[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 209 (Tuesday, October 31, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50480-50481]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-23672]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Membership in the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Solicitation of applications.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National 
Park Service (NPS) invite interested persons to apply to fill one 
current vacancy and one upcoming vacancy on the National Parks 
Overflights Advisory Group (NPOAG). This notice invites interested 
persons to apply to fill the openings, one of which represents air tour 
operator interests and one of which represents Native American 
concerns.

DATES: Persons interested in these membership openings will need to 
apply by December 8, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith Lusk, Special Programs Staff, 
Federal Aviation Administration, Western-Pacific Region Headquarters, 
15000 Aviation Boulevard, Lawndale, CA 90261, 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 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 
are as follows:
    Melissa Rudinger representing general aviation; Alan Stephen and 
Matt Zuccaro represent commercial air tour operators with one current 
opening; Rob Smith, Dick Hingson, Les Blomberg, and John Eastman 
represent environmental interests; and Leigh Kuwanwisiwma and Martin 
Begaye represent Native American tribes. Mr. Kuwanwisiwma's 3-year term 
expires on April 2, 2018.

Selections

    In order to retain balance within the NPOAG, the FAA and NPS are 
seeking candidates interested in filling one open seat representing air 
tour operator interests and one upcoming vacancy representing Native 
American concerns. The FAA and NPS invite persons interested in these 
openings on the NPOAG to contact Mr. Keith Lusk (contact information is 
written above in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). Requests to serve on 
the NPOAG must be made to Mr. Lusk in writing and postmarked or emailed 
on or before December 8, 2017. The request should indicate whether or 
not you are a member of an air tour operator association or company or 
whether you are a member of a Native American tribe. The request should 
also state what expertise you would bring to the NPOAG as related to 
issues and concerns with aircraft flights over national parks and/or 
tribal lands. The term of service for NPOAG members is 3 years. Current 
members may re-apply for another term.
    On August 13, 2014, the Office of Management and Budget issued 
revised guidance regarding the prohibition against appointing or not 
reappointing federally registered lobbyists to serve on advisory 
committees (79 Federal Register 47482).
    Therefore, before appointing an applicant to serve on the NPOAG, 
the FAA and NPS will require the prospective candidate to certify that

[[Page 50481]]

they are not a federally registered lobbyist.

    Issued in Hawthorne, CA, on October 26, 2017.
Keith Lusk
Program Manager, Special Programs Staff, Western-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 2017-23672 Filed 10-30-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P