[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 29 (Wednesday, February 12, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7163-7164]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-3456]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Membership in the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group

AGENCIES: National Park Service and Federal Aviation Administration.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) and the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), as required by the National Parks Air Tour 
Management Act of 2000, established the National Parks Overflights 
Advisory Group (NPOAG) in March 2001. 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 a vacancy on the NPOAG for a member representing environmental 
interests and invites interested persons to apply to fill the vacancy.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barry Brayer, Executive Resource 
Staff, Western Pacific Region Headquarters, 15000 Aviation Blvd., 
Hawthorne, CA 90250, telephone: (310) 725-3800, Email: 
[email protected], or Howie Thompson, Natural Sounds Program, 
National Park Service, 12795 W. Alameda Parkway, Denver, Colorado, 
80225, telephone: (303) 969-2461.

DATES: Persons interested in serving on the advisory group should 
contact Mr. Brayer or Mr. Thompson on or before March 5, 2003.

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

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of the group. Representatives of the Administrator and Director serve 
alternating 1-year terms as chairman of the advisory group.
    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.
    The current NPOAG is made up of four members representing the air 
tour industry, three members representing environmental interests, and 
two members representing Native American interests. Current members of 
the NPOAG are: Andy Cebula, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association; 
David Kennedy, National Air Transportation Association; Alan Stephen, 
Twin Otter/Grand Canyon Airlines; Joe Corrao, Helicopter Association 
International; Chip Dennerlein, State of Alaska Fish and Game; Charles 
Maynard, formerly with Great Smoky Mountain National Park; Susan Gunn, 
The Wilderness Society; and Germaine White and Richard Deertrack, 
representing Native American tribes.

Public Participation in the Advisory Group

    In order to retain balance within the NPOAG, the FAA and NPS invite 
persons interested in serving on the NPOAG to represent environmental 
interests to contact either of the persons listed in FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT. Requests to serve on the NPOAG should be made in 
writing and postmarked on or before March 5, 2003. The request should 
indicate whether or not you are a member or an official of a particular 
environmental interest group. The request should also state what 
expertise you would bring to environmental interests while serving on 
the NPOAG. The term of service for NPOAG members is 3 years.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on February 5, 2003.
Louis C. Cusimano,
Acting Director, Flight Standards Service.
[FR Doc. 03-3456 Filed 2-11-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P