[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 182 (Thursday, September 19, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 49375]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-20326]
[[Page 49375]]
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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: By Federal Register notice on June 3, 2019 the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Park Service (NPS)
invited interested persons to apply to fill one existing and two
upcoming vacancies on the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group
(NPOAG). This notice informs the public of the selections made for the
vacancies representing air tour operator and environmental concerns. No
selection was made for the existing opening representing Native
American tribal concerns so this notice also invites persons interested
in that opening to apply. Persons previously submitting applications
for the Native American tribal representative opening will need to
resubmit their application.
DATES: Persons interested in applying for the NPOAG opening
representing Native American concerns will need to apply by October 31,
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 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
Eric Lincoln representing commercial air tour operators with one
current opening; Dick Hingson, Les Blomberg, and John Eastman
representing environmental interests with one current opening; and Carl
Slater represents Native American tribes with one current opening.
Selections
Matt Zuccaro of Helicopter Association International has been
chosen for the air tour operator representative and Robert Randall, a
member of the National Parks Conservation Association, has been chosen
for the environmental representative. NPOAG members' 3-year terms
commence on the publication date of this Federal Register notice. No
selection was made for the additional opening to represent Native
American concerns. The FAA and NPS invite persons interested in
applying for this remaining opening 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 October 31, 2019. The
request should indicate whether or not 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 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 September 11, 2019.
Keith Lusk,
Program Manager, Special Programs Staff, Western-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 2019-20326 Filed 9-18-19; 8:45 am]
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