[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 124 (Wednesday, June 28, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33452-33454]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-15897]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Parks Service
[Docket No. 25149]


Airspace Management Over the Grand Canyon National Park; Public 
Meeting

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT and National Parks 
Service (NPS), DOI.


ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the date, time, and location of a public 
meeting to address issues related to Special Federal Aviation 
Regulations for the Grand Canyon (SFAR No. 50-2). In October 1994, the 
National Parks Service submitted its Report to Congress as required by 
Public Law 100-91. The purpose of this meeting is to provide the 
[[Page 33453]] public with the opportunity to provide comments on 
improving SFAR No. 50-2 with respect to safety and mitigating the noise 
impacts of aircraft overflights of the Grand Canyon.

DATES: The meeting will be held on August 30, 1995, in two sessions. 
The first session will begin at 1 p.m.; the second session will begin 
at 7 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Best Western Woodlands Plaza 
Hotel, 1175 West Route 66, Flagstaff, Arizona (520) 773-8888.
    Persons unable to attend the meeting may mail their comments in 
triplicate to: Federal Aviation Administration, Office of the Chief 
Counsel, Rules Docket (AGC-200), Docket No. 25149, 800 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591. Written comments are invited and 
must be received on or before September 8, 1995

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests to present a statement at the 
meeting or questions regarding the logistics of the meeting should be 
directed to Effie Upshaw, FAA, Office of Rulemaking, 800 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone (202) 267-7626.
    Questions concerning the subject matter of the meeting should be 
directed to Ellen Crum, telephone (202) 267-8783, FAA, Air Traffic 
Rules Branch, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On March 26, 1987, the FAA issued SFAR No. 50 (subsequently amended 
on June 15, 1987; 52 FR 22734) establishing flight regulations in the 
vicinity of the Grand Canyon. The purpose of the SFAR was to reduce the 
risk of midair collision, reduce the risk of terrain contact accidents 
below the rim level, and reduce the impact of aircraft noise on the 
park environment.
    On August 18, 1987, Congress enacted legislation that, in part, 
required a study of aircraft noise impacts at a number of national 
parks and imposed flight restrictions at three parks: Grand Canyon 
National Park in Arizona, Yosemite National Park in California, and 
Haleakala National Park in Hawaii (Pub. L. 100-91, the National Park 
Overflights Act of 1987).
    As part of Public Law 100-91, the NPS was required to evaluate 
whether the Grand Canyon airspace management plan (now known as SFAR 
50-2) ``has succeeded in substantially restoring the natural quiet in 
the park;'' and ``such other matters, including possible revisions in 
the plan, as may be of interest.'' In that legislation, Congress found 
that ``Noise associated with aircraft overflights at the Grand Canyon 
National Park is causing a significant adverse effect on the natural 
quiet and experience of the park * * *.''
    Further, Public Law 100-91 required the FAA to prepare and issue a 
final plan for the management of air traffic above the Grand Canyon. In 
December 1987, the DOI transmitted to the FAA its recommendations for 
an aircraft management plan at the Grand Canyon which included both 
rulemaking and nonrulemaking actions. If the FAA determined that 
executing the recommendations would adversely affect aviation safety, 
the FAA was required to revise the DOI recommendations to resolve the 
safety impact and to issue regulations implementing the revised 
recommendations in the plan.
    On May 27, 1988, the FAA issued SFAR No. 50-2 revising the 
procedures for operation of aircraft in the airspace above the Grand 
Canyon (53 FR 20264, June 2, 1988). The rule implemented DOI's 
preliminary recommendations for an airspace management plan with some 
modifications that the FAA initiated in the interest of aviation 
safety.
    A further requirement of Public Law 100-91 relative to the FAA's 
plan (SFAR No. 50-2) was that the NPS study and discuss: ``(A) whether 
the plan has succeeded in substantially restoring the natural quiet in 
the park; and (B) such other matters, including possible revisions in 
the plan, as may be of interest.'' The NPS submitted its Report to 
Congress in October 1994. On June 15, 1995, the FAA extended the 
expiration date of SFAR No. 50-2 from June 15, 1995, to June 15, 1997, 
to allow the FAA sufficient time to review thoroughly the NPS 
recommendations as to their impact on the safety of air traffic at the 
Grand Canyon National Bank (60 FR 31608).
    The FAA and the NPS have sought to keep this process open to the 
public. The two agencies jointly published an advance notice of 
proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) (59 FR 12740) on March 17, 1994, seeking 
public comment on general policy and specific recommendations for 
voluntary and regulatory actions to address the impact of aircraft 
overflights of national parks. That same month, the two agencies hosted 
a workshop entitled, ``Finding a Balance'' at Flagstaff, Arizona for 
all interested parties. This meeting is a part of the commitment to 
continuing that open process.
    The NPS report makes recommendations for changes to the SFAR, 
primarily related to achieving and maintaining the substantial 
restoration of natural quiet over time and in respect to a growing air 
tour industry. While the FAA evaluates the NPS recommendations, both 
agencies are seeking public comment on how the SFAR can be improved 
with respect to better achieving the congressional intent of 
``providing for substantial restoration of natural quiet and experience 
of the park and protection of public health and safety * * *'' and how 
this can be done safely for the benefit of everyone involved.
    The NPS report recommendations involved (1) expansion of flight-
free zones, (2) introduction of quiet aircraft technology, and (3) 
other measures designed to minimize the impact of aircraft noise on the 
park. Based on these recommendations, public comment at the meeting is 
sought on the following specific questions:
     Can air tour operations be regulated differently, in ways 
that will better contribute to restoring or maintaining the substantial 
restoration of natural quiet while maintaining or improving safety? 
How? What are the implications of those changes?
     Should the future growth of the air tour industry be 
managed to maintain the natural quiet of the park? How?
     How effectively can quiet aircraft technology contribute 
to the substantial restoration of natural quiet at Grand Canyon? In 
what timeframe should this technology be considered? What would be the 
impact on tour operators to acquire and use quiet aircraft technology? 
How many tour operators currently use or have plans to use quiet 
aircraft technology? If beneficial, what incentives need to be 
considered?
     Given appropriate timeframes, can a viable air tour 
industry be maintained with the establishment of ``quiet aircraft'' 
routes? With the future closure of the Dragon Flight Corridor and 
rerouting of traffic on a new route to the east?
     How can enlargement of the flight-free zones effectively 
contribute to the restoration of natural quiet at the Grand Canyon? Are 
there any economic impacts associated with these types of actions?
     What, if any, impact would result from the imposition of 
one-way traffic on commercial tour routes in the flight corridors 
across the Grand Canyon (a measure recommended to mitigate noise in 
some corridors)?
     Would establishment of ``no fly'' periods impact air tour 
operators and other visitors to the park? What time periods should be 
considered?
     Would expanding the special flight rules area ceiling from 
14,499 to 17,999 feet mean sea level effectively 
[[Page 33454]] contribute to aiding or maintaining a substantial 
restoration of natural quiet at Grand Canyon? Is there a more 
appropriate altitude? Are there safety concerns associated with this?
     What other actions can be taken to assist in maintaining 
safety and the ``natural quiet'' of the park environment?

Participation at the Meeting

    Requests from persons who wish to present oral statements at the 
public meeting should be received by the FAA no later than August 24, 
1995. Such requests should be submitted to Effie Upshaw as listed in 
the section titled FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, and should include 
a written summary of oral remarks to be presented and an estimate of 
time needed for the presentation. Requests received after the date 
specified above will be scheduled if time is available during the 
meeting; however, the names of those individuals may not appear on the 
written agenda. The FAA will prepare an agenda of speakers who will be 
available at the meeting. To accommodate as many speakers as possible, 
the amount of time allocated to each speaker may be less than the 
amount of time requested.
Meeting Procedures

    The following procedures are established to facilitate the meeting:
    (1) There will be no admission fee or other charge to attend or to 
participate in the meeting. The meeting will be open to all persons who 
have requested in advance to present statements or who register on the 
day of the meeting subject to availability of space in the meeting 
room. (Registration will open 30 minutes before the beginning of each 
session.)
    (2) The meeting may adjourn early if scheduled speakers complete 
their statements in less time than currently is scheduled for the 
meeting.
    (3) An individual, whether speaking in a personal or a 
representative capacity on behalf of an organization, may be limited to 
a 10-minute statement. If possible, we will notify the speaker if 
additional time is available.
    (4) The FAA/NPS will try to accommodate all speakers. If the 
available time does not permit this, speakers generally will be 
scheduled on a first-come-first-served basis. However, the FAA/NPS 
reserves the right to exclude some speakers if necessary to present a 
balance of viewpoints and issues.
    (5) Sign and oral interpretation can be made available at the 
meeting, as well as an assistive listening device, if requested at the 
above number 10 calendar days before the meeting.
    (6) Representatives of the FAA and NPS will preside over the 
meeting. A panel of FAA and NPS personnel involved in this issue will 
be present.
    (7) The meeting will be recorded by a court reporter. A transcript 
of the meeting and any material accepted by the panel during the 
meeting will be included in the public docket. Any person who is 
interested in purchasing a copy of the transcript should contact the 
court reporter directly. This information will be available at the 
meeting.
    (8) Position papers or material presenting views or information on 
airspace management over the Grand Canyon will be accepted at the 
discretion of the presiding officer and subsequently placed in the 
public docket. The FAA/NPS requests that persons participating in the 
meeting provide 10 copies of all materials to be presented for 
distribution to the panel members; other copies may be provided to the 
audience at the discretion of the participant.
    (9) Statements made by members of the meeting panel are intended to 
facilitate discussion of the issues or to clarify issues. Any statement 
made during the meeting by a member of the panel is not intended to be, 
and should not be construed as, a position of the FAA/NPS.
    (10) The meeting is designed to solicit public views and more 
complete information on the airspace management at the Grand Canyon. 
Therefore, the meeting will be conducted in an informal and 
nonadversarial manner. No individual will be subject to cross-
examination by any other participant; however, panel members may ask 
questions to clarify a statement and to ensure a complete and accurate 
record.

    Issued in Washington, DC on June 16, 1995.
Harold W. Becker,
Manager, Airspace-Rules and Aeronautical Information Division, Federal 
Aviation Administration.
Dr. Wesley R. Henry,
Overflight Issues Coordinator, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 95-15897 Filed 6-27-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M