[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 13 (Friday, January 18, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 3510]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 08-163]



[[Page 3510]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Membership Availability in the National Parks Overflights 
Advisory Group Aviation Rulemaking Committee--Representatives of 
Environmental Concerns

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 (due to completion of membership on May 30, 2008), on 
the NPOAG (now the NPOAG Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC)) for 
representatives of environmental concerns and invites interested 
persons to apply to fill the vacancies. A previous notice was published 
in the Federal Register on October 29, 2007, but only drew a limited 
response. This notice is being re-published to identify additional 
qualified candidates.

DATES: Persons interested in serving on the NPOAG ARC should contact 
Mr. Barry Brayer in writing and postmarked or e-mailed on or before 
February 15, 2008. If you had previously submitted a request to be 
considered for these two NPOAG ARC positions in response to the October 
29, 2007 notice, you do not need to re-submit your request.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barry Brayer, AWP-1SP, Special 
Programs Staff, Federal Aviation Administration, Western-Pacific Region 
Headquarters, P.O. Box 92007, Los Angeles, CA 90009-2007, telephone: 
(310) 725-3800, e-mail: [email protected] or Karen Trevino, National 
Park Service, Natural Sounds Program, 1201 Oakridge Dr., Suite 100, 
Fort 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.; 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 
environmental concerns, 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. Bryer in writing and 
postmarked or e-mailed on or before February 15, 2008. The request 
should indicate whether or not you are a member of an association or 
group related to environmental issues or concerns 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 concerns. The term of service 
for NPOAG ARC members is 3 years.

    Issued in Hawthorne, CA on January 3, 2008.
William C. Withycombe,
Regional Administrator, Western-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 08-163 Filed 1-17-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M