[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 63 (Monday, April 3, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16609-16610]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-4793]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Membership in the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group 
Aviation Rulemaking Committee

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 six vacancies (due to completion of membership on October 9, 2006), 
on the NPOAG (now the NPOAG Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC)) for 
members representing general aviation (one vacancy), commercial air 
tour operators (two vacancies), environmental concerns (two vacancies) 
and Native American tribes (one vacancy), and invites interested 
persons to apply to fill the vacancies.

DATES: Persons interested in serving on the NPOAG ARC should contact 
Mr. Brayer in writing and postmarked or e-mailed on or before May 8, 
2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barry Brayer, Executive Resource 
Staff, Federal Aviation Administration, 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 of the FAA and 
the Director of NPS (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). FAA Order No. 1110-138, was amended and 
became effective as FAA Order No. 1110-138A, on January 20, 2006.
    The current NPOAG ARC is made up of one member representing general 
aviation, three members representing the air tour industry, four 
members representing environmental concerns, and two members 
representing Native American interests. Current members of the NPOAG 
ARC are: Heidi Williams, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association; Alan 
Stephen, fixed-winged air tour operator representative; Elling 
Halvorson, Papillon Airways, Inc.; Richard Larew, Rainier Heli-Lift, 
Inc.; Chip Dennerlein, Siskiyou Project; Charles Maynard, formerly with 
Great Smoky Mountain National Park; Mark Peterson, National Audubon 
Society; Don Barger, National Parks Conservation Association; Rory 
Majenty, Hualapai Nation (Upon publication of this notice. See Changes 
in Membership below.), and Richard Deertrack, Taos Pueblo.

Public Participation in the NPOAG ARC

    In order to retain balance within the NPOAG ARC, the FAA and NPS 
invite persons interested in serving on the ARC, to represent general 
aviation, commercial air tours, environmental concerns, or Native 
American tribes, to contact Mr. Barry Brayer (contact information is 
written above in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). Requests to serve on 
the ARC must be made to Mr. Brayer in writing and postmarked or e-
mailed on or before May 8, 2006. The request should indicate whether or 
not you are a member of an association representing general aviation, 
commercial air tours, environmental concerns or Native American tribes 
or have another affiliation with 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.

Changes in Membership

    To maintain the balanced representation of the group, the FAA and 
the NPS recently published a notice in the Federal Register asking 
interested persons to apply to fill an earlier vacancy representing 
Native American tribes on the NPOAG. The person selected to fill this 
position is Rory Majenty, Hualapai Nation.
    In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation 
Administration amends FAA Order No. 1110.138 as follows:

FAA Order No. 1110-138A, National Parks Overflights Advisory Group 
Aviation Rulemaking Committee

    1. The authority citation for FAA Order No. 1110.138A continues to 
read as follows:
    Purpose. This order constitutes the charter for the National Parks 
Overflights Advisory Group (NPOAG) Aviation Rulemaking Committee that 
is designated and established pursuant to the Administrator's authority 
under 49 U.S.C. 106(p)(5).

Sec. 2. Distribution [Amended]

    2. Section 2 is amended by removing the words ``Regulation and 
Certification'' and adding, in their place, the words ``Aviation 
Safety;'' removing the words ``Soundscape Program

[[Page 16610]]

Center'' and adding, in their place, the words ``Natural Sounds Program 
Office.''

Sec. 6. Organization and Administration [Amended]

    3. Section 6.a is amended by removing the words ``The general 
membership of the NPOAG will be composed of a representative of general 
aviation (two members), commercial air tour operators (two members),'' 
and adding, in their place, the words ``The general membership of the 
NPOAG will be composed of a representative of general aviation (one 
member), commercial air tour operators (three members).''
    4. Section 6.b is amended by removing the words `` The term of 
office will be staggered as follows: One general aviation 
representative, one commercial air tour operator representative, two 
environmental representatives and one Native American representative 
will serve for a period of two years from the date of this charter. The 
remaining representatives will serve a three-year term from the date of 
this charter. Thereafter, the term of each office for each member will 
be three years. Those individuals chosen for the initial two-year term 
will be selected either by volunteering for a two-year term, or by 
blind draw,'' and adding, in their place, the words ``Membership will 
continue with individuals already serving on the NPOAG, at the request 
of the Administrator and the Director. The term of office for each 
member will be three years. The three year membership begins on the 
original date of appointment.''
    5. Section 6.c is amended by removing the words ``The first members 
of the NPOAG are listed in Attachment A to this order.''

Sec. 8. Meetings [Amended]

    6. Section 8 is amended by removing the words ``The schedule for 
regular meetings will be set by the Chairperson after consideration of 
recommendations from the group'' and adding, in their place, the words 
``The Chairperson will set the schedule for regular meetings, after 
consideration of recommendations from the group.''
    7. Section 8 is also amended by removing the words ``The meeting 
location will be set by the Chairperson after considering 
recommendations from the group'' and adding, in their place, the words 
``The Chairperson will set the meeting location after considering 
recommendations from the group.''

Sec. Addendum to: The National Parks Overflights Advisory Group 
Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee Order


1110.38   [Removed]

General Aviation Representatives

David Kennedy--National Air Transportation Association.
Heidi Williams--Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.

Commercial Air Tour Operators Representatives

Lash Larew--ERA Helicopter, USATA, HAI.
Alan Stephen--Grand Canyon Airlines.

Environmental Concerns Representatives

Steven Bosak--National Parks Conservation Association.
Chip Dennerlein--State of Alaska Fish and Game.
Susan Gunn--The Wilderness Society.
    Charles Maynard--Friends of the Smokies.

Native American Tribes Representatives

Richard Deertrack--Native American Tribes.
Germaine White--CS and KT Tribes.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on March 23, 2005.
Barry Brayer,
Manager, Executive Resource Staff, Western-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. E6-4793 Filed 3-31-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P