[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 139 (Monday, July 21, 1997)] [Notices] [Page 39048] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-19041] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration Notice of National Parks Overflights Working Group Meetings ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announce the dates for the National Parks Overflights Working Group (NPOWG) meeting in August. The NPOWG will meet August 4-5 in Denver, Colorado. This meeting will be open to the public. This notice serves to inform the public of the meeting dates for the working group. DATES AND LOCATIONS: The NPOWG will meet August 4 and 5, beginning at 9 a.m., in conference rooms in the Sheraton Denver West, 360 Union Blvd., Denver, Colorado, telephone: (303) 987-2000. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carla Mattix, Office of the Solicitor, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1849 C St., NW., Washington, DC 20240, telephone: (202) 208-7957, or Linda Williams, Office of Rulemaking, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Ave., Washington, DC 20591, telephone: (202) 367-9685. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background By notice in the Federal Register on June 6, 1997, the NPS and FAA announced the meeting dates for the NPOWG. The working group is established to recommend a notice of proposed rulemaking which would define the process to reduce or prevent the adverse effects of commercial sightseeing flights over the National Parks where deemed necessary. The working group held sessions on May 20 and 21; June 11, 12, 13; and July 8 and 9, 1997, in Washington, DC. The overflights working group is composed of nine members representing a balance of air tour operators, both fixed and rotary wing; general aviation users; other commercial aviation interests; national tour associations; environmental groups; and Native Americans. Co-chairs for the working group have been selected by the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Department of Interior (DOI). DOT and DOI representatives act as advisors to the membership, but will not be active members of the working group. A facilitator provides focus for the group. Unless extended, the working group is scheduled to terminate 100 days from the date of its initial meeting. The group will make its final recommendation to the ARAC and NPS Advisory Board at the end of that 100 days. The ARAC and NPS Advisory Board will review the recommendations of the working group and report to the NPS and FAA. Progress or status reports form the working group are expected every 21 days. NPS and FAA anticipate that the final product of the NPOWG will be a recommended notice of proposed rulemaking. Meeting Location and Protocol Contrary to the original Federal Register notice, the August meeting will be open to the public. In keeping with the organizational protocols developed by the working group, the following rules apply: Only working group members (or their alternates when filling in for a member) have the privilege of sitting at the negotiating table and of speaking from the floor during the negotiations without working group approval, except: any member may call upon another individual to elaborate on a relevant point, the NPS and FAA advisors to the working group have the full right to the floor and may raise and address appropriate points, and any person attending working group meetings may address the working group if time permits and may file statements with the working group for its consideration. The final report of the NPOWG will be made available to the public when it is reported to the Advisory Board and ARAC. In addition, both agencies envision that public meetings will be held following the publication of a notice of proposed rulemaking on the issues regarding overflights of the national parks. Issued in Washington, DC on July 14, 1997. Joseph A. Hawkins, Director of Rulemaking. [FR Doc. 97-19041 Filed 7-18-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-M