[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 186 (Tuesday, September 25, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 49061]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-23945]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Membership in the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration.

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, established the National Parks Overflights 
Advisory Group (NPOAG). The NPOAG was 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 desire 
to expand the advisory group and delineates the nomination procedures.

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. Persons 
interested in serving on the advisory group should contact Mr. Nesbitt 
or Mr. Jensen on or before October 16, 2001.

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 required the 
establishment of the advisory group within 1 year after its enactment. 
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 and the 
Director (or their designees) serve as ex officio members of the group. 
Representatives of the Administrator and Director 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 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.''
    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.
    An initial assignment was made to the group of seven members 
representing aviation, environmental and Native American cultural 
interests. At the first meeting of the group, on August 28, 2001, the 
group decided that the addition of three new members would achieve a 
better balance of interests representing the group. The additional 
members would represent fixed wing air tour operators, environmental 
interests and Native American cultural interests.

Public Participation in the Advisory Group

    The FAA and NPS invite members of the public from the desired 
areas, who are interested in serving on the advisory group, to contact 
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Requests to 
participate should be made in writing and postmarked on or before 
October 16, 2001. The request should indicate whether or not they are a 
member or an official of a particular interest group. The request 
should also state whether they are proposing to represent fixed wing 
air tours, environmental, or Native American cultural interests and 
what expertise they would bring to either of these interest areas while 
serving on the group. Those individuals or groups previously submitting 
nominations need not resubmit. The term of service of advisory group 
members will be three years.

    Issued in Washington, DC on September 19, 2001.
Nicholas A. Sabatini,
Director, Flight Standards Service.
[FR Doc. 01-23945 Filed 9-24-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M