[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]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P