[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 210 (Tuesday, October 30, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54778-54779]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-27294]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Park Service

Federal Aviation Administration


Membership in the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior, and Federal Aviation 
Administration, Transportation.

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 addition 
of three new members to the NPOAG.

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: 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.

[[Page 54779]]

    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: Chip Dennerlein and Charles Maynard (environmental), Andy 
Cebula and Joe Corrao (aviation) and Germaine White (Native American). 
(See 66 FR 32974; June 19, 2001.) At the first meeting of the NPOAG, 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.
    By Federal Register notice of September 25, 2001, the FAA and NPS 
invited members of the public from the desired areas and interested in 
serving on the advisory group, to contact either the FAA or NPS contact 
person. Five persons expressed an interest in serving on the NPOAG in 
addition to the original names submitted earlier when the group was 
formed. The FAA and NPS have selected three persons to serve as 
additional members of the NPOAG: Alan Stephens will represent aviation 
interests, in particular those of fixed-wing operators; Richard 
Deertrack will represent Native American interests; and Susan Gunn will 
represent environmental interests. There are now a total of 10 members 
of the NPOAG.
    The next meeting of the NPOAG is being planned for late 2001.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on October 24, 2001.
Louis C. Cusimano,
Acting Director, Flight Standards Service.
[FR Doc. 01-27294 Filed 10-29-01; 8:45 am]
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