[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 124 (Wednesday, June 28, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33452-33454]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-15897]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Parks Service
[Docket No. 25149]
Airspace Management Over the Grand Canyon National Park; Public
Meeting
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT and National Parks
Service (NPS), DOI.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the date, time, and location of a public
meeting to address issues related to Special Federal Aviation
Regulations for the Grand Canyon (SFAR No. 50-2). In October 1994, the
National Parks Service submitted its Report to Congress as required by
Public Law 100-91. The purpose of this meeting is to provide the
[[Page 33453]] public with the opportunity to provide comments on
improving SFAR No. 50-2 with respect to safety and mitigating the noise
impacts of aircraft overflights of the Grand Canyon.
DATES: The meeting will be held on August 30, 1995, in two sessions.
The first session will begin at 1 p.m.; the second session will begin
at 7 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Best Western Woodlands Plaza
Hotel, 1175 West Route 66, Flagstaff, Arizona (520) 773-8888.
Persons unable to attend the meeting may mail their comments in
triplicate to: Federal Aviation Administration, Office of the Chief
Counsel, Rules Docket (AGC-200), Docket No. 25149, 800 Independence
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591. Written comments are invited and
must be received on or before September 8, 1995
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests to present a statement at the
meeting or questions regarding the logistics of the meeting should be
directed to Effie Upshaw, FAA, Office of Rulemaking, 800 Independence
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone (202) 267-7626.
Questions concerning the subject matter of the meeting should be
directed to Ellen Crum, telephone (202) 267-8783, FAA, Air Traffic
Rules Branch, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On March 26, 1987, the FAA issued SFAR No. 50 (subsequently amended
on June 15, 1987; 52 FR 22734) establishing flight regulations in the
vicinity of the Grand Canyon. The purpose of the SFAR was to reduce the
risk of midair collision, reduce the risk of terrain contact accidents
below the rim level, and reduce the impact of aircraft noise on the
park environment.
On August 18, 1987, Congress enacted legislation that, in part,
required a study of aircraft noise impacts at a number of national
parks and imposed flight restrictions at three parks: Grand Canyon
National Park in Arizona, Yosemite National Park in California, and
Haleakala National Park in Hawaii (Pub. L. 100-91, the National Park
Overflights Act of 1987).
As part of Public Law 100-91, the NPS was required to evaluate
whether the Grand Canyon airspace management plan (now known as SFAR
50-2) ``has succeeded in substantially restoring the natural quiet in
the park;'' and ``such other matters, including possible revisions in
the plan, as may be of interest.'' In that legislation, Congress found
that ``Noise associated with aircraft overflights at the Grand Canyon
National Park is causing a significant adverse effect on the natural
quiet and experience of the park * * *.''
Further, Public Law 100-91 required the FAA to prepare and issue a
final plan for the management of air traffic above the Grand Canyon. In
December 1987, the DOI transmitted to the FAA its recommendations for
an aircraft management plan at the Grand Canyon which included both
rulemaking and nonrulemaking actions. If the FAA determined that
executing the recommendations would adversely affect aviation safety,
the FAA was required to revise the DOI recommendations to resolve the
safety impact and to issue regulations implementing the revised
recommendations in the plan.
On May 27, 1988, the FAA issued SFAR No. 50-2 revising the
procedures for operation of aircraft in the airspace above the Grand
Canyon (53 FR 20264, June 2, 1988). The rule implemented DOI's
preliminary recommendations for an airspace management plan with some
modifications that the FAA initiated in the interest of aviation
safety.
A further requirement of Public Law 100-91 relative to the FAA's
plan (SFAR No. 50-2) was that the NPS study and discuss: ``(A) whether
the plan has succeeded in substantially restoring the natural quiet in
the park; and (B) such other matters, including possible revisions in
the plan, as may be of interest.'' The NPS submitted its Report to
Congress in October 1994. On June 15, 1995, the FAA extended the
expiration date of SFAR No. 50-2 from June 15, 1995, to June 15, 1997,
to allow the FAA sufficient time to review thoroughly the NPS
recommendations as to their impact on the safety of air traffic at the
Grand Canyon National Bank (60 FR 31608).
The FAA and the NPS have sought to keep this process open to the
public. The two agencies jointly published an advance notice of
proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) (59 FR 12740) on March 17, 1994, seeking
public comment on general policy and specific recommendations for
voluntary and regulatory actions to address the impact of aircraft
overflights of national parks. That same month, the two agencies hosted
a workshop entitled, ``Finding a Balance'' at Flagstaff, Arizona for
all interested parties. This meeting is a part of the commitment to
continuing that open process.
The NPS report makes recommendations for changes to the SFAR,
primarily related to achieving and maintaining the substantial
restoration of natural quiet over time and in respect to a growing air
tour industry. While the FAA evaluates the NPS recommendations, both
agencies are seeking public comment on how the SFAR can be improved
with respect to better achieving the congressional intent of
``providing for substantial restoration of natural quiet and experience
of the park and protection of public health and safety * * *'' and how
this can be done safely for the benefit of everyone involved.
The NPS report recommendations involved (1) expansion of flight-
free zones, (2) introduction of quiet aircraft technology, and (3)
other measures designed to minimize the impact of aircraft noise on the
park. Based on these recommendations, public comment at the meeting is
sought on the following specific questions:
Can air tour operations be regulated differently, in ways
that will better contribute to restoring or maintaining the substantial
restoration of natural quiet while maintaining or improving safety?
How? What are the implications of those changes?
Should the future growth of the air tour industry be
managed to maintain the natural quiet of the park? How?
How effectively can quiet aircraft technology contribute
to the substantial restoration of natural quiet at Grand Canyon? In
what timeframe should this technology be considered? What would be the
impact on tour operators to acquire and use quiet aircraft technology?
How many tour operators currently use or have plans to use quiet
aircraft technology? If beneficial, what incentives need to be
considered?
Given appropriate timeframes, can a viable air tour
industry be maintained with the establishment of ``quiet aircraft''
routes? With the future closure of the Dragon Flight Corridor and
rerouting of traffic on a new route to the east?
How can enlargement of the flight-free zones effectively
contribute to the restoration of natural quiet at the Grand Canyon? Are
there any economic impacts associated with these types of actions?
What, if any, impact would result from the imposition of
one-way traffic on commercial tour routes in the flight corridors
across the Grand Canyon (a measure recommended to mitigate noise in
some corridors)?
Would establishment of ``no fly'' periods impact air tour
operators and other visitors to the park? What time periods should be
considered?
Would expanding the special flight rules area ceiling from
14,499 to 17,999 feet mean sea level effectively
[[Page 33454]] contribute to aiding or maintaining a substantial
restoration of natural quiet at Grand Canyon? Is there a more
appropriate altitude? Are there safety concerns associated with this?
What other actions can be taken to assist in maintaining
safety and the ``natural quiet'' of the park environment?
Participation at the Meeting
Requests from persons who wish to present oral statements at the
public meeting should be received by the FAA no later than August 24,
1995. Such requests should be submitted to Effie Upshaw as listed in
the section titled FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, and should include
a written summary of oral remarks to be presented and an estimate of
time needed for the presentation. Requests received after the date
specified above will be scheduled if time is available during the
meeting; however, the names of those individuals may not appear on the
written agenda. The FAA will prepare an agenda of speakers who will be
available at the meeting. To accommodate as many speakers as possible,
the amount of time allocated to each speaker may be less than the
amount of time requested.
Meeting Procedures
The following procedures are established to facilitate the meeting:
(1) There will be no admission fee or other charge to attend or to
participate in the meeting. The meeting will be open to all persons who
have requested in advance to present statements or who register on the
day of the meeting subject to availability of space in the meeting
room. (Registration will open 30 minutes before the beginning of each
session.)
(2) The meeting may adjourn early if scheduled speakers complete
their statements in less time than currently is scheduled for the
meeting.
(3) An individual, whether speaking in a personal or a
representative capacity on behalf of an organization, may be limited to
a 10-minute statement. If possible, we will notify the speaker if
additional time is available.
(4) The FAA/NPS will try to accommodate all speakers. If the
available time does not permit this, speakers generally will be
scheduled on a first-come-first-served basis. However, the FAA/NPS
reserves the right to exclude some speakers if necessary to present a
balance of viewpoints and issues.
(5) Sign and oral interpretation can be made available at the
meeting, as well as an assistive listening device, if requested at the
above number 10 calendar days before the meeting.
(6) Representatives of the FAA and NPS will preside over the
meeting. A panel of FAA and NPS personnel involved in this issue will
be present.
(7) The meeting will be recorded by a court reporter. A transcript
of the meeting and any material accepted by the panel during the
meeting will be included in the public docket. Any person who is
interested in purchasing a copy of the transcript should contact the
court reporter directly. This information will be available at the
meeting.
(8) Position papers or material presenting views or information on
airspace management over the Grand Canyon will be accepted at the
discretion of the presiding officer and subsequently placed in the
public docket. The FAA/NPS requests that persons participating in the
meeting provide 10 copies of all materials to be presented for
distribution to the panel members; other copies may be provided to the
audience at the discretion of the participant.
(9) Statements made by members of the meeting panel are intended to
facilitate discussion of the issues or to clarify issues. Any statement
made during the meeting by a member of the panel is not intended to be,
and should not be construed as, a position of the FAA/NPS.
(10) The meeting is designed to solicit public views and more
complete information on the airspace management at the Grand Canyon.
Therefore, the meeting will be conducted in an informal and
nonadversarial manner. No individual will be subject to cross-
examination by any other participant; however, panel members may ask
questions to clarify a statement and to ensure a complete and accurate
record.
Issued in Washington, DC on June 16, 1995.
Harold W. Becker,
Manager, Airspace-Rules and Aeronautical Information Division, Federal
Aviation Administration.
Dr. Wesley R. Henry,
Overflight Issues Coordinator, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 95-15897 Filed 6-27-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M
