
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 138 (Thursday, July 18, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 42997]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-17254]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Membership Availability in the National Parks Overflights 
Advisory Group Aviation Rulemaking Committee

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 two vacancies on the NPOAG [now the NPOAG Aviation Rulemaking 
Committee (ARC)] for members representing commercial air tour operators 
(one vacancy) and environmental concerns (one vacancy) and invites 
interested persons to apply to fill the vacancies.

DATES: Persons interested in serving on the NPOAG ARC should contact 
Mr. Keith Lusk in writing and postmarked or emailed on or before August 
16, 2013.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith Lusk, AWP-1SP, Special Programs 
Staff, Federal Aviation Administration, Western-Pacific Region 
Headquarters, P.O. Box 92007, Los Angeles, CA 90009-2007, telephone: 
(310) 725-3808, email: Keith.Lusk@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 commercial air tour industry, 
four members representing environmental concerns, and two members 
representing Native American tribal concerns. Current members of the 
NPOAG ARC are: Heidi Williams representing general aviation; Alan 
Stephen, and Mark Francis representing commercial air tour concerns; 
Michael Sutton, Gregory Miller, and Dick Hingson representing 
environmental interests; Rory Majenty and Martin Begaye, representing 
Native American tribes.
    In order to retain balance within the NPOAG ARC, the FAA and NPS 
invite persons interested in serving on the ARC to represent commercial 
air tour operators and environmental concerns 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 August 16, 2013. The request 
should indicate whether or not you are a member of an association or 
group representing commercial air tours or 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 the vacancy you are seeking to 
fill (e.g., environmental concerns). The term of service for NPOAG ARC 
members is 3 years.
    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 July 11, 2013.
Keith Lusk,
Program Manager, Special Programs Staff, Western-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 2013-17254 Filed 7-17-13; 8:45 am]
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