[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 27 (Thursday, February 10, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7139-7140]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-2593]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Membership in the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

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 two vacancies on the NPOAG (now the NPOAG Aviation Rulemaking 
Committee) for members representing environmental interests and invites 
interested persons to apply to fill the vacancies.

DATES: Persons interested in serving on the advisory group should 
contact Mr. Brayer or Ms. Trevino on or before March 3, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barry Brayer, Executive Resource 
Staff, Western Pacific Region Headquarters, 15000 Aviation Blvd., 
Hawthorne, CA 90250, telephone: (310) 725-3800, e-mail: 
[email protected], or Karen Trevino, National Park Service, Natural 
Sounds Program, 1201 Oakridge Dr., Suite 350, Ft. Collins, CO, 80525, 
telephone (970) 225-3563, e-mail: [email protected].

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 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.
    By FAA Order No. 1110-138, signed by the FAA Administrator on 
October 10, 2003, the NPOAG became an Aviation Rulemaking Committee 
(ARC).
    The current NPOAG ARC is made up of four members representing the 
air tour industry, two members representing environmental interests, 
and two members representing Native American interests. Current members 
of the NPOAG ARC are: Heidi Williams, Aircraft Owners and Pilots 
Association;

[[Page 7140]]

Alan Stephen, Twin Otter/Grand Canyon Airlines; Elling Halverson, 
Papillon Airways, Inc.; Richard Larew, Era Aviation, Inc.; Chip 
Dennerlein, State of Alaska Fish and Game; Charles Maynard, formerly 
with Great Smoky Mountain National Park; and Germaine White and Richard 
Deertrack, representing Native American tribes.

Public Participation in the Advisory Group

    In order to retain balance within the NPOAG ARC, the FAA and NPS 
invite persons interested in serving on the ARC to represent 
environmental interests to contact either of the persons listed in FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Requests to serve on the ARC should be 
made in writing and postmarked on or before March 3, 2005. The request 
should indicate whether or not you are a member of an association 
representing environmental interests or have another affiliation with 
environmental interests in issues relating to aircraft flights over 
national parks. The request should also state what expertise you would 
bring to the NPOAG ARC as related to environmental interests. The term 
of service for NPOAG ARC members is 3 years.

    Issued in Washington, DC on February 2, 2005.
John M. Allen,
Acting Director, Flight Standards Service.
[FR Doc. 05-2593 Filed 2-9-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P