[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 63 (Friday, April 2, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16899-16900]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-7548]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment and 
Request for Public Scoping Comments for the Air Tour Management Plan 
Program at Mount Rainier National Park

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental assessment and to 
request public scoping comments.

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SUMMARY: The FAA, with National Park Service (NPS) as a cooperating 
agency, has initiated development of an Air Tour Management Plan (ATMP) 
for Mount Rainier National Park (MORA), pursuant to the National Parks 
Air Tour Management Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-181) and its implementing 
regulations (14 CFR part 136, subpart B, National Parks Air Tour 
Management). The objective of the ATMP is to develop acceptable and 
effective measures to mitigate or prevent the significant adverse 
impacts, if any, of commercial air tour operations upon the natural 
resources, cultural resources, and visitor

[[Page 16900]]

experiences of a national park unit and any tribal lands within or 
abutting the park. It should be noted that the ATMP has no 
authorization over other non-air-tour operations such as military and 
general aviation operations. In compliance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and FAA Order 1050.1E, CHG 1, 
an Environmental Assessment is being prepared.
    In October 2009, the NPS and FAA held a two-day kickoff meeting at 
MORA; minutes may be found at: http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/arc/programs/air_tour_management_plan/park_specific_plans/mountrainier.cfm.
    The purpose of the kickoff meeting was for the FAA and NPS to have 
the opportunity to share information regarding environmental and other 
issues to consider in the development of an ATMP. Materials presented 
at the meeting included information on: park resources; the acoustical 
environment at MORA; current and historical air tour operations; and 
representative air tour flight paths. In addition, MORA staff provided 
information regarding sensitive park resources, tribal concerns, and 
tourism patterns. Based on input received at the meeting, the FAA and 
NPS have decided to proceed with developing the ATMP at MORA with an 
Environmental Assessment (EA).
    The FAA and NPS are now inviting the public, agencies, tribes, and 
other interested parties to provide comments, suggestions, and input on 
the scope of issues to be addressed in the environmental process.

DATES: By this notice, the FAA is requesting comments on the scope of 
the environmental assessment for the ATMP at Mount Rainier National 
Park. Comments must be submitted by May 3, 2010.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith Lusk--Mailing address: P.O. Box 
92007, Los Angeles, California 90009-2007. Telephone: (310) 725-3808. 
Street address: 15000 Aviation Boulevard, Lawndale, California 90261. 
E-mail: [email protected].
    Written comments on the scope of the Environmental Assessment 
should be submitted electronically via the electronic public comment 
form on the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment System at: 
http://parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?parkId=323&projectId=29122, 
or sent to the mailing address or e-mail address above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A public scoping packet that describes the 
project in greater detail is available at:
     http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/arc/programs/air_tour_management_plan/park_specific_plans/mountrainier.cfm.
     Longmire Museum, Mount Rainier National Park.
     Henry M Jackson Memorial Visitor Center at Paradise, Mount 
Rainier National Park.
     Ohanapecosh Visitor Center, Mount Rainier National Park.
     Sunrise Visitor Center, Mount Rainier National Park.
     Eatonville Library.
     Puyallop Library.
     Enumclaw City Library.
     Buckley Library.
     Tacoma Public Library.
     Yakima Valley Regional Library.
     Environmental Ctr. Resource Library, Huxley College of 
Environmental Studies, Western Washington University.
     http://parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?parkId=323&projectId=29122.
    Notice Regarding FOIA: Individuals may request that their name and/
or address be withheld from public disclosure. If you wish to do this, 
you must state this prominently at the beginning of your comment. 
Commentators using the website can make such a request by checking the 
box ``keep my contact information private.'' Such requests will be 
honored to the extent allowable by law, but you should be aware that 
pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, your name and address may 
be disclosed. We will make all submissions from organizations, 
businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as 
representatives or officials of organizations or businesses available 
for public inspection in their entirety.

    Issued in Hawthorne, CA on March 28, 2010.
Keith Lusk,
Program Manager, Special Programs Staff, Western-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 2010-7548 Filed 4-1-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P