
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 183 (Friday, September 22, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44487-44488]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-20332]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Membership in the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Selection.

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SUMMARY: By Federal Register notice on July 28, 2017, the FAA and the 
National Park Service (NPS) invited interested persons to apply to fill 
three current vacancies on the National Parks Overflights Advisory 
Group (NPOAG). The notice invited interested persons to apply to fill 
the openings, all of which represent environmental concerns. This 
notice informs the public of the persons selected to fill these current 
openings.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith Lusk, Special Programs Staff, 
Federal Aviation Administration, Western-Pacific Region Headquarters, 
15000 Aviation Boulevard, Lawndale, CA 90261, 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, and subsequently 
amended in the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012. 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

[[Page 44488]]

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 current NPOAG 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 
are as follows:
    Melissa Rudinger representing general aviation; Alan Stephen, Matt 
Zuccaro, and Mark Francis representing commercial air tour operators; 
Rob Smith representing environmental interests with three open seats; 
and Leigh Kuwanwisiwma and Martin Begaye representing Native American 
tribes.

Selections

    The persons selected to fill the current open seats representing 
environmental concerns are Dick Hingson, Les Blomberg, and John 
Eastman. These newly selected members' 3-year terms will begin on the 
publication date of this notice.

    Issued in Hawthorne, CA, on September 13, 2017.
Keith Lusk,
Program Manager, Special Programs Staff, Western-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 2017-20332 Filed 9-21-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


