[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 146 (Friday, July 29, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 50046]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-17564]



[[Page 50046]]

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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: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National 
Park Service (NPS) are inviting interested persons to apply to fill one 
upcoming opening on the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group 
(NPOAG) Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC). The upcoming opening will 
represent commercial air tour operator interests. The selected member 
will serve a 3-year term.

DATES: Persons interested in applying for the NPOAG opening 
representing air tour operator interests need to apply by August 26, 
2016.

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. 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 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:
    The current NPOAG consists of Melissa Rudinger representing general 
aviation; Alan Stephen, Mark Francis, and Matthew Zuccaro representing 
commercial air tour operators; Rob Smith, Nicholas Miller, Mark Belles, 
and Dick Hingson representing environmental interests; and Leigh 
Kuwanwisiwma and Martin Begaye representing Native American interests. 
Mr. Zuccaro's 3-year membership expires on September 9, 2016.

Selection

    In order to retain balance within the NPOAG ARC, the FAA and NPS 
are seeking candidates interested in filling Mr. Zuccaro's soon to be 
expiring seat. The open seat to be filled will represent air tour 
operator interests. The FAA and NPS invite persons interested in 
representing air tour operator interests on the ARC to contact Mr. 
Keith Lusk (contact information is written above in FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT). Requests to serve on the ARC must be made to Mr. 
Lusk in writing and postmarked or emailed on or before August 26, 2016. 
The request should indicate whether or not you are a member of an 
association or firm related to the air tour industry.. The request 
should also state what expertise you would bring to the NPOAG ARC as 
related to issues and concerns with aircraft flights over national 
parks. The term of service for NPOAG ARC members is 3 years. Current 
members may re-apply for another term.
    On June 18, 2010, President Obama signed a Presidential Memorandum 
directing agencies in the Executive Branch not to appoint or re-appoint 
federally registered lobbyists to advisory committees and other boards 
and commissions. Therefore, before appointing an applicant to serve on 
the NPOAG, the FAA and NPS will require the prospective candidate to 
certify that they are not a federally registered lobbyist.

    Issued in Hawthorne, CA, on July 19, 2016.
Keith Lusk,
Program Manager, Special Programs Staff, Western-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 2016-17564 Filed 7-28-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P