2013-10158. Membership in the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group Aviation Rulemaking Committee

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

By Federal Register notice (See 77 FR 27835-27836, May 11, 2012, 77 FR 48201-48202, August 13, 2012, and 78 FR 5242-5243, January 24, 2013) the National Park Service (NPS) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) invited interested persons to apply to fill one opening on the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group (NPOAG) Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) to fill a vacancy representing environmental concerns due to the incumbent member's completion of a three-year term appointment on October 9, 2012. By Federal Register notice (See 78 FR 5242-5243, January 24, 2013) NPS and FAA also invited interested persons to apply to fill one opening on the NPOAG ARC to fill a vacancy representing commercial air tour operator interests due to the incumbent member's completion of a three-year term on May 19, 2013. This notice informs the public of the persons selected to fill these two vacancies on the NPOAG ARC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Keith Lusk, Special Programs Staff, Federal Aviation Administration, Western-Pacific Region Headquarters, P.O. Box 92007, Los Angeles, CA 90009-2007, 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. 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 ARC 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 ARC are as follows:

Heidi Williams representing general aviation; Alan Stephen, Elling Halvorson, and Matthew Zuccaro representing commercial air tour operators; Greg Miller, Kristen Brengel, and Dick Hingson representing environmental interests with one open seat; and Rory Majenty and Martin Begaye representing Native American tribes.

Selection

Selected to fill the seat representing environmental concerns is Michael Sutton who will be filling a currently open seat. Selected to represent commercial air tour operator interests is Mark Francis who will be filling incumbent Elling Halvorson's seat which expires on May 19, 2013. The term of service for NPOAG ARC members is 3 years. Both of these terms will start on May 20, 2013.

Issued in Hawthorne, CA, on April 23, 2013.

Keith Lusk,

Special Programs Staff, Western-Pacific Region.