
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 2 (Tuesday, January 5, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 290-291]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-33159]


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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, 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 two 
upcoming openings on the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group 
(NPOAG) Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC). The upcoming openings will 
represent commercial air tour operator and environmental interests, 
respectively. The selected members will serve 3-year terms.

DATES: Persons interested in applying for these NPOAG openings 
representing air tour operator and environmental interests need to 
apply by February 12, 2016.

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 Melissa Rudinger representing general 
aviation; Alan Stephen, Mark Francis, and Matthew Zuccaro representing 
commercial air tour operators; Michael Sutton, Nicholas Miller, Mark 
Belles, and Dick Hingson representing environmental interests; and 
Leigh Kuwanwisiwma and Martin Begaye representing Native American 
interests. The 3-year membership terms of Mr. Francis and Mr. Sutton 
expire on May 19, 2016.

Selection

    In order to retain balance within the NPOAG ARC, the FAA and NPS 
are

[[Page 291]]

seeking candidates interested in filling Mr. Francis' and Mr. Sutton's 
soon to be expiring seats. The open seats to be filled will represent 
air tour operator and environmental 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 February 12, 
2016. The request should indicate whether or not you are a member of an 
association or group related to air tour operations 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 issues and 
concerns with aircraft flights over national parks. 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 December 28, 2015.
Keith Lusk,
Program Manager, Special Programs Staff, Western-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 2015-33159 Filed 1-4-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


