[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 77 (Friday, April 20, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17587-17588]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-08344]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Membership in the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: By Federal Register notice on October 31, 2017 the National 
Park Service (NPS) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 
invited interested persons to apply to fill two upcoming openings on 
the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group (NPOAG). The notice 
invited interested persons to apply to fill future openings to 
represent air tour operator concerns and Native American interests. 
This notice informs the public that no selections were made for those 
vacancies representing air tour operator and Native American interests 
and invites persons interested in serving on the NPOAG to apply for 
those openings.

DATES: Persons interested in applying for the NPOAG openings 
representing air tour operator and Native American interests need to 
apply by June 15, 2018.

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: [email protected].

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 one 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 
one-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.

[[Page 17588]]

Current members of the NPOAG are as follows:
    Melissa Rudinger representing general aviation; Alan Stephen and 
Matt Zuccaro, representing commercial air tour operators with one 
opening; Les Blomberg, Rob Smith, John Eastman, and Dick Hingson 
representing environmental interests; and Martin Begaye representing 
Native American tribes with one opening. One NPOAG member representing 
air tour operator interests resigned in October 2017 and the 3-year 
membership term of Leigh Kuwanwisiwma expired on April 2, 2018.

Selection

    No selections were made based on applications received after the 
October 31, 2017 Federal Register notice. A limited number of persons 
expressed interest in the air tour operator opening and no persons 
expressed interest in filling the other opening to represent Native 
American interests. Therefore the FAA and NPS, through this notice, are 
again soliciting interest for the air tour operator and Native American 
openings.
    The FAA and NPS invite persons interested in serving on the NPOAG 
to contact Mr. Keith Lusk (contact information is written above in FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). Requests to serve on the NPOAG must be 
made to Mr. Lusk in writing and postmarked or emailed on or before June 
15, 2018. The request should indicate whether or not you are a member 
of an association or group related to air tour operator or Native 
American 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 as related to issues and 
concerns with aircraft flights over national parks. The term of service 
for NPOAG members is 3 years. Current members may re-apply for another 
term.
    On August 13, 2014, the Office of Management and Budget issued 
revised guidance regarding the prohibition against appointing or not 
reappointing federally registered lobbyists to serve on advisory 
committees (79 Federal Register 47482).
    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 16, 2018.
Keith Lusk,
Program Manager, Special Programs Staff, Western-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 2018-08344 Filed 4-19-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


