
[Federal Register: October 16, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 201)]
[Notices]               
[Page 61447]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16oc08-100]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

 
Membership Availability in the National Parks Overflights 
Advisory Group Aviation; Rulemaking Committee--Representative of Native 
American Tribes

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) and the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), as required by the National Parks Air Tour 
Management Act of 2000, established the National Parks Overflights 
Advisory Group (NPOAG) in March 2001. The NPOAG was formed to provide 
continuing advice and counsel with respect to commercial air tour 
operations over and near national parks. This notice informs the public 
of a vacancy (due to completion of membership on April 2, 2009) on the 
NPOAG (now the NPOAG Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC)) for a 
representative of Native American tribal concerns and invites 
interested persons to apply to fill the vacancy.

DATES: Persons interested in serving on the NPOAG ARC should contact 
Mr. Barry Brayer in writing and postmarked or e-mailed on or before 
November 14, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barry Brayer, AWP-1SP, Special 
Programs Staff, Federal Aviation Administration, Western-Pacific Region 
Headquarters, P.O. Box 92007, Los Angeles, CA 90009-2007, telephone: 
(310) 725-3800, e-mail: Barry.Brayer@faa.gov.

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. The Act required the 
establishment of the advisory group within 1 year after its enactment. 
The advisory group was established in March 2001, and 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.
    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.''
    Members of the advisory group may be allowed certain travel 
expenses as authorized by section 5703 of Title 5, United States Code, 
for intermittent Government service.
    By FAA Order No. 1110-138, signed by the FAA Administrator on 
October 10, 2003, the NPOAG became an Aviation Rulemaking Committee 
(ARC). FAA Order No. 1110-138, was amended and became effective as FAA 
Order No. 1110-138A, on January 20, 2006.
    The current NPOAG ARC is made up of one member representing general 
aviation, three members representing the air tour industry, four 
members representing environmental concerns, and two members 
representing Native American interests. Current members of the NPOAG 
ARC are: Melissa Rudinger, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association; Alan 
Stephen, fixed-winged air tour operator representative; Elling 
Halvorson, Papillon Airways, Inc.; Matthew Zuccaro, Helicopters 
Association International; Chip Dennerlein, Siskiyou Project; Gregory 
Miller, American Hiking Society; Kristen Brengel, The Wilderness 
Society; Don Barger, National Parks Conservation Association; Rory 
Majenty, Hualapai Nation; and Richard Deertrack, Taos Pueblo.

Public Participation in the NPOAG ARC

    In order to retain balance within the NPOAG ARC, the FAA and NPS 
invite persons interested in serving on the ARC to represent Native 
American tribes, to contact Mr. Barry Brayer (contact information is 
written above in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT ).
    Requests to serve on the ARC must be made to Mr. Brayer in writing 
and postmarked or e mailed on or before November 14, 2008. The request 
should indicate whether or not you are a member of an association or 
group related to Native American tribal issues or 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 tribal concerns. The term of 
service for NPOAG ARC members is 3 years.

    Issued in Hawthorne, CA on October 6, 2008.
Barry Brayer,
NPOAG Chairman, Manager, Special Programs Staff, Western-Pacific 
Region.
[FR Doc. E8-24261 Filed 10-15-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-13-M
