[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 169 (Monday, August 31, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53902-53903]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-19064]


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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 April 17, 2020 the National Park 
Service (NPS) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) invited 
interested persons to apply to fill three current and three future 
openings on the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group (NPOAG) to 
represent air tour operator and environmental concerns and Native 
American interests. This notice informs the public of the selection 
made for the vacancies representing air tour operator and environmental 
concerns and invites persons interested in serving on the NPOAG to 
apply for the ongoing current opening representing Native American 
concerns.

DATES: Persons interested in applying for the NPOAG opening 
representing Native American interests need to apply by September 30, 
2020.

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:
    Melissa Rudinger represents general aviation; Eric Lincoln 
represents commercial air tour operators with two open seats; Les 
Blomberg, Robert Randall, John Eastman, and Dick Hingson represent 
environmental interests; and Carl Slater represents Native American 
interests with one open seat.

Selection

    John Becker of Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters and James Viola of 
Helicopter Association International have been selected for the two 
current open seats to represent commercial air tour operators. 
Incumbents Les Blomberg of the Noise Pollution Clearinghouse, John 
Eastman of the Jackson Hole Airport Board, and Dick Hingson of the 
Sierra Club have been selected to serve new 3 year terms when their 
current membership expires in September. No selection was made for the 
current open seat representing Native American interests. These NPOAG 
members 3 year terms commence on the publication date of this Federal 
Register notice.
    The FAA and NPS invite persons interested in applying for the one 
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 September 30, 2020. The request 
should indicate your affiliation with federally-recognized Native 
American tribes, as

[[Page 53903]]

appropriate. The request should also state what expertise you would 
bring to the NPOAG as related to issues and concerns with aircraft 
flights over tribal lands and national parks. The term of service for 
NPOAG members is 3 years.
    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 August 26, 2020.
Keith Lusk,
Program Manager, Special Programs Staff, Western-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 2020-19064 Filed 8-28-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P