[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 15 (Thursday, January 23, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3301-3302]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-1530]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Notice of Intent To Establish an Air Tour Management Plan and 
Notice of Public Meeting for Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The FAA, in cooperation with the NPS, is initiating 
development of an Air Tour Management Plan (ATMP) for the Hawaii 
Volcanoes National Park pursuant to the National Parks Air Tour 
Management Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-181) and its implementing 
regulations contained in title 14, Code

[[Page 3302]]

of Federal Regulations, part 136, National Parks Air Tour Management, 
published October 25, 2002 (67 FR 65662). The objective of the ATMP is 
to mitigate or prevent the significant adverse impacts, if any, of 
commercial air tour operations upon the natural and cultural resources, 
visitor experiences, and abutting tribal lands, of the Hawaii Volcanoes 
National Park. Following a Federal rulemaking action, the ATMP will be 
incorporated into part 136. This notice provides information on the 
Public Information Workshop for all persons having an interest in 
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

DATES: The Public Information Workshop will be held February 24, 2003, 
at 5:30 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The Public Information Workshop will be held at the Cooper 
Center, 19-4030 Wright Road, Volcano, Hawaii.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Armstrong, Air Tour Management 
Plan Program Manager, Executive Resource Staff, AWP-4, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Western-Pacific Region. Mailing address: P.O. Box 
92007, Los Angeles, California 90009-2007. Telephone: (310) 725-3818. 
Street address: 15000 Aviation Boulevard, Hawthorne, California 90261. 
Email: [email protected].

SUPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA, in cooperation with the NPS, is 
initiating development of an Air Tour Management Plan (ATMP) for the 
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park pursuant to the National Parks Air Tour 
Management Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-181) and its implementing 
regulations contained in title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, part 
136, National Parks Air Tour Management, published October 25, 2002 (67 
FR 65662). The objective of the ATMP is to mitigate or prevent the 
significant adverse impacts, if any, of commercial air tour operations 
upon the natural and cultural resources, visitor experiences, and 
abutting tribal lands, of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Following 
a Federal rulemaking action, the ATMP will be incorporated into part 
136.
    In developing the ATMP and associated rulemaking actions, the 
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Park Service (NPS) 
are required to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1970 (NEPA), which calls on Federal agencies to consider environmental 
issues as part of their decision making process. For the purposes of 
compliance with NEPA, the FAA is the Lead Agency and the NPS is a 
Cooperating Agency. An Environmental Assessment will be prepared for 
the ATMP in accordance with NEPA and its implementing regulations (40 
CFR parts 1500-1508).
    Interested individuals, groups, and other members of the public are 
invited to attend a Public Information Workshop to be held on February 
24, 2003, at 5:30 p.m. The workshop will consist of brief presentations 
by the FAA, the NPS, and the Acoustical Department of the VOLPE 
National Transportation Center beginning at 5:30 p.m. These 
presentations will conclude by approximately 6:30 p.m. Following the 
presentations, attendees may browse displays, collect information, talk 
with FAA and NPS officials, discuss concerns, and register to receive 
further information regarding development of the Hawaii Volcanoes 
National Park ATMP.
    This is a public information workshop only. Public testimony or 
comments will not be formally recorded at this time. A public scoping 
period, during which public comments will be formally received, will be 
held at a later time in compliance with the procedures established 
under NEPA. The scoping period will be announced through the Federal 
Register, local media, the Internet, and direct mailings to interested 
parties known to the FAA and the NPS.
    Additional information on the ATMP Program is available on the 
FAA's ATMP Website located at www.atmp.faa.gov. Interested parties may 
register to receive information regarding the development of this and 
other ATMPs through this website.

    Issued in Hawthorne, California on January 16, 2003.
Brian Q. Armstrong,
Air Tour Management Plan, Program Manager, AWP-4, Western-Pacific 
Region.
[FR Doc. 03-1530 Filed 1-22-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P