2019-02680. Membership in the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

By Federal Register notice on July 31, 2018 the National Park Service (NPS) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) invited interested persons to apply to fill one current and three future openings on the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group (NPOAG) to represent air tour operator concerns, general aviation, and Native American interests. This notice informs the public of the selection made for the vacancies representing air tour operator concerns and Native American interests and invites persons interested in serving on the NPOAG to apply for current openings representing Native American concerns and general aviation.

DATES:

Persons interested in applying for the NPOAG openings representing Native American concerns and general aviation interests need to apply by March 22, 2019.

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: [phone], email: [e-mail].

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:

One open seat to represent general aviation; Eric Lincoln and Matt Zuccaro representing commercial air tour operators with one open seat; Les Blomberg, Rob Smith, John Eastman, and Dick Hingson representing environmental interests; and two open seats to represent Native American interests.

Selection

Alan Stephen of Grand Canyon Airlines has been selected for the current open seat to represent commercial air tour operators. Carl Slater of the Navajo Nation Division of Transportation has been selected for one of the current open seats to represent Native American interests. These NPOAG members 3 year terms commence on the publication date of this Federal Register notice. No selections were made for the additional opening to represent Native American interests as well as general aviation.

The FAA and NPS invite persons interested in applying for the two remaining openings on the NPOAG to contact Mr. Keith Lusk (contact information is written above in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTAC T). Requests to serve on the NPOAG must be made to Mr. Lusk in writing and postmarked or emailed on or before March 22, 2019. The request should indicate whether or not you are a member of an association or group related to Native American concerns or general aviation or have another affiliation with issues relating to aircraft flights over national parks. 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. 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 January 28, 2019.

Keith Lusk

Program Manager, Special Programs Staff, Western-Pacific Region.