[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 181 (Tuesday, September 17, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48961-48962]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-23782]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of the Secretary


Request for Nominations

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of request for nominations.

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SUMMARY: The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council is soliciting 
nominations for the Public Advisory Group, which advises the Trustee 
Council on decisions related to the planning, evaluation, and conduct 
of injury assessment and restoration activities using funds obtained 
for purposes of restoration as part of the civil settlement pursuant to 
the T/V Exxon Valdez oil spill of 1989. Public Advisory Group members 
will be selected to serve a two-year term beginning in October 1996.

DATES: All nominations should be received on or before October 14, 
1996.

ADDRESSES: Nominations should be sent to the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill 
Trustee Council, 645 G Street, Anchorage, Alaska 99501 (fax: 907/276-
7178).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Douglas Mutter, Designated Federal 
Officer, Department of the Interior, Office of Environmental Policy and 
Compliance, 1689 ``C'' Street, Suite 119, Anchorage, Alaska, 99501, 
(907) 271-5011; or Cherri Womac, Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee 
Council, 645 G Street, Anchorage, Alaska, (907) 278-8012 or (800) 478-
7745. A copy of the charter for the Public Advisory Group is available 
upon request.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Public Advisory Group was created by 
Paragraph V.A.4 of the Memorandum of Agreement and Consent Decree 
entered into by the United States of America and the State of Alaska on 
August 27, 1991 and approved by the United States District Court for 
the District of Alaska in settlement of United States of America v. 
State of Alaska, Civil Action No. A91-081 CV. The Public Advisory Group 
was created to advise the Trustee Council on matters relating to 
decisions on injury assessment, restoration activities, or other use of 
natural resource damages recovered by the governments.
    The Trustee Council consists of representatives of the State of 
Alaska Attorney General; Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Fish 
and Game; Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Environmental 
Conservation; the Secretary of the Interior; the Secretary of 
Agriculture; and the Administrator of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. Appointment to 
the Public Advisory Group will be made by the Secretary of the Interior 
with unanimous approval of the other Trustees.
    The Public Advisory Group has openings for 17 members, representing 
the public at large (5 members) and the following special interests: 
aquaculture, commercial fishing, commercial tourism, forest products, 
environmental, conservation, local government, Native landowners, 
recreation users, sport hunting and fishing, subsistence users, and 
scientists and academics. Two additional ex officio non-voting members 
are from the Alaska State House of Representatives and the Alaska State 
Senate.
    Parties who wish to make nominations must submit the following 
information to the Trustee Council:
    1. A biographical sketch of the nominee (education, experience, 
address, telephone, fax);
    2. Information about the nominee's knowledge of the region, 
peoples, or principal economic and social activities of the area 
affected by the T/V Exxon Valdez oil spill, or expertise in public 
lands and resource management;
    3. Information about the nominee's relationship/involvement (if 
any) with the principal interest to be represented;
    4. A statement explaining any unique contributions the nominee will 
make to the Public Advisory Group and why the nominee should be 
appointed to serve as a member;
    5. Any additional relevant information that would assist the 
Trustee Council in making a recommendation; and
    6. Answers to the conflict of interest questions listed below. 
Public Advisory Group members and their alternates are chosen to 
represent a broad range of interests. It is possible that action could 
be taken by the Public Advisory Group when one or more of the members 
have a direct personal conflict of interest which would prejudice and 
call into question the entire public process. To avoid this and to 
enable the Trustee Council to choose appropriate individuals as members 
and/or alternates to members, it is necessary that each nomination 
packet provide the following information. If the answer to any of these 
questions is ``yes,'' please provide a brief explanation. A ``yes'' 
will not necessarily preclude any nominee from being appointed to serve 
on the Public Advisory Group.
    a. Do you, your spouse, children, any relative with whom you live, 
or your employer have, or are you defending, a claim filed before any 
court or administrative tribunal based upon damages caused by the T/V 
Exxon Valdez oil spill?
    b. Do you, your spouse, children, any relative with whom you live, 
or your employer own any property or interest in property which has 
been, or is likely to be, proposed for acquisition by the Trustee 
Council?
    c. Have you, your spouse, children, any relative with whom you live 
or your employer submitted, or are you likely to submit, a proposal for 
funding by the Trustee Council; are you or are you likely to be a 
direct beneficiary of such a proposal?
    d. Do you know of any other potential actions of the Trustee 
Council or the Public Advisory Group that would have a direct bearing 
on the financial condition of yourself, your spouse,

[[Page 48962]]

children, other relative with whom you live, or your employer?
Willie R. Taylor,
Director, Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 96-23782 Filed 9-16-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-RG-P