[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 147 (Tuesday, July 31, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 37043]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-16253]
[[Page 37043]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Membership in the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: By Federal Register notice on April 20, 2018 the National Park
Service (NPS) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) invited
interested persons to apply to fill two openings on the National Parks
Overflights Advisory Group (NPOAG) to represent air tour operator
concerns and Native American interests. This notice informs the public
of the selection made for the vacancy representing air tour operators
and invites persons interested in serving on the NPOAG to apply for
current and future openings representing Native American concerns, and
future openings representing general aviation, and air tour operator
interests.
DATES: Persons interested in applying for the NPOAG openings
representing air tour operator and Native American interests need to
apply by September 14, 2018.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith Lusk, Special Programs Staff,
Federal Aviation Administration, Western-Pacific Region Headquarters,
727 S Aviation Boulevard, Suite #150, El Segundo, CA 90245, telephone:
(424) 405-7017, email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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
one-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 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 interests. Members serve 3-year terms.
Current members of the NPOAG are as follows:
Melissa Rudinger representing general aviation; Alan Stephen and
Matt Zuccaro representing commercial air tour operators with one open
seat; Les Blomberg, Rob Smith, John Eastman, and Dick Hingson
representing environmental interests; and Martin Begaye representing
Native American tribes with one open seat.
Selection
Eric Lincoln has been selected to represent commercial air tour
operators. No selection was made for the opening to represent Native
American interests. In addition, three more seats are expiring in
October/November 2018. The upcoming openings are one each to represent
Native American concerns, general aviation, and air tour operator
interests.
The FAA and NPS invite persons interested in applying for the four
openings on the NPOAG to contact Mr. Keith Lusk (contact information is
written above in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). Requests to serve on
the NPOAG must be made to Mr. Lusk in writing and postmarked or emailed
on or before September 14, 2018. The request should indicate whether or
not you are a member of an association or group related to air tour
operator, general aviation, or Native American 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 as related to issues and concerns with aircraft flights over
national parks. The term of service for NPOAG members is 3 years.
Current members may re-apply for another term.
On August 13, 2014, the Office of Management and Budget issued
revised guidance regarding the prohibition against appointing or not
reappointing federally registered lobbyists to serve on advisory
committees (79 FR 47482).
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 July 23, 2018.
Keith Lusk,
Program Manager, Special Programs Staff, Western-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 2018-16253 Filed 7-30-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P