Airspace Management Over the Grand Canyon National Park; Public Meeting

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]

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