Membership in the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group, 21499 [2020-08176]

Agencies

• Federal Aviation Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 75 (Friday, April 17, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 21499]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-08176]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Membership in the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group

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

ACTION: Solicitation of applications.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National 
Park Service (NPS) invite interested persons to apply to fill three 
current and three upcoming vacancies on the National Parks Overflights 
Advisory Group (NPOAG). This notice invites interested persons to apply 
to fill the openings. The current openings include two representatives 
of commercial air tour operators and one representative of Native 
American tribes. The three upcoming openings represent environmental 
concerns.

DATES: Persons interested in these membership openings will need to 
apply by May 15, 2020.

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 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 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 tribes. Members serve three year terms. 
Current members of the NPOAG are as follows:
    Melissa Rudinger representing general aviation; Eric Lincoln 
representing commercial air tour operators, with two current openings; 
Robert Randall, Dick Hingson, Les Blomberg, and John Eastman 
representing environmental interests; and Carl Slater representing 
Native American tribes, with one current opening. The three-year terms 
of Mr. Hingson, Mr. Blomberg, and Mr. Eastman expire on September 2, 
2020.

Selections

    In order to retain balance within the NPOAG, the FAA and NPS are 
seeking candidates interested in filling the two vacant seats 
representing commercial air tour operators and the vacant seat 
representing Native American tribes as well as the three upcoming 
vacancies representing environmental concerns. The FAA and NPS invite 
persons interested in these openings 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 May 15, 2020. Any 
request to fill one of these seats must describe the requestor's 
affiliation with commercial air tour operators, environmental concerns, 
or federally-recognized Native American tribes, as appropriate. The 
request should also explain what expertise the requestor would bring to 
the NPOAG as related to issues and concerns with aircraft flights over 
national parks or tribal lands. The term of service for NPOAG members 
is 3 years. 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 Federal Register 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 April 6, 2020.
Keith Lusk,
Program Manager, Special Programs Staff,Western-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 2020-08176 Filed 4-16-20; 8:45 am]
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