[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 166 (Tuesday, August 27, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68700-68701]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-19195]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Membership in the National Parks Overflight Advisory Group 
(NPOAG)

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

ACTION: Notice of selection to the National Parks Overflight Advisory 
Group.

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SUMMARY: By Federal Register notice on June 26, 2024, the Federal 
Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Park Service (NPS), 
invited interested persons to apply to fill one current and one 
upcoming vacancy on the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group 
(NPOAG). This notice informs the public of the selections made for the 
one current vacancy representing Native American tribes and one 
upcoming vacancy representing commercial air tour operators.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sheri G. Lares, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, telephone: (202) 267-8693, 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

[[Page 68701]]

of 2012. The Act required the establishment of the NPOAG within one 
year after its enactment. The NPOAG was established in March 2001. The 
NPOAG is comprised of a balanced group of representatives of general 
aviation, commercial air tour operators, 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 NPOAG. 
Representatives of the Administrator and Director serve alternating 1-
year terms as chairperson of the NPOAG.
    In accordance with the Act, the NPOAG provides ``advice, 
information, and recommendations to the Administrator and the 
Director--
    1. On 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, on safety, 
environmental, and other issues related to commercial air tour 
operations over national parks or tribal lands.''

Membership

    The current NPOAG is made up of one member representing general 
aviation, three members representing commercial air tour operators, 
four members representing environmental concerns, and two members 
representing Native American tribes. Members serve three-year terms. 
Current members of the NPOAG are as follows: Murray Huling representing 
general aviation; James Viola, John Becker, and one vacancy 
representing commercial air tour operators; Robert Randall, Dick 
Hingson, Les Blomberg, and John Eastman representing environmental 
interests; Carl Slater and one vacancy representing Native American 
tribes.

Selection

    Dyan Youpee of the Fort Peck Assiniboine & Sioux Tribes and Eric 
Hamp of Blue Hawaiian Helicopters have been selected to fill the two 
vacancies for Native American tribes and commercial air tour operators, 
respectively. The three-year term will commence on the publication date 
of this Federal Register notice.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 22, 2024.
Sandra Fox,
Environmental Protection Specialist, Office of Environment and Energy.
[FR Doc. 2024-19195 Filed 8-26-24; 8:45 am]
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