[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 210 (Monday, November 1, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58809-58812]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-28572]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket No. 990810211-9211-01]
RIN 0648-ZA69


National Sea Grant College Program--National Marine Fisheries 
Service Joint Graduate Fellowship Programs in Population Dynamics and 
Marine Resource Economics

AGENCY: National Sea Grant College Program, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice is to announce that the National Sea Grant College 
Program Office (NSGO), in fulfilling its broad educational 
responsibilities and to strengthen its collaboration with the National 
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), and NMFS, in fulfilling its 
responsibilities to manage, conserve, and protect the Nation's living 
marine resources within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone and to provide 
the sound scientific information and analyses necessary for those 
purposes, have jointly established and are accepting applications for 
two new Graduate Fellowship Programs in (1) Population Dynamics and (2) 
Marine Resource Economics. Each program will provide grants to support 
two graduate students enrolled in relevant PhD degree programs in any 
university in the United States. Fellows would work on thesis problems 
of public interest and relevance and have summer internships under the 
guidance of a NMFS mentor at participating NMFS Science Centers, 
Laboratories, or Regional Offices. Applications must be submitted 
through one of the state Sea Grant Programs (see below).

DATES: Applications must be received by February 15, 2000 by a state 
Sea Grant Program.

ADDRESSES: Applications should be addressed to a state Sea Grant 
Program. Contact the appropriate state Sea Grant Program from the list 
below to obtain the mailing address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information can be obtained from Dr. 
Emory D. Anderson, Program Director for Fisheries, National Sea Grant 
College Program, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, tel: 
(301) 713-2435 ext. 144, e-mail: [email protected]; from any 
state Sea Grant Program (see below); or from any participating NMFS 
facility (see below).
Sea Grant Programs
University of Alaska, (907) 474-7086
University of California, (619) 534-4440
University of Connecticut, (860) 405-9128
University of Delaware, (302) 831-2841
University of Florida, (352) 392-5870
University of Georgia, (706) 542-6009
University of Hawaii, (808) 956-7031
University of Illinois, (765) 494-3593
Louisiana State University, (225) 388-6710
University of Maine, (207) 581-1436
University of Maryland, (301) 405-6209
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, (617) 253-7131
University of Michigan, (734) 763-1437
University of Minnesota, (218) 726-8106
Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, (228) 875-9341
University of New Hampshire, (603) 862-0122
New Jersey Marine Science Consortium, (732) 872-1300
State University of New York, (516) 632-6905
University of North Carolina, (919) 515-2454
Ohio State University, (614) 292-8949
Oregon State University, (541) 737-2714
University of Puerto Rico, (787) 832-3585
Purdue University, (765) 494-3593
University of Rhode Island, (401) 874-6800
South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium, (843) 727-2078
University of Southern California, (213) 740-1961
Texas A&M University, (409) 845-3854
Virginia Graduate Marine Science Consortium, (804) 924-5965
University of Washington, (206) 543-6600
University of Wisconsin, (608) 262-0905
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, (508) 289-2557
Participating NMFS Facilities (for Population Dynamics Program)
Alaska Fisheries Science Center
    Auke Bay Laboratory, Juneau, AK; Contact person: Phillip Rigby; 
Tel: (907) 789-6653; E-mail: [email protected]
    National Marine Mammal Laboratory, Seattle, WA; Contact person: 
Douglas DeMaster; Tel: (206) 526-4047; E-mail: 
[email protected]
    Resource Ecology and Fisheries Management Division, Seattle, WA; 
Contact person: Richard Marasco; Tel: (206) 526-4172; E-mail: 
[email protected]
Northwest Fisheries Science Center
    Montlake Laboratory, Seattle, WA; Contact person: Linda Jones; Tel: 
(206) 860-3200; E-mail: [email protected]
    Mark O. Hatfield Marine Science Center, Newport, OR; Contact 
person: Linda Jones; Tel: (206) 860-3200; E-mail: [email protected]
Northeast Fisheries Science Center
    Woods Hole Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA; Contact person: Fredric 
Serchuk; Tel: (508) 495-2245; E-mail: [email protected]
Southeast Fisheries Science Center
    Miami Laboratory, Miami, FL; Contact person: Joseph Powers; Tel: 
(305) 361-4295; E-mail: [email protected]
    Beaufort Laboratory, Beaufort, NC; Contact person: Douglas Vaughan; 
Tel: (252) 728-8761; E-mail: [email protected]
Southwest Fisheries Science Center
    La Jolla Laboratory, La Jolla, CA; Contact person: Russell Vetter; 
Tel: (619) 546-7125; E-mail: [email protected]
    Pacific Fisheries Environmental

[[Page 58810]]

Laboratory, Pacific Grove, CA; Contact person: George Boehlert; Tel: 
(831) 648-8447; E-mail: [email protected]
    Honolulu Laboratory, Honolulu, HI; Contact person: Jerry Wetherall; 
Tel: (808) 983-5386; E-mail: [email protected]
    Santa Cruz/Tiburon Laboratory, Tiburon, CA; Contact person: 
Churchill Grimes; Tel: (415) 435-3149; E-mail: 
[email protected]
Participating NMFS Facilities (for Marine Resource Economics Program)
Northeast Fisheries Science Center
    Woods Hole Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA; Contact person: Philip 
Logan; Tel: (508) 495-2354; E-mail: [email protected]
Southeast Regional Office
    St. Petersburg, FL; Contact person: Richard Raulerson; Tel: (727) 
570-5335; E-mail: [email protected]
Southwest Fisheries Science Center
    La Jolla Laboratory, La Jolla, CA; Contact persons: Cindy Thomson; 
Tel: (831) 459-3068; E-mail: [email protected]; Samuel Herrick; 
Tel: (619) 546-7111; E-mail: [email protected]
Northwest Regional Office
    Seattle, WA; Contact person: Steve Freese; Tel: (206) 526-6117; E-
mail: [email protected]
Alaska Fisheries Science Center
    Resource Ecology and Fisheries Management Division, Seattle, WA; 
Contact person: Joseph Terry; Tel: (206) 526-4253; E-mail: 
[email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

National Sea Grant College Program--National Marine Fisheries 
Service Joint Graduate Fellowship Programs in Population Dynamics 
and Marine Resource Economics

I. Program Authority

    Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1127. (Catalog of Federal Domestic 
Assistance Number: 11.417, Sea Grant Support.)

II. Introduction

    The National Sea Grant College Program Office (NSGO) and the 
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) have established a new 
Population Dynamics Fellowship Program and a new Marine Resource 
Economics Fellowship Program.
    Beginning in the summer of 2000, each program will support two 
students interested in careers related to (1) the population dynamics 
of living marine resources and the development and implementation of 
quantitative methods for assessing their status, and (2) the economics 
of the conservation and management of living marine resources. Two 
additional students will be supported by each program in each 
subsequent year up to a maximum of six students per program at a given 
time.
    The Population Dynamics Program will provide support for up to 
three years for two highly qualified graduate students working towards 
a PhD in population dynamics or related fields of study. The Marine 
Resource Economics Program will provide support for up to two years for 
two highly qualified graduate students working towards a PhD in marine 
resource economics, natural resource economics, or environmental 
economics. In addition to their major professor, Fellows are required 
to work closely with an expert (mentor) from NMFS who will provide data 
for their theses, serve on each Fellow's committee, and host an annual 
summer internship at the participating NMFS facility.
    The goals of these fellowships are to (1) encourage qualified 
applicants to pursue careers in (a) population dynamics and stock 
assessment methodology or (b) marine resource economics; (2) increase 
available expertise related to (a) the population dynamics and 
assessment of stock status of living marine resources or (b) economic 
analysis of living marine resource conservation and management 
decisions; (3) foster closer relationships between academic scientists 
and NMFS; and (4) provide real-world experience to graduate students 
and accelerate their career development.

III. Eligibility

    Any student may apply who is a United States citizen or lawfully 
admitted to the United States for permanent residence. At the time of 
application, prospective Population Dynamics Fellows must be admitted 
to a PhD degree program in population dynamics or a related field such 
as applied mathematics, statistics, or quantitative ecology at a 
university in the United States, and prospective Marine Resource 
Economics Fellows must be in the process of completing at least two 
years of course work in a PhD degree program in natural resource 
economics or a related field at a university in the United States.

IV. Application

    An application must be received by February 15, 2000 by the 
director of the state Sea Grant program nearest to the university in 
which the student is enrolled. The state Sea Grant director then 
forwards the application to the NSGO. Applicants are strongly 
encouraged to contact participating NMFS facilities before submitting 
their application. Each application must include: (1) Complete 
curriculum vitae from both student and major professor; (2) an 
education and career goal statement from the applicant with emphasis on 
the applicant's interest in (a) marine population dynamics or the 
development and implementation of quantitative methods for assessing 
stock status of living marine resources, or (b) in marine resource 
economics (not to exceed two pages); (3) three letters of 
recommendation, with at least one from the student's major professor (a 
summary of the proposed thesis may be included if available); (4) 
official copies of all undergraduate and graduate student transcripts; 
and (5) (only for the Population Dynamics Program) proof of 
application, acceptance, and enrollment in the case of students 
entering graduate school (i.e., who have not yet completed one semester 
of graduate work) if they are selected for a fellowship.
    Each application must be accompanied by a written matching 
commitment, equal to half of the NSGO amount (see below), from the 
university to support the budget for the period of the award. 
Allocation of matching funds must be specified in the budget. In 
addition to stipend and tuition for the applicant, the budget should 
include funds for equipment, supplies, and travel necessary to carry 
out the proposed thesis research. Funds should also be allocated for 
one trip per year to the NOAA offices in Silver Spring, MD, for a 
meeting of all Fellows, mentors, and NSGO/NMFS Fellowship Program 
Managers.

V. Award

    The award for each fellowship will be in the form of a grant of 
$38,000 per year, 50% ($19,000) of which will be contributed by NMFS, 
33\1/3\% ($12,667) by the NSGO, and 16\2/3\% ($6,333) by the university 
as the required 50% match of NSGO funds. The portion of the award 
provided to each Fellow for salary (stipend), living expenses (per 
diem), tuition, and travel necessary to carry out the proposed thesis 
research and to attend the annual Fellows meeting in Silver Spring, MD, 
will be determined and distributed by the state Sea Grant program/
university in accordance with its guidelines. Indirect costs are not 
allowable for either the fellowship or for any costs associated with 
the fellowship, according to 15 CFR 917.11(e), Guidelines for Sea Grant 
Fellowships.

[[Page 58811]]

VI. Selection Criteria

    Selection criteria will include (1) academic ability (25%), (2) 
demonstrated research ability and interest in the field (25%), (3) 
diversity and appropriateness of academic background (particularly 
quantitative skills in the case of the Population Dynamics Program) 
(25%), (4) additional qualifying experience such as work (15%), (5) 
expertise of major professor (5%), and (6) ability to work well with 
others (5%).

VII. Selection

    Selection is competitive. A selection team for each program 
consisting of experts in that discipline and representatives from the 
NSGO and NMFS will evaluate and rank the candidates using the above 
criteria. Two Fellows will be selected for each program by the NSGO/
NMFS Fellowship Program Managers based in part on rankings provided by 
the selection teams. In addition, Program Managers will base the 
selections on: (a) ascertaining which candidates best meet the program 
goals and whose proposed work will not substantially duplicate other 
projects currently funded or approved for funding by NOAA, and (b) 
ensuring that an appropriate NMFS mentor is available to work with the 
candidate. Accordingly, awards may not necessarily be made to the two 
highest-scoring candidates in each program.

VIII. Timetable

    Applications must be received by February 15, 2000, by the state 
Sea Grant Program, and must be received by February 21, 2000, by the 
NSGO. Successful Fellows may expect to be notified by April 1, 2000. 
Fellowships, when initially awarded, will commence on or about June 1, 
2000, pending completion of the Fellow's spring semester.

IX. Participating NMFS Facilities

    Mentors will be from participating NMFS Science Centers, 
Laboratories, or Regional Offices. Each Fellow will be required to work 
as a summer intern at the participating NMFS facility either on his/her 
thesis or on appropriate related problems. Remuneration for the summer 
internship will be part of the annual award. Population Dynamics 
Fellows will also be expected to spend 10-20 days at sea per year 
learning about sampling techniques and problems, commercial fishing, 
fishery biology, and local and regional issues of importance to 
fisheries management. Fellows may also work, as necessary, at the 
participating NMFS facility during some or all of the academic year at 
the mutual discretion of mentor, major professor, and Fellow. After 
selection, but before the fellowship is awarded, each Fellow will be 
required to provide a one-page description of his/her assignment based 
on discussions among mentor, major professor, and Fellow. These 
discussions will be facilitated by the NSGO/NMFS Fellowship Program 
Managers and will be completed by April 30, 2000. The assignment 
description will reflect a clear mutual understanding of the 
substantive dimensions of the project and its expected results.

X. Reporting Requirements

    Fellows will, for each year of their fellowship, provide a written 
annual summary of their accomplishments and activities during the 
preceding year to the NSGO/NMFS Fellowship Program Managers. This 
summary is due no later than one month following the anniversary of the 
start of the fellowship. Fellows will be expected to present a review 
of their research during the annual Fellows meeting in Silver Spring, 
MD.

XI. Other Requirements

    (A) Federal Policies and Procedures--Recipients and sub-recipients 
are subject to all Federal laws and Federal and Department of Commerce 
(DOC) policies, regulations, and procedures applicable to Federal 
financial assistance awards.
    (B) Past Performance--Unsatisfactory performance under prior 
Federal awards may result in an application not being considered for 
funding.
    (C) Pre-Award Activities--If applicants incur any costs prior to an 
award being made, they do so solely at their own risk of not being 
reimbursed by the Government. Notwithstanding any verbal or written 
assurance that may have been received, there is no obligation on the 
part of DOC to cover pre-award costs.
    (D) No Obligation for Future Funding--If an application is selected 
for funding, DOC has no obligation to provide any additional future 
funding in connection with that award. Renewal of an award to increase 
funding or extend the period of performance is at the total discretion 
of DOC.
    (E) Delinquent Federal Debts--No award of Federal funds shall be 
made to an applicant who has an outstanding delinquent Federal debt 
until either:
    (1) The delinquent account is paid in full,
    (2) A negotiated repayment schedule is established and at least one 
payment is received, or
    (3) Other arrangements satisfactory to DOC are made.
    (F) Name Check Review--All non-profit and for-profit applicants are 
subject to a name check review process. Name checks are intended to 
reveal if any key individuals associated with the applicant have been 
convicted of or are presently facing criminal charges such as fraud, 
theft, perjury, or other matters which significantly reflect on the 
applicant's management honesty or financial integrity.
    (G) Primary Applicant Certifications--All primary applicants must 
submit a completed Form CD-511, ``Certifications Regarding Debarment, 
Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace 
Requirements and Lobbying'', and the following explanations are hereby 
provided:
    (1) Non-Procurement Debarment and Suspension. Prospective 
participants (as defined at 15 CFR part 26, section 105) are subject to 
15 CFR part 26, ``Non-Procurement Debarment and Suspension'' and the 
related section of the certification form prescribed above applies;
    (2) Drug-Free Workplace. Grantees (as defined at 15 CFR part 26, 
section 605) are subject to 15 CFR part 26, subpart F, ``Government-
wide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants)'' and the related 
section of the certification form prescribed above applies;
    (3) Anti-Lobbying. Persons (as defined at 15 CFR part 28, section 
105) are subject to the lobbying provisions of 31 U.S.C. 1352, 
``Limitation on use of appropriated funds to influence certain Federal 
contracting and financial transactions'', and the lobbying section of 
the certification form prescribed above applies to applications/bids 
for grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts for more than 
$100,000, and loans and loan guarantees for more than $150,000, or the 
single family maximum mortgage limit for affected programs, whichever 
is greater; and
    (4) Anti-Lobbying Disclosures. Any applicant that has paid or will 
pay for lobbying using any funds must submit an SF-LLL, ``Disclosure of 
Lobbying Activities'', as required under 15 CFR part 28, appendix B.
    (H) Lower Tier Certifications--Recipients shall require applicants/
bidders for subgrants, contracts, subcontracts, or other lower tier 
covered transactions at any tier under the award to submit, if 
applicable, a completed Form CD-512, ``Certifications Regarding 
Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion--Lower 
Tier Covered Transactions and Lobbying'' and disclosure form, SF-LLL,

[[Page 58812]]

``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities''. Form CD-512 is intended for the 
use of recipients and should not be transmitted to DOC. SF-LLL 
submitted by any tier recipient or sub-recipient should be submitted to 
DOC in accordance with the instructions contained in the award 
document.
    (I) False Statements--A false statement on an application is 
grounds for denial or termination of funds and grounds for possible 
punishment by a fine or imprisonment as provided in 18 U.S.C. 1001.
    (J) Intergovernmental Review--Applications for support from the 
National Sea Grant College Program are not subject to Executive Order 
12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs''.
    (K) Purchase of American-Made Equipment and Products--Applicants 
are hereby notified that they will be encouraged, to the greatest 
extent practicable, to purchase American-made equipment and products 
with funding provided under this program.
    (L) Pursuant to Executive Orders 12876, 12900, and 13021, the 
Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
(DOC/NOAA) is strongly committed to broadening the participation of 
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Hispanic Serving 
Institutions (HSI), and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU) in its 
educational and research programs. The DOC/NOAA vision, mission, and 
goals are to achieve full participation by Minority Serving 
Institutions (MSI) in order to advance the development of human 
potential, to strengthen the nation's capacity to provide high-quality 
education, and to increase opportunities for MSIs to participate in and 
benefit from Federal Financial Assistance programs. DOC/NOAA encourages 
all applicants to include meaningful participation of MSIs. 
Institutions eligible to be considered HBCU/MSIs are listed at the 
following Internet website: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OCR/99minin.html.

Classification

    Prior notice and an opportunity for public comments are not 
required by the Administrative Procedure Act or any other law for this 
notice concerning grants, benefits, and contracts. Therefore, a 
regulatory flexibility analysis is not required for purposes of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act.
    This action has been determined to be not significant for purposes 
of E.O. 12866.
    This notice contains a collection of information requirements 
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Sea Grant Budget Form has 
been approved under control number 0648-0362 with an average response 
estimated to take 15 minutes. This estimate includes the time for 
reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and 
maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the 
collection of information. Send comments on this estimate or any other 
aspect of this collection to National Sea Grant College Program, R/SG, 
NOAA, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (Attention: 
Francis S. Schuler) and to the Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503 
(Attention: NOAA Desk Officer). Notwithstanding any other provision of 
the law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be 
subject to a penalty for failure to comply with, a collection of 
information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act, 
unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
Control Number.

    Dated: October 27, 1999.
Louisa Koch,
Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

    Dated: October 27, 1999.
Lamarr B. Trott,
Deputy Director, Office of Science and Technology, National Marine 
Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 99-28572 Filed 10-29-99; 8:45 am]
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