
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 74 (Friday, April 17, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 21294]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-08767]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Membership in the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group 
Aviation Rulemaking Committee

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National 
Park Service (NPS) are inviting interested persons to apply to fill 
three upcoming openings on the National Parks Overflights Advisory 
Group (NPOAG) Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC). The openings will 
represent general aviation concerns, air tour operator concerns, and 
Native American interests, respectively. Selected members will each 
serve 3-year terms.

DATES: Persons interested in applying for the NPOAG openings need to 
apply by May 29, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith Lusk, 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 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 1-
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 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 interests. Current members of the NPOAG 
ARC are as follows:
    The current NPOAG consists of Heidi Williams representing general 
aviation; Alan Stephen, Mark Francis, and Matthew Zuccaro representing 
commercial air tour operators; Michael Sutton, Mark Belles, Nicholas 
Miller, and Dick Hingson representing environmental interests; and 
Leigh Kuwanwisiwma and Martin Begaye representing Native American 
interests. The 3-year membership terms of Ms. Williams, Mr. Stephen, 
and Mr. Begaye expire on October 9, 2015.

Selection

    In order to retain balance within the NPOAG ARC, the FAA and NPS 
are seeking candidates interested in filling the three soon to be 
expiring seats. The three seats to be filled will represent general 
aviation concerns, air tour operator concerns, and Native American 
interests, respectively. The FAA and NPS invite persons interested in 
serving on the ARC 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 May 29, 2015. The request should indicate whether or not 
you are a member of an association or group related to general aviation 
or air tour operations or a member of a Native American tribe 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 these issues and concerns. The 
term of service for NPOAG ARC members is 3 years. Current members may 
re-apply for another term.
    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 April 9, 2015.
Keith Lusk,
Program Manager, Special Programs Staff, Western-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 2015-08767 Filed 4-16-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


