[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 118 (Tuesday, June 19, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32974-32975]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-15419]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Notice of Membership of a National Parks Overflights Advisory 
Group

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior, Federal Aviation 
Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) and Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA) in accordance with the National Parks Air Tour 
Management Act of 2000, announce the membership of the National Parks

[[Page 32975]]

Overflights Advisory Group (NPOAG). The NPOAG is formed to provide 
continuing advice and counsel with respect to commercial air tour 
operations over and near national parks. This notice informs the public 
of the members initially selected to serve on the advisory group and 
next actions of the advisory group.

DATES: The National Parks Overflights Advisory Group was established on 
April 5, 2001; this notice announces those members initially selected 
to serve as the Advisory Group.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Howard Nesbitt, Flight Standards 
Service, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Ave., SW., 
Washington, DC 20591, telephone: (202) 493-4981, or Marvin Jensen, 
Soundscapes Office, National Park Service, 1201 Oak Ridge Drive, Suite 
200, Ft. Collins, Colorado, 80525, telephone: (970) 225-3563.

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. The Act applies to 
``commercial air tour operations'' occurring over a unit of the 
national park system or tribal lands within or abutting a national 
park. The Act defines a commercial air tour operation and lists the 
factors that the Administrator may consider in determining whether or 
not an operator is conducting a commercial air tour operation. See 
Section 803 of the Act, to be codified at 49 U.S.C. section 
40128(f)(4)(B). Once defined as a commercial air tour operation, that 
operation would be subject to the air tour management plan (ATMP) for 
that park. The process for the development of an ATMP will be 
delineated in future rulemaking which will codify the Act. In the 
meantime, to meet the mandate of the public law, the FAA and NPS 
publish this notice announcing the initial selections of membership on 
the Advisory Group who will serve to advise and counsel the persons 
implementing the regulations when they are adopted.

Advisory Group Requirements of Pub. L. 106-181

    The Act requires the establishment of the advisory group within 1 
year after its enactment. The advisory group is to be comprised of a 
balanced group of representatives of general aviation; commercial air 
tour operations; environmental concerns; and Indian tribes. The 
Administrator and the Director (or their designees) are to serve as ex 
officio members of the group. Representatives of the Administrator and 
Director will serve alternating 1-year terms as chairman of the 
advisory group. The Administrator's representative will serve the first 
term, which will terminate at the end of the calendar year following 
the year in which the advisory group is established.
    The advisory group will ``provide 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.''
    Members of the advisory group may be allowed certain travel 
expenses as authorized by section 5703 of title 5, United States Code, 
for intermittent Government service.

Request for Public Participation in the Advisory Group

    On March 12, 2001, the FAA and NPS invited members of the public 
who are interested in serving on the advisory group to contact persons 
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Eleven requests were 
received. The FAA and NPS have selected the following persons to serve 
initially on the Advisory Group: Joseph Corrao, Helicopter Association 
International; Andrew Cebula, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association; 
David Kennedy, National Air Transportation Association; Chip 
Dennerlein, National Parks Conservation Association; Charles Maynard, 
Friends of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park; and Boyd Evison, 
former National Park Superintendent and Regional Director. Ms. Germane 
White will represent the Confederated Salish and Kootani.
    After the issuance of a final regulation implementing the Act, the 
agencies will consider other requests for membership on the Advisory 
Group. This may include persons who may, after the issuance of final 
rules implementing the Act, find that they have an interest to serve in 
an advisory role in the implementation of the regulations. At this 
time, however, the agencies find that the persons selected will serve 
as a balanced representation of the various interests of the national 
parks.

Next Actions of the Advisory Group

    The FAA and NPS anticipate the Advisory Group may wish to hold at 
least one session before the issuance of final regulations on the 
legislation to establish organizational and administrative rules of 
conduct. The public will be informed of any such meetings by notice in 
the Federal Register.

    Issued in Washington, DC on June 12, 2001.
Jane F. Garvey,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 01-15419 Filed 6-18-01; 8:45 am]
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