[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 106 (Monday, June 3, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25604-25605]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-11499]


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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 and two upcoming vacancies on the National Parks Overflights 
Advisory Group (NPOAG). This notice invites interested persons to apply 
to fill the openings. The current opening represents Native American 
tribal concerns and the two upcoming openings represent air tour 
operator interests and environmental concerns, respectively.

DATES: Persons interested in these membership openings will need to 
apply by July 5, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith Lusk, Special Programs Staff, 
Federal Aviation Administration, Western-Pacific Region Headquarters, 
777 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

[[Page 25605]]

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, Eric 
Lincoln, and Matt Zuccaro represent commercial air tour operators; Rob 
Smith, Dick Hingson, Les Blomberg, and John Eastman represent 
environmental interests; and Carl Slater represents Native American 
tribes with one current opening. Mr. Smith's 3-year term expires on 
July 4, 2019 and Mr. Zuccaro's 3-year term expires on September 9, 
2019.

Selections

    In order to retain balance within the NPOAG, the FAA and NPS are 
seeking candidates interested in filling the one vacant seat 
representing Native American tribal concerns and the two upcoming 
vacant seats representing air tour operator interests and environmental 
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 July 5, 2019. The request should indicate whether or not you 
are a member of a Native American tribe, an air tour operator 
association or company, or whether you are a member of an environmental 
group or association. 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 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 May 21, 2019.
Keith Lusk,
Program Manager, Special Programs Staff, Western-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 2019-11499 Filed 5-31-19; 8:45 am]
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