[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 135 (Wednesday, July 15, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 41546]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-17383]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Membership in the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group 
Aviation Rulemaking Committee

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: By Federal Register notice (See 80 FR 21294, April 17, 2015) 
the National Park Service (NPS) and the Federal Aviation Administration 
(FAA) invited interested persons to apply to fill three upcoming 
openings on the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group (NPOAG) 
Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC). The notice invited interested 
persons to apply to fill future openings to represent general aviation 
concerns, air tour operator concerns, and Native American interests. 
This notice informs the public of the persons selected to fill two of 
the general aviation and air tour operator future vacancies. No 
selection has been made for the vacancy representing Native American 
interests.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith Lusk, Special Programs Staff, 
Federal Aviation Administration, Western-Pacific Region Headquarters, 
P.O. Box 92007, Los Angeles, CA 90009-2007, telephone: (310) 725-3808, 
email: [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, and subsequently 
amended in the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012. The Act 
required the establishment of the advisory group within 1 year after 
its enactment. The NPOAG was established in March 2001. 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.
    In accordance with the Act, 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.''

Membership

    The current NPOAG ARC is made up of one member representing general 
aviation, three members representing the commercial air tour industry, 
four members representing environmental concerns, and two members 
representing Native American interests. Current members of the NPOAG 
ARC are as follows:
    Heidi Williams representing general aviation; Alan Stephen, Matt 
Zuccaro, and Mark Francis representing commercial air tour operators; 
Mark Belles, Nicholas Miller, Michael Sutton, and Dick Hingson 
representing environmental interests; and Leigh Kuwanwisiwma and Martin 
Begaye representing Native American tribes. The 3-year membership terms 
of Ms. Williams, Mr. Stephen, and Mr. Begaye expire on October 9, 2015.

Selection

    The person selected to fill the upcoming open seat representing 
general aviation concerns is Melissa Rudinger and the person selected 
to fill the upcoming open seat representing air tour operator concerns 
is Alan Stephen. Mr. Stephen is a current member and will serve another 
term. Their 3-year terms will begin on October 10, 2015. No persons 
expressed interest in filling the upcoming opening to represent Native 
American interests. The FAA and NPS will solicit interest for this 
opening in another Federal Register notice in the near future.

    Issued in Hawthorne, CA, on July 9, 2015.
Keith Lusk,
Program Manager, Special Programs Staff, Western-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 2015-17383 Filed 7-14-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P