[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 33 (Tuesday, February 19, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 4891]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-02680]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Membership in the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: By Federal Register notice on July 31, 2018 the National Park 
Service (NPS) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) invited 
interested persons to apply to fill one current and three future 
openings on the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group (NPOAG) to 
represent air tour operator concerns, general aviation, and Native 
American interests. This notice informs the public of the selection 
made for the vacancies representing air tour operator concerns and 
Native American interests and invites persons interested in serving on 
the NPOAG to apply for current openings representing Native American 
concerns and general aviation.

DATES: Persons interested in applying for the NPOAG openings 
representing Native American concerns and general aviation interests 
need to apply by March 22, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith Lusk, Special Programs Staff, 
Federal Aviation Administration, Western-Pacific Region Headquarters, 
727 S Aviation Boulevard, Suite #150, El Segundo, CA 90245, telephone: 
(424) 405-7017, 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 one 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 
one-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. Members serve 3-year terms. 
Current members of the NPOAG are as follows:
    One open seat to represent general aviation; Eric Lincoln and Matt 
Zuccaro representing commercial air tour operators with one open seat; 
Les Blomberg, Rob Smith, John Eastman, and Dick Hingson representing 
environmental interests; and two open seats to represent Native 
American interests.

Selection

    Alan Stephen of Grand Canyon Airlines has been selected for the 
current open seat to represent commercial air tour operators. Carl 
Slater of the Navajo Nation Division of Transportation has been 
selected for one of the current open seats to represent Native American 
interests. These NPOAG members 3 year terms commence on the publication 
date of this Federal Register notice. No selections were made for the 
additional opening to represent Native American interests as well as 
general aviation.
    The FAA and NPS invite persons interested in applying for the two 
remaining 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 March 22, 2019. The request should 
indicate whether or not you are a member of an association or group 
related to Native American concerns or general aviation 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 as related to issues and concerns with aircraft flights over 
national parks. 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 FR 47482).
    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 El Segundo, CA, on January 28, 2019.
Keith Lusk
Program Manager, Special Programs Staff, Western-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 2019-02680 Filed 2-15-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P