[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 12 (Friday, January 19, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 2582]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-186]



[[Page 2582]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Membership Availability in the National Parks Overflights 
Advisory Group Aviation Rulemaking Committee To Represent Commercial 
Air Tour Interests

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 one vacancy (due to completion of membership on May 19, 2007), on 
the NPOAG (now the NPOAG Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC)) for a 
member representing commercial air tour operators, and invites 
interested persons to apply to fill the vacancy.

DATES: Persons interested in serving on the NPOAG ARC should contact 
Mr. Barry Brayer in writing and postmarked or e-mailed on or before 
March 1, 2007.

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].

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 on 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.; Matthew Zuccaro, Helicopters 
Association International; Chip Dennerlein, Siskiyou Project; Greg 
Miller, American Hiking Society; Mark Peterson, National Audubon 
Society; Don Barger, National Parks Conservation Association; Rory 
Majenty, Hualapai Nation; 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 the 
commercial air tour industry, 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 March 1, 2007. The request should 
indicate whether or not you are a member of an association representing 
commercial air tours 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 NPOAG ARC members is 3 
years.

    Issued in Hawthorne, CA on January 11, 2007.
Barry Brayer,
Manager, Executive Resource Staff, Western-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 07-186 Filed 1-18-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M