[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 142 (Wednesday, July 28, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40676-40677]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-15978]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Membership in the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, (FAA), Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Solicitation of applications.

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SUMMARY: By Federal Register notice on May 6, 2021, the Federal 
Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Park Service (NPS) 
invited interested persons to apply to fill one existing and one 
upcoming vacancy on the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group 
(NPOAG). This notice informs the public of the selection made for the 
one upcoming vacancy representing air tour operator 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.

DATES: Persons interested in applying for the NPOAG opening 
representing Native American concerns will need to apply by August 31, 
2021.

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 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

[[Page 40677]]

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; John Becker, James 
Viola, and Eric Lincoln representing commercial air tour operators with 
one upcoming opening due to Eric Lincoln's 3-year term ending; Dick 
Hingson, Les Blomberg, Robert Randall, and John Eastman representing 
environmental interests; and Carl Slater represents Native American 
tribes with one current opening.

Selections

    Eric Lincoln has been chosen for another 3-year term as the air 
tour operator 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 August 31, 2021. The request should 
indicate whether or not you are a member of, or have an affiliation 
with, a federally recognized 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 July 21, 2021.
Keith Lusk,
Program Manager, Special Programs Staff, Western-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 2021-15978 Filed 7-27-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P