[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 125 (Tuesday, June 30, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 35605]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-17357]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of the Secretary


Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Public Advisory Group; Request for 
Nominations

AGENCY: Department of the Interior, Office of the Secretary.

ACTION: Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Public Advisory Group Nomination 
Solicitation.

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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 1998.

DATES: All nominations should be received on or before August 21, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Nominations should be sent to the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill 
Trustee Council, 645 G Street, Suite 401, Anchorage, Alaska 99501 (fax: 
907/276-7178).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Douglas Mutter, Designated Federal 
Official, 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, Suite 401, 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 resources damage recoveries obtained 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 Trustees.
    The Public Advisory Group consists of 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, and science/
academic. Two additional ex officio non-voting members are from the 
Alaska State House of Representatives and the Alaska State Senate.
    Nominees need to submit the following information to the Trustee 
Council:
    1. A biographical sketch (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 nominee provide 
the following information with their information packet. If the answer 
to any of these questions is yes, please provide a brief explanation of 
your answer. 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 likely will submit, a proposal for 
funding by the Trustee Council, or 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 to have a direct bearing on the 
financial condition of yourself, your spouse, children, other relative 
with whom you live or your employer?

    Dated: June 24, 1998.
Willie R. Taylor,
Director, Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 98-17357 Filed 6-29-98; 8:45 am]
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