[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 25 (Monday, February 8, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6131-6132]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-2934]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Assessment for the 
Proposed Actions Related to the Grand Canyon National Park and To 
Conduct Scoping

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The FAA, in cooperation with the Department of the Interior 
(DOI), announces its intent to prepare a Supplemental Environmental 
Assessment (EA) pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended and applicable environmental laws, 
regulations and orders. This supplemental EA will address the following 
proposed actions: 1) new and modifications to existing air tour routes 
for commercial aircraft operating in the Special Flight Rules Area 
(SFRA) in the vicinity of Grand Canyon National Park (GCNP), identified 
as Special Federal Aviation Regulation Number 50-2 (SFAR 50-2); 2) new 
and modifications to the airspace in the SFRA; and, 3) a limitation on 
the number of operations by commercial air tour aircraft in the SFRA. 
These actions represent concepts that are presently under consideration 
by the FAA. Any changes to the airspace or the air tour routes will be 
subject to the public notice and comment procedures.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before March 5, 1999. 
Questions concerning the supplemental EA or the process being applied 
by the FAA should be directed to William J. Marx at the address listed 
below or at (202) 267-3075.

ADDRESSES: Comments on this Notice of Intent may be delivered or 
mailed, in triplicate, to: Federal Aviation Administration, Attention; 
William J. Marx, Air Traffic Airspace Management, Environmental 
Programs Division, ATA-300, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, 
DC 20591. Comments my be examined at the above address between 9 a.m. 
and 4 p.m. weekdays, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William J. Marx in writing at the 
above address or via telephone at (202) 267-3075.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Based upon further discussions with 
interested parties and consultation with Native American tribal 
representatives, the FAA and DOI are specifically considering new 
commercial air tour routes in the Sanup area and expanding the Desert 
View Flight Free Zone further east. To a greater degree than existing 
and prior proposed commercial air tour routes, these proposed actions 
would minimize impact on traditional cultural properties that were 
identified during consultation with Native American tribal 
representatives pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic 
Preservation Act. The scoping process will consist of a public comment 
period for involved and interested agencies and persons to submit 
written comments representing the concerns and issues they believe 
should be addressed in the supplemental EA.

Background

    On May 12, 1997 (62 FR 38233; May 15, 1997) the FAA issued a Notice 
proposing to modify two flight free zones (FFZ) within GCNP with two 
corridors through the FFZ. On July 10, 1998 (63 FR 38233; July 15, 
1998) the FAA, in consultation with DOI, withdrew this NPRM because the 
agencies determined not to proceed with an air tour route in the 
vicinity of National Canyon and were considering alternatives to this 
route. In addition, a companion document to 63 FR 38233 was published 
in the Federal Register that amended the Notice No. 96-15 (Noise 
Limitations NPRM), by removing two sections, which first proposed a 
National Canyon Corridor (63 FR 38232; July 10, 1998). For a 
comprehensive history of actions taken and proposed between December 
1996 and May 1997, please see the NPRM to extend SFAR 50-2 (63 FR 
67544; December 7, 1998).

The Supplemental EA

    Information, data, opinions, and comments obtained throughout the 
course of the scoping process may be used in the preparation of the 
supplemental EA. The purpose of this Notice of Intent is to inform the 
public and local, State, and Federal government agencies that a 
supplemental EA will be prepared. Also to provide those interested with 
an opportunity to present their opinions, comments, information, or 
other relevant observations concerning alternatives and potential 
environmental impacts relating to implementation of these proposals, 
particularly in the Sanup area. The proposed actions are concepts 
presently under consideration by the FAA and DOI.
    There is currently a cap on the number of commercial sightseeing 
aircraft that can operate in the SFRA (61 FR 69317; December 31, 1996). 
The FAA is also considering rulemaking to establish a cap on the number 
of flights that these sightseeing aircraft can operate.
    To maximize the opportunities for public participation in this 
environmental process, the FAA will mail copies of this Notice and a 
graphic (labeled for planning purposes only) showing the proposed 
changes to the air tour routes and proposed modifications to the 
airspace to those parties listed in Appendix A of the October 17, 1997 
Written Reevaluation. The graphic containing the proposed air tour 
route changes and airspace modifications is not being published in 
today's Federal Register due to the detail on the charts. Again these 
proposed actions represent a concept presently under consideration by 
the FAA and DOI. Any changes to the airspace configuration or the air 
tour routes will be subject to public notice and comment procedures.
    In addition, the FAA will utilize for scoping the public comments 
on the

[[Page 6132]]

Grand Canyon Final Rule, the Notice of Availability of Proposed 
Commercial Air Tour Routes, and the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 
(NPRM), each dated December 31, 1996, the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 
for Establishment of Corridors in the GCNP SFRA and the Notice of 
Availability of Commercial Air Tour Routes, both dated May 15, 1997, 
the Notice of Clarification dated October 31, 1997, the Notice of 
Meeting [Flagstaff] dated April 10, 1998 (63 FR 18964; April 15, 1998) 
and the final Environmental Assessment and written reevaluations 
prepared in support of these Notices and rulemaking documents.
    The commercial air tour routes will be issued for public comment in 
a Notice of Availability of Proposed Air Tour Routes concurrently with 
Notices of Proposed Rulemaking for the airspace modification and 
limitation on operations.
    The FAA expects to issue the supplemental EA in the summer of 1999, 
concurrently for public comment with these documents. The FAA plans to 
provide a period of sixty days for public comment on the supplemental 
EA. The public will be notified about the availability of the 
supplemental EA for comment through the Federal Register and other 
appropriate media.
    Any person may have their name added to the mailing list, receive a 
copy of the graphic containing the proposed changes and modifications, 
and/or obtain a copy of the supplemental EA when it becomes available, 
by submitting a request to the FAA contact identified above.

    Issued in Washington, D.C. on February 3, 1999.
William J. Marx,
Manager, Environmental Programs Division, Office of Air Traffic 
Airspace Management.
[FR Doc. 99-2934 Filed 2-5-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M