
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 203 (Thursday, October 20, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 65319]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-27091]


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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, 2012) 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 30, 2011.

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: Heidi Williams, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association; Alan 
Stephen, fixed-winged air tour operator representative; Elling 
Halvorson, Papillon Airways, Inc.; Matthew Zuccaro, Helicopter 
Association International; Chip Dennerlein, Siskiyou Project; Gregory 
Miller, American Hiking Society; Dick Hingson, Sierra Club; Bryan 
Faehner, National Parks Conservation Association; Rory Majenty, 
Hualapai Nation; and Ray Russell, Navajo Parks and Recreation. Rory 
Majenty of the Hualapai Nation is the current NPOAG member with the 
expiring term on April 2, 2012.
    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 30, 2011. 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 11, 2011.
Barry Brayer,
NPOAG Co-Chairman, Manager, Special Programs Staff, Western-Pacific 
Region.
[FR Doc. 2011-27091 Filed 10-19-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


