[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 131 (Friday, July 9, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37191-37192]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-17321]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Commercial Routes for the Grand Canyon National Park

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability on routes in Grand Canyon National Park; 
comment request.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of and requests 
comments on proposed commercial routes for the Grand Canyon National 
Park (GCNP) Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA). The proposed commercial 
routes are not being published in the Federal Register because they are 
depicted on large and very detailed charts that would be difficult to 
read if published in the Federal Register. The proposed modifications 
of certain commercial routes may require airspace changes in the GNCP 
SFRA that are contained in a notice of proposed rulemaking being 
published concurrently in this Federal Register. The proposed airspace 
modification and the planned modification to the route structure 
support the National Park Service mandate to provide for the 
substantial restoration of the natural quiet and experience of the 
park.

DATES: Comments on the routes must be received on or before September 
7,1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the proposed routes, in triplicate, may be 
delivered or mailed to: Federal Aviation Administration, ATTN: Alberta 
Brown, Air Transportation Division, AFS-200, 800 Independence Avenue, 
SW., Washington, DC 20591, Telephone (202) 267-8321. Comments may be 
examined at the above address between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. weekdays, 
except for Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary Davis, Air Transportation 
Division, AFS-200, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591, 
Telephone (202) 267-8166.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed commercial routes are not being 
published in the Federal Register because they are on very large and 
detailed charts that would not publish well in the Federal Register. A 
copy of the charts depicting the routes may be obtained by contacting 
Denise Cashmere at (202) 267-3717, by faxing a request to (202) 267-
5229, or by sending a request in writing to the Federal Aviation 
Administration, Air Transportation Division, AFS-200, 800 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591.

Comments Invited

    Interested persons are invited to comment on the proposed routes by 
submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they may desire. 
Commenters must identify that they are commenting on the proposed 
commercial routes for the GCNP SFRA. All comments received on or before 
the end of the comment period will be considered by the FAA before 
finalizing the commercial routes. Late filed comments will be 
considered to the extent practicable.

Discussion

    The FAA, in consultation with the National Park Service (NPS), 
proposes to restore and modify certain commercial routes in the GCNP 
SFRA. The proposed modified routes were developed based on airspace 
configurations, safety considerations, the goal of substantial 
restoration of natural quiet in the GCNP, economic considerations, 
consultation with Native American tribes, and comments received in 
response to previous route proposals. The FAA, in consultation with the 
NPS, also proposes to modify the existing airspace in the SFRA to 
accommodate these proposed route changes in a companion notice of 
proposed rulemaking published elsewhere in this Federal Register.
    In developing the proposed modified routes for GCNP, the FAA has 
been consulting with Native American tribes, on a government-to-
government basis, as required by the Presidential Memorandum on 
Government-to-Government Consultation with Native American Tribal 
Governments to assess potential effects on tribal trust resources and 
to assure that tribal government rights and concerns are considered in 
the decisionmaking process. The FAA has also been consulting with these 
tribes pursuant to the American Indian Religious Freedom Act and the 
Religious Freedom Restoration Act concerning potential effects of the 
proposed routes on sacred sites. In addition, under Section 106 of the 
National Historic Preservation Act the FAA, has been consulting with 
these

[[Page 37192]]

tribes, the Arizona State Historic Preservation Office, the Advisory 
Council on Historic Preservation, and other interested parties 
concerning potential effects on historic sites, including traditional 
cultural properties and Native American sacred sites.
    This action provides interested persons an opportunity to comment 
on the proposed commercial routes. Before the commercial routes for 
GCNP are finalized, FAA and NPS will fulfill their consultation 
responsibilities. In this consultation process, the FAA in coordination 
with NPS, will continue to consider feasible actions to mitigate any 
identified significant impacts to Native American cultural, religious, 
or historic sites.

General Description of the Modified Routes

    The FAA proposes to rename the Blue Direct route as Blue Direct 
North and restore and modify the Blue Direct South, the Blue 2, and the 
Green 4 routes, as appropriate. Commenters should also note that the 
chart depicts proposed modifications to the Desert View, Bright Angel, 
and Sanup Flight-free Zones and the Zuni Point corridor.
    These proposed routes have been developed after consideration of 
various alternative routes by the FAA and NPS. The FAA and NPS believes 
that the proposed routes best address preservation issues and Native 
American concerns. The proposal also continues to provide routes for 
commercial tour operators that mitigate noise impacts and provide the 
public with the requisite level of safety. The FAA believes that the 
routes depicted on the chart made available by this notice, would 
provide an opportunity for commercial air tours as well as assist the 
NPS in achieving its statutory mandate to provide for the substantial 
restoration of natural quiet in GCNP.

Environmental Review

    The FAA is preparing a draft environmental assessment (EA) for this 
proposed action to ensure conformance with the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969. Copies of the draft EA will be circulated to 
interested parties and placed in the docket, where it will be available 
for review.

    Issued in Washington, DC on July 1, 1999.
L. Nicholas Lacey,
Director, Flight Standards Service.
[FR Doc. 99-17321 Filed 7-6-99; 12:06 pm]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M