[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 220 (Wednesday, November 14, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57038-57040]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-28421]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Docket No. 000522149-1259-03]
RIN 0648-ZA87


Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship, National Sea Grant 
College Program

AGENCY: Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice announces that applications may be submitted for a 
Fellowship program which was initiated by the National Sea Grant Office 
(NSGO), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in 
fulfilling its broad educational responsibilities, to provide 
educational experience in the policies and processes of the Legislative 
and Executive Branches of the Federal Government to graduate students 
in marine and aquatic-related fields. The Fellowship program accepts 
applications once a year on or before May 1 for a one-year fellowship 
beginning February 1 of the following year. All applicants must submit 
an application to the local Sea Grant program in their state. 
Applicants from states not served by a Sea Grant program should obtain 
further information by contracting the Knauss Fellows Program Manager 
at the NSGO.

DATES: Deadlines vary from program to program, but applications are 
generally due early to mid-April. Contact your state's Sea Grant 
program for specific deadlines (see list below).

ADDRESSES: Applications should be addressed to your local Sea Grant 
program. Contact the appropriate state's Sea Grant program from the 
list below to obtain the mailing address, or the address may be 
obtained on the Web site http://www.nsgo.seagrant.org/SGDirectors.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Nikola Garber, Knauss Fellows 
Program Manager, National Sea Grant College Program, R/SG, NOAA 1315 
East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, Tel. (301) 713-2431 ext. 
124; e-mail:

[[Page 57039]]

[email protected]. Also call your nearest Sea Grant program or 
visit the Web site http://www.nsgo.seagrant.org/Knauss.html.

Sea Grant Programs

Alabama, Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium (228) 875-9368
Alaska, University of Alaska (907) 474-7086
California, University of California, San Diego (858) 534-4440
California, University of Southern California (213) 821-1335
Connecticut, University of Connecticut (860) 405-9128
Delaware, University of Delaware (302) 831-2841
Florida, University of Florida (352) 392-5870
Georgia, University of Georgia (706) 542-5954
Hawaii, University of Hawaii (808) 956-7031
Illinois, Purdue University (765) 494-3593
Indiana, Purdue University (765) 494-3593
Louisiana, Louisiana Sea Grant (225) 388-6710
Maine, University of Maine (207) 581-1435
Maryland, University of Maryland (301) 405-6371
Massachusetts, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (617) 253-7131
Massachusetts, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (508) 289-2557
Michigan, University of Michigan (734) 615-4084
Minnesota, University of Minnesota (218) 726-8710
Mississippi, Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium (228) 875-9368
New Hampshire, University of New Hampshire (603) 862-0122
New Jersey, New Jersey Marine Science Consortium (732) 872-1300 Ext. 21
New York, New York Sea Grant Institute, SUNY (631) 632-6905
North Carolina, North Carolina State University (919) 515-2454
Ohio, Ohio State University, (614) 292-8949
Oregon, Oregon State University (541) 737-2714
Puerto Rico, University of Puerto Rico (787) 832-3585
Rhode Island, University of Rhode Island (401) 874-6800
South Carolina, South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium (843) 727-2078
Texas, Texas A&M University (979) 845-3854
Virginia, Virginia Graduate Marine Science Consortium (804) 924-5965
Washington, University of Washington (206) 543-6600
Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin-Madison (608) 262-0905

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy 
Fellowship, National Sea Grant College Program Purpose of the 
Fellowship Program In 1979, the National Sea Grant Office (NSGO), NOAA, 
in fulfilling its broad educational responsibilities, initiated a 
program to provide a unique educational experience in the policies and 
processes of the Legislative and Executive Branches of the Federal 
Government to graduate students who have an interest in ocean, coastal 
and Great Lakes resources and in the national policy decisions 
affecting these resources. The U.S. Congress recognized the value of 
this program and in 1987, Public Law 100-220 stipulated the Sea Grant 
Federal Fellows Program was to be a formal part of the National Sea 
Grant College Program Act. The recipients are designated Dean John A. 
Knauss Marine Policy Fellows pursuant to 33 U.S.C. 1127(b). The 
National Sea Grant program is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic 
Assistance under number 11.417: Sea Grant Support.

Announcement

    Fellows program announcements are sent annually to all 
participating Sea Grant institutions and campuses by the local Sea 
Grant program upon receipt of notice from the NSGO.

Eligibility

    Any student who, on May 1, 2002, is in a graduate or professional 
program in a marine or aquatic-related field at a United States 
accredited institution of higher education may apply to the NSGO 
through their local Sea Grant program.

How To Apply

    Interested students should discuss this fellowship with their local 
Sea Grant Program Director. Applicants from states not served by a Sea 
Grant program should contact the Knauss Fellows Program Manager at the 
NSGO; subsequently, the applicant will be referred to the appropriate 
Sea Grant program. Applications must be submitted with signature to the 
local Sea Grant program by the deadline set in the announcement 
(usually early to mid-April). Each Sea Grant program may select and 
forward to the NSGO no more than five (5) applicants based on criteria 
used by the NSGO in the national competition.
    Selected applications (one original and two copies) are to be 
received in the NSGO from the sponsoring Sea Grant program, no later 
than 5 p.m. EDT on May 1, 2002. The competitive selection process and 
subsequent notification to the Sea Grant programs will be completed by 
June 14, 2002.

Stipend and Expenses

    The local Sea Grant program receives and administers the overall 
grant of $38,000 per student on behalf of each Fellow selected from 
their program. Of this grant, the local Sea Grant program provides 
$32,000 to each Fellow for stipend and living expenses (per diem). The 
additional $6,000 will be used to cover mandatory health insurance for 
the Fellow and moving expenses. In addition, any remaining funds shall 
be used during the Fellowship year, first to satisfy academic degree-
related travel, and second for Fellowship-related travel. Indirect 
costs are not allowable for either the Fellowships or for any costs 
associated with the Fellowships, including placement week [15 CFR 
917.11(e), National Sea Grant Program Funding Regulations]. No matching 
funds are required. During the Fellowship (February 1, 2003-January 31, 
2004), the host may provide supplemental funds for work-related travel 
by the Fellow.

Application

    An application must include:
    (1) Personal and academic curriculum vitae (not to exceed two pages 
using 12 pt. font).
    (2) A personal education and career goal statement emphasizing the 
applicant's abilities and the applicant's expectations from the 
experience in the way of career development (1000 words or less). 
Placement preference in the Legislative or Executive Branches of the 
Government may be stated; this preference will be honored to the extent 
possible.
    (3) Two letters of recommendation, including one from the student's 
major professor; if no major professor exists, the faculty person 
academically knowing the applicant best may be substituted.
    (4) A letter of endorsement from the sponsoring Sea Grant Program 
Director.
    (5) Official copy of all undergraduate and graduate student 
transcripts.
    Applications that are bound or contain staples will not be 
accepted. However, paperclips are acceptable.
    All applicants will be evaluated solely on their application 
package according to the criteria listed below. Therefore, letters of 
endorsement from members of Congress, friends, relatives and others 
will not be accepted. Absolutely no prior contacts/arrangements are to 
be made with possible host offices.

[[Page 57040]]

Selection Criteria

    The selection criteria will include:
    (1) Quality of the applicant's personal education and career goal 
statement.
    (2) Endorsement/content of the letter from the applicant's Sea 
Grant Program Director, the applicant's major professor and second 
letter of recommendation.
    (3) Strength of academic performance and diversity of educational 
background including extracurricular activities, awards and honors 
(from the curriculum vitae and transcripts).
    (4) Experience in marine or aquatic-related fields, oral and 
written communication skills, and interpersonal abilities. The four 
evaluation criteria will be given equal weight.

Selection

    Applicants will be individually reviewed and ranked, according to 
the criteria outlined above, by a panel appointed by the Director of 
the NSGO with input from the Sea Grant Association and the National Sea 
Grant Review Panel. The panel will include representation from the Sea 
Grant Association and the current, and possibly past, class of Fellows. 
Once the entire class is selected, based on the criteria listed, the 
Knauss Program Manager will then place the selected applicants into 
either the legislative or executive group based upon the applicant's 
stated preference and/or judgment of the panel based upon material 
submitted. Academic discipline and geographic representation may be 
considered by the National Sea Grant Office to provide overall balance. 
The number of fellows assigned to the Congress will be limited to 10.

Federal Policies and Procedures

    Fellows receive funds directly from their sponsoring Sea Grant 
program and are considered to be subrecipients of Federal assistance. 
Hence, the Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements 
for Grants and Cooperative Agreements contained in the Federal Register 
notice of October 1, 2000 (66 FR 49917), are applicable to this 
solicitation.

Minority Serving Institutions Statement

    Pursuant to Executive Orders 12876, 12900, and 13021, 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 applicants from MSI 
to participate. Institutions eligible to be considered HBCU/MSIs are 
listed at the following Internet Website: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OCR/minorityinst.html.

Classification

    Prior notice and an opportunity for public comment are not required 
by the Administration Procedure Act or any other law for this notice 
concerning grants, benefits, and contracts according to 5 U.S.C. 
553(a)(2). 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 document contains collection-of-information requirements 
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act. Application requirements have 
been approved by OMB under Control Number 0648-0362. Public reporting 
burden for an application is estimated to average 2 hours per response, 
including 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 regarding this 
burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, 
including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Ms. Nikola Garber 
(see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT above). The use off SF-LLL has 
been separately approved by OMB under Control Number 0348-0046.
    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 7, 2001.
David L. Evans,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research.
[FR Doc. 01-28421 Filed 11-13-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-KA-M