Document ID: FAA-2013-0259-3402
Agency: faa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Request for Membership Applications: National Parks Overflights Advisory Group
Posted Date: 2022-09-14T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 177 (Wednesday, September 14, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56484-56485]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-19820]

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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: By Federal Register notice on August 8, 2022 the Federal 
Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Park Service (NPS) 
invited interested persons to apply to fill one existing and one 
upcoming vacancy on the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group 
(NPOAG). This notice informs the

[[Page 56485]]

public of the selection made for the one upcoming vacancy representing 
environmental concerns. No selection was made for the existing opening 
representing Native American tribal concerns so this notice also 
invites persons interested in that opening to apply.

DATES: Persons interested in applying for the NPOAG opening 
representing Native American concerns will need to apply by October 31, 
2022.

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 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 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 
are as follows:
    Murray Huling representing general aviation; John Becker, James 
Viola, and Eric Lincoln representing commercial air tour operators; 
Dick Hingson, Les Blomberg, Robert Randall, and John Eastman 
representing environmental interests; and Carl Slater represents Native 
American tribes with one current opening.

Selection

    Robert Randall, a member of the National Parks Conservation 
Association, has been selected for another 3 year term to represent 
environmental concerns. NPOAG members' 3-year terms commence on the 
publication date of this Federal Register notice. No selection was made 
for the additional opening to represent Native American concerns. The 
FAA and NPS invite persons interested in applying for this remaining 
opening 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 October 31, 2022. The request should indicate whether or 
not you are a member of, or have an affiliation with, a federally 
recognized Native American tribe. 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 and/or tribal lands. 
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 September 8, 2022.
Keith Lusk,
Program Manager, Special Programs Staff, Western-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 2022-19820 Filed 9-13-22; 8:45 am]
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