[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 9, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1190-1194]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-514]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Docket No. 990810211-1294-02]
RIN 0648-ZA69


Sea Grant Fellowships: National Marine Fisheries Service--Sea 
Grant Joint Graduate Fellowship Program in Population Dynamics and 
Marine Resource Economics; and Sea Grant--Industry Fellowship Program: 
Request for Applications for FY 2002

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

ACTION: Notice of request for applications.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to advise the public that the 
National Sea Grant College Program (Sea Grant) is seeking applications 
for two fellowship programs to fulfill its broad educational 
responsibilities, to strengthen the collaboration between Sea Grant and 
the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), and to strengthen ties 
between academia and industry:
    (1) The NMFS--Sea Grant Joint Graduate Fellowship Program in 
Population Dynamics and Marine Resource Economics (Fisheries Fellowship 
Program), which is available to U.S. citizens who are graduate students 
enrolled in PhD degree programs in academic institutions in the United 
States and its territories, with required institutional matching funds, 
expects to support six new Fisheries Fellows in Population Dynamics and 
Marine Resource Economics in FY 2002. Fisheries Fellows will work on 
thesis problems of public interest and relevance to NMFS and have 
summer internships at participating NMFS Science Centers or 
Laboratories under the guidance of NMFS mentors.
    (2) The Sea Grant--Industry Fellowship Program (Industry Fellowship 
Program), which is available to graduate students enrolled in either MS 
or PhD degree programs in academic institutions in the United States 
and its territories, with required matching funds from private 
industrial sponsors, expects to support five new Industry Fellows in FY 
2002. Industry Fellows will work on research and development projects 
on topics of interest to a particular industry/company. In a true 
partnership, the student, the faculty advisor, the Sea Grant College or 
institute, and the industry representative will work together, sharing 
research facilities and the cost of the activity.

DATES: Applications must be received by 5 pm (local time) on February 
15, 2002 by a state Sea Grant Program (or by the NSGO in the case of an 
academic institution in a non-Sea Grant state). Note that applications 
arriving after these deadlines will be accepted for review only if the 
applicant can document that the application was provided to a delivery 
service that guaranteed delivery (see ``Addresses'' below) prior to the 
specified closing date and time; in any event, applications received by 
the NSGO or the State Sea Grant Programs later than two business days 
following the closing date will not be accepted. Facsimile 
transmissions and electronic mail submission of applications will not 
be accepted. It is anticipated that successful applicants will be able 
to initiate Fisheries Fellowships on approximately June 1, 2002 or 
Industry Fellowships on approximately September 1, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Applications originating from academic institutions in Sea 
Grant states must be submitted to the state Sea Grant Program. 
Applications originating elsewhere may be submitted either to the 
nearest state Sea Grant Program or directly to the NSGO. Sea Grant's 
web site lists the addresses of the state Sea Grant College Program 
directors (http://www.nsgo.seagrant.org/SGDirectors.html) and the 
participating NMFS Facilities (http://www.nsgo.seagrant.org/research/
rfp/NMFS__Labs.html), or those addresses may also be obtained by 
contacting the NSGO. Applications submitted to the NSGO should be 
addressed to: National Sea Grant Office, R/SG, Attn: Mrs. Geraldine 
Taylor, Proposal Processing, Room 11732, NOAA, 1315 East-West Highway, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910 (telephone number for express mail applications 
is 301-713-2445).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information about the Fisheries 
Fellowship Program may be obtained from Dr. Emory D. Anderson, 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 ADDRESSES); or from any 
participating NMFS facility (see ADDRESSES). Information about the 
Industry Fellowship Program may be obtained from Dr. Vijay G. Panchang, 
National Sea Grant College Program, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910; tel: (301) 713-2435 ext. 142; e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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

I. Program Authority

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

II. Description of Programs

A. Fisheries Fellowship Program
    The National Sea Grant Office (NSGO) and the National Marine 
Fisheries Service (NMFS) established a new Graduate Fellowship Program 
in Population Dynamics and Marine Resource Economics (Fisheries 
Fellowship Program) in 1999. The intent of the Fisheries Fellowship 
Program is to award fellowships to four students each year who are 
intereted 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 new 
fellowships were to be awarded each year in each of the above two 
disciplines resulting in an anticipated six students per discipline to 
be supported annually when the Fisheries Fellowship Program reached its 
maximum level three years following its inception.
    For the FY 2002 competition now being announced, funds are 
available to award six new fellowships in the two disciplines combined, 
with a potential maximum of four in one of the two disciplines.
    The goals of the Fisheries Fellowship Program are to (1) encourage 
qualified applicants to pursue careers in (a) population dynamics and 
stock assessment methodology or (b) marine

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resource economics; (2) increase available expertise related to (a) the 
population dynamics and assessment of the status of the stocks 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.
    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 contigent upon the 
availability of Federal funds and satisfactory performance by the 
Fellow. In addition to his/her faculty adviser, 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.
    Mentors will be from participating NMFS Science Centers or 
Laboratories. 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, faculty 
adviser, and Fellow.
    Newly-selected Fellows must submit a one-page description of their 
thesis research or assignment based on discussions involving mentor, 
faculty adviser, and Fellow to the Fisheries Fellowship Program Manager 
by April 30, 2002. The thesis research or assignment description must 
reflect a clear mutual understanding of the substantive dimensions of 
the project and its expected results.
    Fellows must, for each year of their fellowship, provide a written 
summary of their accomplishments and activities during the preceding 
year to the Fisheries Fellowship Program Manager. This summary must 
accompany the request for each additional year's funding. Fellows will 
be expected to present a review of their research during the annual 
Fellows Meeting held in the spring in Silver Spring, MD.
    The award for each Fisheries Fellowship, contingent upon the 
availability of Federal funds, will be in the form of a grant or 
cooperative agreement of up to $38,000 per year, 50 percent (up to 
$19,000) of which will be contributed by NMFS, 33\1/3\ percent (up to 
$12,667) by the NSGO, and 16\2/3\ percent (up to $6,333) by the 
acadamic institution as the required 50 percent 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 institution 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 institution in accordance with its guidelines.
B. Industry Fellowship Program
    Today's global economy is putting unprecendented demands on the 
U.S. industrial community for innovation and new technology. This 
situation presents challenges to industry and academic institutions to 
develop new paradigms leading to more efficient utilization of 
available human, fiscal, and technical resources. This can be 
accomplished through the recruitment of graduates trained in 
technologies relevant to an industry's future and the creation of 
opportunities for collaboration between industrial and academic 
scientists and engineers. Academically well-trained students with 
exposure to advanced industrial issues constitute a critical component 
of success in that endeavor. To respond to the need for strengthened 
ties between academia and industry, Sea Grant developed the Sea Grant--
Industry Fellowship Program (Industry Fellowship Program) in 1995.
    For the FY 2002 competition new being announced, funds are 
available to award five new Industry Fellowships. Each fellow will be a 
graduate student selected through national competition, and will be 
known as a (Company Name)/Sea Grant Industry Fellow.
    The goals of the Industry Fellowship Program are to (1) enhance the 
education and training provided to top graduate students in academic 
institutions in the United States and its territories; (2) provide 
real-world experience of industrial issues to graduate students and to 
accelerate their career development; (3) increase interactions between 
the nation's top scientists and engineers and their industrial 
counterparts; (4) accelerate the exchange of information and 
technologies between academic institutions and industry; (5) provide a 
mechanism for industry to influence Sea Grant research priorities and 
solve problems of importance to industry; and (6) forge long-term 
relationships between Sea Grant Colleges and industrial firms.
    The Industry Fellowship Program, in cooperation with specific 
companies, provides support for highly-qualified graduate students who 
are pursuing research and development projects on topics of interest to 
a particular industry/company. The projects may be up to two years 
duration. In a true partnership, the student, the faculty advisor, the 
Sea Grant College or institute, and the industry representative work 
together on a project from beginning to end. Research facilities and 
the cost of the activity are shared. Academic institution faculty are 
the major source for identifying potential industrial collaborators and 
suitable research topics. However, other sources can be used to 
identify potential industrial partners including the Sea Grant Marine 
Advisory Services, university industrial relations offices, and the 
National Sea Grant Review Panel. Sea Grant directors are encouraged to 
use a variety of sources in building successful partnerships with 
industry.
    Fellows must, for each year of their fellowship, provide a written 
summary of their accomplishments and activities during the preceding 
year to the Industry Fellowship Program Manager. This summary must 
accompany the request for each additional year's funding.
    The award for each Industry Fellowship, contingent upon the 
availability of Federal funds, will be in the form of a grant of up to 
$30,000 per year from the NSGO; matching funds equal to at least 50 
percent of the Federal request must also be provided by the industrial 
partner to support the budget for the proposed project.

III. Eligibility

A. Fisheries Fellowship Program
    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 an academic

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institution in the United States or its territories, or submit a signed 
letter from the institution 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 an academic institution in the United 
States or its territories.
B. Industry Fellowship Program
    Applications must be prepared by individuals affiliated with 
academic institutions in the United States or its territories. A 
prospective Fellow must be enrolled or accepted in either an MS or PhD 
degree program in the institution which submits the application.

IV. Selection Criteria

A. Fisheries Fellowship Program
    Selection criteria will include: (1) Relevant academic ability and 
achievement, particularly quantitative skills (35 percent); (2) 
demonstrated research ability in the discipline and appropriateness/
importance of proposed thesis topic (30 percent); (3) expertise of 
major professor (20 percent); and (4) additional relevant experience 
(15 percent).
B. Industry Fellowship Program
    Selection criteria will include: (1) The caliber of the prospective 
Fellow, including special skills, past experiences, or training that 
render him/her especially qualified for the proposed project; 
participation by the Fellow in proposal preparation will be viewed 
favorably (25 percent); (2) the benefit accruing to the student from 
his or her participation as a Sea Grant--Industry Fellow, including 
exposure to industrial methods and mentoring by the industrial partner 
(25 percent); (3) the level of commitment of the industrial partner to 
the project, as demonstrated by financial support, mentoring on 
technical and other issues such as industry trends, problems, and 
opportunities, offering exposure to an industrial setting, facilities/
equipment, etc. (25 percent); and (4) the importantance of the problem 
and the benefits expected to the industrial partner and the nation due 
to the advancement of technology (25 percent).

V. Selection Procedures

    Applications will be ranked in accordance with the above criteria 
and their assigned weights by independent review panels consisting of 
government, academic, and industry experts. The panel members will 
provide individual evaluations of each applicant, but there will be no 
consensus advice. Their recommendations and evaluations will be 
considered by the NSGO in the final selection. Only those applications 
receiving a minimum score of 50 percent by the panel will be eligible 
for funding. For those applications, the NSGO will: (1) Ascertain which 
best meet the objectives of the particular program (as stated in 
Section II. Descriptions of Programs); (2) give priority, in the case 
of Fisheries Fellowship applications to NMFS Fisheries Science Centers 
which do not currently have Fellows; and (3) select the applications to 
be funded. Accordingly, awards may not necessarily be made to the 
highest-scoring applications in each program or discipline therein. 
Applicants may be asked to modify objectives, work plans, or budgets 
prior to final approval of the award. Subsequent grant administration 
procedures will be in accordance with current NOAA grants procedures. A 
summary statement of the review of the application by the review panel 
will be provided to each applicant.

VI. Timetable

    February 15, 2002, 5 pm (local time)--Applications due at state Sea 
Grant Program (or at NSGO, only if application is from an academic 
institution in a non-Sea Grant state).
    February 20, 2002, 5 pm EST--Applications due at NSGO from state 
Sea Grant Programs.
    June 1, 2002 (approximate)--Funds awarded for the Fisheries 
Fellowships.
    September 1, 2002 (approximate)--Funds awarded for the Industry 
Fellowships.
    Note that applications arriving after the above deadlines will be 
accepted for review only if the applicant can document that the 
application was provided to a delivery service that guaranteed delivery 
(see ``Addresses'' above) prior to the specified closing date and time; 
in any event, applications received by the NSGO or the state Sea Grant 
Programs later than two business days following the closing date will 
not be accepted. Facsimile transmissions and electronic mail submission 
of applications will not be accepted.

VII. Application Instructions

A. General Requirements
    All printed pages in the application must be on metric A4 (210 mm 
x  297 mm) or 8.5"  x  11" paper with at least a 10-point font. 
Applications must include the items listed below.
    1. Signed Title Page: The title page must identify the prospective 
Fellow, be signed by the Faculty Advisor and the institutional 
representative, and provide complete contact information. The program 
area being addressed should be clearly identified by starting the 
project title with either ``NMFS--Sea Grant Fisheries Fellowship'' or 
``Sea Grant--Industry Fellowship''. The total amount of Federal and 
matching funds being requested for each project year must be listed.
    2. Project Summary: The project summary should concisely describe 
the activity being proposed and the impact that would result from its 
successful completion, in a form suitable for publication. Applicants 
are encouraged to use the Sea Grant Project Summary Form 90-2, but 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.) 
Investigators: List the names and affiliations of each investigator who 
will significantly contribute to the project, starting with the 
Principal Investigator. For Sea Grant Fellowships, the faculty advisor 
or the state Sea Grant Director may be used. (c.) Funding request for 
each year of the Fellowship, including matching funds if appropriate. 
(d.) Project Period: Start and completion dates. Applications for a 
Fisheries Fellowship should request a start date of July 1, 2002, and 
applications for an Industry Fellowship should request a start date of 
September 1, 2002. (e.) Project Abstract: This should include the 
rationale for the proposed activity, the scientific or technical 
objectives and/or hypotheses to be tested, and a brief summary of the 
work to be completed.
    3. 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 institution may use its own form 
as long as it provides the same information as the Sea Grant form. Sub-
contractors should have a separate budget page. Indirect costs are not 
allowable for either the fellowship or for any costs associated with 
fellowship (15 CFR 917.11(e), ``Guidelines for Sea Grant 
Fellowships'').
    For Fisheries Fellows: Matching funds equivalent to 50 percent of 
the NSGO funds must be provided by the Fellow's institution. Allocation 
of matching funds must be specified in the budget and may consist of up 
to one/half month's salary for the faculty adviser,

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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 (see ``Description of Programs'' above).
    For Industry Fellows: Matching funds equivalent to 50 percent of 
the NSGO funds must be provided by the industrial partner. Allocation 
of matching funds must be specified in the budget. The budget should 
include adequate travel funds for the Fellow, the industrial mentor, 
and the faculty advisor to meet at least twice per year during the 
fellowship period, preferably at the site of the industrial partner. 
The budget may also include up to one month of salary or stipend 
support for the faculty advisor or one other project participant, in 
addition to the Fellow, who is affiliated with the academic 
institution.
    4. Curriculum vitae of the student, the faculty advisor, and NMFS 
or company-appointed research mentor (2-page maximum per investigator).
    5. Signed letter of commitment from the prospective NMFS mentor or 
industrial partner.
    6. Official copies of all undergraduate and graduate student 
transcripts.
    7. Additional Material for Fisheries Fellowship Program only:
    a. Education and career goal statement (not to exceed two pages) 
from the student indicating the number of years for which fellowship 
support is being sought and the student'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 economic (a summary of the 
proposed thesis or the general intended area of study should be 
included, if available).
    b. Three signed letters of recommendation, including one from the 
student's faculty adviser.
    c. 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.
    8. Additional Material for Industry Fellowship Program only:
    a. Project Description (10-page limit): Brevity will assist 
reviewers and program staff in dealing effectively with applications. 
Therefore, the Project Description may not exceed 10 pages. Tables and 
visual materials, including charts, graphs, maps, photographs, and 
other pictorial presentations, are included in the 10-page limitation; 
literature citations are not included in the 10-page limitation. 
Conformance to the 10-page limitation will be strictly enforced. All 
information needed for review of the application should be included in 
the main text; no appendices are permitted.
    Introduction/Background/Justification: What is the problem being 
addressed and what is its scientific and economic importance to the 
advancement of technology, to the cooperating industrial partner, and 
to the region or nation?
    Research or Technical Plan: What are the goals, objectives, and 
anticipated approach of the proposed project? While a detailed work 
plan is not expected, the application should present evidence that 
there has been thoughtful consideration of the approach to the problem 
under study. What capabilities does the industrial partner possess that 
will benefit the Fellow?
    Output/Anticipated Economic Benefits: Upon successful completion of 
the project, what are the anticipated benefits to the student, the 
industrial partner, the academic institution and its faculty, the 
sponsoring Sea Grant Program, and the nation?
    References and Literature Citations: Should be included, but will 
not be counted in the 10-page project description limit.
    b. A brief (1-page) description of the collaborating industrial 
firm.

VIII. How To Submit

    Ten (10) copies of applications must be submitted to the state Sea 
Grant Programs or to the NSGO according to the schedule outlined above 
(See ``Addresses'' and ``Timetable''). The addresses of the state Sea 
Grant College Programs may be found at the following Internet web site: 
(http://www.nsgo.seagrant.org/SGDirectors.html), or may be obtained by 
contacting Mr. Joseph Brown at the NSGO (tel: 301-713-2438  x  135). 
Applications sent to the NSGO should be addressed to: National Sea 
Grant Office, R/SG, Attn: Mrs. Geraldine Taylor, Applications 
Processing, Room 11732, NOAA, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 
10910 (telephone number for express mail applications is 301-713-2445). 
Facsimile transmissions and electronic mail submission of applications 
will not be accepted.

IX. Other Requirements

    The Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements for 
Grants and Cooperative Agreements contained in the Federal Register 
notice of October 1, 2001 (66 FR 49917) are applicable to this 
solicitation. The Federal Register notice also lists the forms required 
to complete the standard Department of Commerce grant application 
package, but those forms will be required only for those applicants who 
have been recommended for funding. Unsuccessful applications will be 
held in the National Sea Grant Office for a period of five (5) years 
and then destroyed. Applications under this program are not subject to 
Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.''
    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 MSIs are listed at the following 
Internet web site: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OCR/minorityinst.html.
    This notice contains collection-of-information requirements subject 
to the Paperwork Reduction Act. The use of NOAA Forms 90-2 and 90-4, or 
equivalents, has been approved by OMB under the control number 0648-
0362. Public reporting burden for these collections of information is 
estimated to average 20 minutes for a NOAA Form 90-2 and 15 minutes for 
a NOAA Form 90-4. These response times include 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 data collection, including 
suggestions for reducing the burden, to the National Sea Grant Office 
(see the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section).
    Notwithstanding any other provision of 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

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Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that collection displays a currently 
valid OMB control number.

X. Classification

    It has been determined that this notice is not significant for 
purposes of E.O. 12866.
    It has been determined that this notice does not contain policies 
with Federalism implications as the term is defined in EO 13132.
    Because notice and comment are not required under 5 U.S.C. 553, or 
any other law, for notices relating to public property, loans, grants, 
benefits or contracts (5 U.S. C. 553(a)), a Regulatory Flexibility 
Analysis is not required and had not been prepared for this notice, 5 
U.S.C. 601 et seq.

David L. Evans,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
John E. Herring,
Acting Director, Officer of Science and Technology, National Marine 
Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 02-514 Filed 1-8-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-KA-M