, 2016)
the National Park Service (NPS) and the Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) invited interested persons to apply to fill two upcoming openings
on the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group (NPOAG) Aviation
Rulemaking Committee (ARC). The notice invited interested persons to
apply to fill future openings to represent air tour operator concerns
and environmental interests. This notice informs the public of the
person selected to fill the air tour operator future vacancy. No
selection has been made for the vacancy representing environmental
interests so this notice also invites persons interested in serving on
the ARC to apply for the upcoming opening for this seat.
DATES: Persons interested in applying for the one upcoming NPOAG
opening representing environmental interests need to apply by June 10,
2016.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith Lusk, Special Programs Staff,
Federal Aviation Administration, Western-Pacific Region Headquarters,
P.O. Box 92007, Los Angeles, CA 90009-2007, telephone: (310) 725-3808,
email: [email protected].,
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
[[Page 24687]]
Background
The National Parks Air Tour Management Act of 2000 (the Act) was
enacted on April 5, 2000, as Public Law 106-181, and subsequently
amended in the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012. The Act
required the establishment of the advisory group within one year after
its enactment. The NPOAG was established in March 2001. The advisory
group is comprised of a balanced group of representatives of general
aviation, commercial air tour operations, environmental concerns, and
Native American tribes. The Administrator of the FAA and the Director
of NPS (or their designees) serve as ex officio members of the group.
Representatives of the Administrator and Director serve alternating 1-
year terms as chairman of the advisory group.
In accordance with the Act, the advisory group provides ``advice,
information, and recommendations to the Administrator and the
Director--
(1) On the implementation of this title [the Act] and the
amendments made by this title;
(2) On commonly accepted quiet aircraft technology for use in
commercial air tour operations over a national park or tribal lands,
which will receive preferential treatment in a given air tour
management plan;
(3) On other measures that might be taken to accommodate the
interests of visitors to national parks; and
(4) At the request of the Administrator and the Director, safety,
environmental, and other issues related to commercial air tour
operations over a national park or tribal lands.''
Membership
The current NPOAG ARC is made up of one member representing general
aviation, three members representing the commercial air tour industry,
four members representing environmental concerns, and two members
representing Native American tribes. Current members of the NPOAG ARC
are as follows:
Melissa Rudinger representing general aviation; Alan Stephen, Matt
Zuccaro, and Mark Francis representing commercial air tour operators;
Mark Belles, Nicholas Miller, Michael Sutton, and Dick Hingson
representing environmental concerns; and Leigh Kuwanwisiwma and Martin
Begaye representing Native American tribes. The 3-year membership terms
of Mr. Francis, and Mr. Sutton expire on May 19, 2016.
Selection
The person selected to fill the upcoming open seat representing air
tour operator concerns is Mark Francis. Mr. Francis is a current member
and will serve another term. His 3-year term will begin on May 20,
2016. No persons expressed interest in filling the other upcoming
opening to represent environmental concerns. Therefor the FAA and NPS,
through this notice, are soliciting interest for the environmental
opening.
The FAA and NPS invite persons interested in serving on the ARC to
contact Mr. Keith Lusk (contact information is written above in FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). Requests to serve on the ARC must be made
to Mr. Lusk in writing and postmarked or emailed on or before June 10,
2016. The request should indicate whether or not you are a member of an
association or group related to environmental concerns or have another
affiliation with issues relating to aircraft flights over national
parks. The request should also state what expertise you would bring to
the NPOAG ARC as related to issues and concerns with aircraft flights
over national parks. The term of service for NPOAG ARC members is 3
years. Current members may re-apply for another term.
On June 18, 2010, President Obama signed a Presidential Memorandum
directing agencies in the Executive Branch not to appoint or re-appoint
federally registered lobbyists to advisory committees and other boards
and commissions. Therefore, before appointing an applicant to serve on
the NPOAG, the FAA and NPS will require the prospective candidate to
certify that they are not a federally registered lobbyist.
Issued in Hawthorne, CA on April 20, 2016.
Keith Lusk
Program Manager, Special Programs Staff, Western-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 2016-09690 Filed 4-25-16; 8:45 am]
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