[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 229 (Tuesday, November 28, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70882-70886]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-30219]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Docket No. 001027302-0302-01]
RIN: 0648 ZA98


National Sea Grant College Program--National Marine Fisheries 
Service Joint Graduate Fellowship Program 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 announces that applications may be submitted for 
the Graduate Fellowship Program in Population Dynamics and Marine 
Resource Economics (Program) jointly established in 1999 by 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. Contingent upon the availability of 
Federal funds, the Program will provide grants to support four graduate 
students, two in Population Dynamics and two in Marine Resource 
Economics, who are United States citizens and enrolled in relevant PhD 
degree programs in any university in the United States and its 
territories. Fellows will 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 or Laboratories. 
Applications must be submitted through one of the state Sea Grant 
programs (see below) (or to the National Sea Grant Office only if an 
applicant is attending a university in a non-Seas Grant state).

DATES: Applications must be received by February 15, 2001 by a state 
Sea Grant program (or the National Sea Grant Office only if an 
applicant is attending a university in a non-Sea Grant state).

ADDRESSES: Applications should be addressed to the nearest state Sea 
Grant program (or the National Sea Grant Office only if an applicant is 
attending a university in a non-Sea Grant state). 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 Connecticit--(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 Institute--(508) 289-2557

Participating NMFS Facilities for Population Dynamics Fellowships

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: Nancy Thompson; Tel: (305) 
361-4285; 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: Richard Neal; Tel: 
(858) 546-7066; E-mail: [email protected]
Pacific Fisheries Environmental 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 Laboratory, Santa Cruz, CA; Contact person: Churchill 
Grimes; Tel: (831) 459-4879; E-mail: [email protected]

[[Page 70883]]

Participating NMFS Facilities for Marine Resource Economics 
Fellowships

Northeast Fisheries Science Center
Woods Hole Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA; Contact person: Philip Logan; 
Tel: (508) 495-2354; E-mail: [email protected]
Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Miami Laboratory, Miami, FL; Contact person: Nancy Thompson; Tel: (305) 
361-4285; E-mail: [email protected].
Southwest Fisheries Science Center
La Jolla Laboratory, La Jolla, CA; Contact person: Richard Neal; Tel: 
(858) 546-7066; E-mail: [email protected]
Northwest Fisheries Science Center
Montlake Laboratory, Seattle, WA; Contact person: Linda Jones; Tel: 
(206) 860-3200; 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 Program 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) established a new Graduate 
Fellowship Program in Population Dynamics and Marine Resource Economics 
(Program) in 1999. Contingent upon the availability of Federal funds, 
the Program will award fellowships, to begin in the summer, to four 
students each year who are 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 fellowships will be awarded each year in each of the 
above two disciplines resulting in an anticipated six students per 
discipline eventually supported annually by fellowships when the 
Program reaches its maximum level three years following its inception.
    The fellowships will provide support for up to three years for 
highly qualified graduate students working towards a PhD in population 
dynamics or related fields of study and for up to two years for highly 
qualified graduate students working towards a PhD in marine resource 
economics, natural resource economics, or environmental economics. 
Continued support after the first year will be contingent upon the 
availability of Federal funds and satisfactory performance of the 
Fellow. In addition to his/her major professor, each Fellow will be 
required to work closely with an expert (mentor) from NMFS who will 
provide data for the Fellow's thesis, serve on the Fellow's committee, 
and host an annual summer internship at the participating NMFS 
facility.
    The goals of the Program 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. 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, or submit a signed letter from 
the university indicating provisional acceptance to a PhD degree 
program conditional on obtaining financial support such as this 
fellowship. At the time of application, 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. Award

    The award for each fellowship, contingent upon the availability of 
Federal funds, 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 (unless 
waived), health insurance and other university fees, and travel 
necessary to carry out the proposed thesis research and to attend the 
annual Fellows meeting in the spring 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.

V. Selection Criteria

    Selection criteria will include (1) relevant academic ability and 
achievement, particularly quantitative skills (35%); (2) demonstrated 
research ability in the discipline and appropriateness/importance of 
proposed thesis topic (30%); (3) expertise of major professor (20%); 
and (4) additional relevant experience (15%).

VI. Selection

    Selection is competitive. A review panel consistent of experts in 
the two disciplines and representatives from the NSGO and NMFS will 
evaluate and rank the candidates in accordance with the above criteria. 
The panel members will provide individual evaluations on each 
candidate, but there will be no consensus advice. Two Fellows will be 
selected in each discipline by the Fellowship Program Manager based in 
part on the rankings provided by the review panel. In addition, the 
Program Manager will give priority to NMFS Fisheries Science Centers 
which do not currently have Fellows. Accordingly, awards may not 
necessarily be made to the two highest-scoring candidates in each 
discipline.

VII. Timetable

    February 15, 2001, 5 p.m. (local time)--Applications due at state 
Sea Grant program or NSGO (only if an applicant is attending a 
university in a non-Sea Grant state).
    February 21, 2001, 5 p.m. EST--Applications due at NSGO from state 
Sea Grant programs.
    April 1, 2001 (approximate)--Successful Fellows may expect to be 
notified.
    June 1, 2001 (approximate)--Fellowships awarded and will commence.

[[Page 70884]]

VIII. 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.

IX. Reporting Requirements

    Fellows will submit a one-page description of their thesis research 
or assignment based on discussions involving mentor, major professor, 
and Fellow to the Fellowship Program Manager by April 30, 2001. The 
thesis research or assignment description will reflect a clear mutual 
understanding of the substantive dimensions of the project and its 
expected results.
    Fellows will, for each year of their fellowship, provide a written 
annual summary of their accomplishments and activities during the 
preceding year to the Fellowship Program Manager. 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 held in the spring in Silver 
Spring, MD.

X. Application Instructions

    An application must be received by February 15, 2001 by the state 
Sea Grant program in the state in which the student is or will be 
enrolled. If the student is or will be enrolled in a university in a 
non-Sea Grant state, the application should be submitted to the nearest 
state Sea Grant program. The addresses of the state Sea Grant College 
programs may be found at the following Internet website: (http://www.nsgo.seagrant.org/SGDirectors.html) or may be obtained by 
contacting the Program Manager, Dr. Emory D. Anderson, at the National 
Sea Grant Office (phone: 301-713-2435 x144 or e-mail: 
[email protected]). The state Sea Grant program must forward the 
application to the NSGO, certifying that the application was received 
by the due date. Applications sent to the NSGO should be addressed to: 
National Sea Grant Office, R/SG, Attn: Mrs. Geraldine Taylor, Graduate 
Fellowship Competition, Room 11732, NOAA, 1315 East-West Highway, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910 (phone number for express mail applications is 
301-713-2445). An applicant must contact the prospective participating 
NMFS facility and mentor prior to submitting the application, and must 
include a letter of commitment from the NMFS mentor in the application. 
Each application package should be completed with input from the 
student, major professor, university, and state Sea Grant program. All 
pages should be single- or double-spaced, typewritten in at least a 10-
point font with 1" margins and printed on 8.5"  x  11" paper. An 
original and at least 2 additional copies of the application must be 
submitted. Each application must include the first eight items listed 
below, with the standard forms indicated under Item 9 required only 
with the final funding requests submitted for the successful fellowship 
applications.
    (1) Complete curriculum vitae from both student and major 
professor.
    (2) An education and career goal statement (not to exceed two 
pages) from the applicant indicating the number of years for which 
fellowship support is being sought and 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 (a summary of the 
proposed thesis or the general intended area of study should be 
included, if available).
    (3) Three signed letters of recommendation, with at least one from 
the student's major professor.
    (4) A signed letter of commitment from the prospective NMFS mentor.
    (5) Official copies of all undergraduate and graduate student 
transcripts.
    (6) Proof of application, acceptance, provisional acceptance, and 
enrollment (only for Population Dynamics applicants) 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.
    (7) Project Summary: The Sea Grant Project Summary Form 90-2 should 
preferably be used, but the universities or state programs may use 
their own form as long as it provides the same information as the Sea 
Grant form. The project summary should include: (a) Title: Use the 
exact title as it appears in the rest of the application. (b) Principal 
Investigator: The applicant's major professor or the state Sea Grant 
director may be used. (c) Funding request for each year of the 
fellowship, including matching funds. (d) Project Period: Start and 
completion dates. Applications should request a start date of June 1, 
2001, or later. (e) Project Summary: This should include the rationale 
for the fellowship, the scientific or technical objectives and/or 
hypotheses to be tested in the Fellow's thesis, and a brief summary of 
work to be completed.
    (8) Budget and Budget Justification: There should be a separate 
budget for each year as well as a cumulative annual budget for the 
entire period of the proposed fellowship. The Sea Grant Budget Form 90-
4 should preferably be used, but the universities or state programs may 
use their own form as long as it provides the same information as the 
Sea Grant form. A written matching commitment, equal to 50% of the NSGO 
amount (see above), from the university to support the budget for the 
period of the award must be provided. Allocation of matching funds must 
be specified in the budget and may consist of up to 50% of a month's 
salary of the major professor, waived tuition, equipment and supplies, 
and any other costs typically used as matching funds. 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 relevant staff from the NSGO and NMFS.
    (9) Standard Application Forms: Applicants may obtain all required 
application forms at the following Internet website: (http://www.nsgo.seagrant.org/research/rfp/index.html#3), from the state Sea 
Grant programs, or from Dr. Emory D. Anderson at the National Sea Grant 
Office (phone: 301-713-2435 x144 or e-mail: [email protected]). 
For applications selected for fellowships, the following forms must 
also be included in the final request for funding:
    (a) Standard Form 424, Application for Federal Assistance. 
Applications should clearly identify the program area being addressed 
by starting the project title with ``Graduate Fellowship''. Please note 
that both the Principal Investigator and an administrative contact 
should be identified in Section 5 of the SF-424. For Section 10, 
applicants should enter ``11.417'' for the CFDA Number, and ``Sea Grant 
Support'' for the title. The form must contain the original signature

[[Page 70885]]

of an authorized representative of the applying institution.
    (b) 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:
    (i) 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;
    (ii) 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;
    (iii) 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
    (iv) 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.
    (c) 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, 
``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities''. Form CD-512 is intended for the 
use of recipients and should not be transmitted to the Department of 
Commerce (DOC). SF-LLL submitted by any tier recipient or subrecipient 
should be submitted to DOC in accordance with the instructions 
contained in the award document.

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) False Statements--A false statement on an application is 
grounds for denial or termination of funds and grounds for possible 
punishment by a fire or imprisonment as provided in 18 U.S.C. 1001.
    (G) Intergovernmental Review--Applications for support from the 
National Sea Grant College Program are not subject to Executive Order 
12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs''.
    (H) 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.
    (I) 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 Summary Form (90-
2), the Sea Grant Budget Form (90-4), and Standard Form 424 have been 
approved under the respective control numbers 0648-0362, 0648-0362, and 
0348-0043, with the average time per response of 20, 15, and 45 
minutes. These estimates 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 these estimates 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.


[[Page 70886]]


    Dated: November 21, 2000.
David L. Evans,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
    Dated: November 21, 2000
William W. Fox, Jr.,
Director, Office of Science and Technology, National Marine Fisheries 
Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 00-30219 Filed 11-27-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-KA-M