[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 5, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5951-5952]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-2709]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 4224]


Extension of Deadline for Nominations for the General Advisory 
Committee and the Scientific Advisory Subcommittee to the United States 
Section to the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission

SUMMARY: The Department of State is extending for a period of 60 days 
the deadline for applications and nominations for the renewal of the 
General Advisory Committee to the Inter-American Tropical Tuna 
Commission (IATTC), as well as to a Scientific Advisory Subcommittee of 
the General Advisory Committee, originally published November 12, 2002, 
in Department of State Public Notice number 4204, Volume 67, Number 
218, Pages 68714-68716. The new deadline is March 14, 2003. The purpose 
of the General Advisory Committee and the Scientific Advisory 
Subcommittee is to provide public input and advice to the United States 
Section to the IATTC in the formulation of U.S. policy and positions at 
meetings of the IATTC and its subsidiary bodies. The Scientific 
Advisory Subcommittee shall also function as the National Scientific 
Advisory Committee (NATSAC) provided for in the Agreement on the 
International Dolphin Conservation Program (AIDCP). The United States 
Section to the IATTC is composed of the Commissioners to the IATTC and 
the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Ocean and Fisheries or his 
or her designated representative. Authority to establish the General 
Advisory Committee and Scientific Advisory Subcommittee is provided 
under the Tuna Conventions Act of 1950, as amended by the International 
Dolphin Conservation Program Act (IDCPA) of 1997.

DATES: Nominations must be submitted on or before March 14, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Nominations should be submitted to Mary Beth West, Deputy 
Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Fisheries, Bureau of Oceans and 
International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Room 7831, 
Department of State, Washington, DC 20520-7818; or by fax to 202-736-
7350.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Hogan, Office of Marine 
Conservation, Department of State: 202-647-2335.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

General Advisory Committee

    The Tuna Conventions Act (16 U.S.C. 951, et seq.), as amended by 
the IDCPA (Pub. L. 105-42) provides that the Secretary of State, in 
consultation with the U.S. Commissioners to the IATTC, shall appoint a 
General Advisory Committee (the Committee) to the U.S. Section to the 
IATTC (U.S. Section). The Committee shall be composed of not less than 
5 nor more than 15 persons, with balanced representation from the 
various groups participating in the fisheries included under the IATTC 
Convention, and from non-governmental conservation organizations. The 
Committee shall be invited to have representatives attend all non-
executive meetings of the U.S. Section, and shall be given full 
opportunity to examine and to be heard on all proposed programs of 
investigations, reports, recommendations, and regulations adopted by 
the Commission. Representatives of the Committee may attend meetings of 
the IATTC and the AIDCP as members of the U.S. delegation or otherwise 
in accordance with the rules of those bodies governing such 
participation. Participation as a member of the U.S. delegation shall 
be subject to such limits as may be placed on the size of the 
delegation.

Scientific Advisory Committee

    The Act, as amended, also provides that the Secretary of State, in 
consultation with the U.S. Commissioners to the IATTC, shall appoint a 
Scientific Advisory Subcommittee (the Subcommittee) of the General 
Advisory Committee. The Subcommittee shall be composed of not less than 
5 and not more than 15

[[Page 5952]]

qualified scientists with balanced representation from the public and 
private sectors, including non-governmental conservation organizations. 
The Subcommittee shall advise the Committee and the U.S. Section on 
matters including: The conservation of ecosystems; the sustainable uses 
of living marine resources related to the tuna fishery in the eastern 
Pacific Ocean; and the long-term conservation and management of stocks 
of living marine resources in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.
    In addition, at the request of the Committee, the U.S. 
Commissioners or the Secretary of State, the Subcommittee shall perform 
such functions and provide such assistance as may be required by formal 
agreements entered into by the United States for the eastern Pacific 
tuna fishery, including the AIDCP. The functions may include: The 
review of data from the International Dolphin Conservation Program 
(IDCP), including data received from the IATTC staff; recommendations 
on research needs and the coordination and facilitation of such 
research; recommendations on scientific reviews and assessments 
required under the IDCP; recommendations with respect to measures to 
assure the regular and timely full exchange of data among the Parties 
to the AIDCP and each nation's NATSAC (or its equivalent); and 
consulting with other experts as needed.
    The Subcommittee shall be invited to have representatives attend 
all non-executive meetings of the U.S. Section and the General Advisory 
Committee and shall be given full opportunity to examine and to be 
heard on all proposed programs of scientific investigation, scientific 
reports, and scientific recommendations of the Commission. 
Representatives of the Subcommittee may attend meetings of the IATTC 
and the AIDCP as members of the U.S. delegation or otherwise in 
accordance with the rules of those bodies governing such participation. 
Participation as a member of the U.S. delegation shall be subject to 
such limits as may be placed on the size of the delegation.

National Scientific Advisory Committee

    The Scientific Advisory Subcommittee shall also function as the 
NATSAC established pursuant to Article IX of the AIDCP. In this regard, 
the Subcommittee shall perform the functions of the NATSAC as specified 
in Annex VI of the AIDCP including, but not limited to: Receiving and 
reviewing relevant data, including data provided to the National Marine 
Fisheries Service (NMFS) by the IATTC Staff; advising and recommending 
to the U.S. government measures and actions that should be undertaken 
to conserve and manage stocks of living marine resources in the AIDCP 
Area; making recommendations to the U.S. government regarding research 
needs related to the eastern Pacific Ocean tuna purse seine fishery; 
promoting the regular and timely full exchange of data among the 
Parties on a variety of matters related to the implementation of the 
AIDCP; and consulting with other experts as necessary in order to 
achieve the objectives of the Agreement.

General Provisions

    Each appointed member of the Committee and the Subcommittee/NATSAC 
shall be appointed for a term of 3 years and may be reappointed.
    Logistical and administrative support for the operation of the 
Committee and the Subcommittee will be provided by the Department of 
State, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific 
Affairs, and by the Department of Commerce, National Marine Fisheries 
Service. Members shall receive no compensation for their service on 
either the Committee or the Subcommittee/NATSAC, nor will members be 
compensated for travel or other expenses associated with their 
participation.

Procedures for Submitting Applications/Nominations

    Applications/nominations for the General Advisory Committee and the 
Scientific Advisory Subcommittee/NATSAC should be submitted to the 
Department of State (See ADDRESSES). Such applications/nominations 
should include the following information:
    (1) Full name/address/phone/fax and e-mail of applicant/nominee;
    (2) Whether applying/nominating for the General Advisory Committee 
or the Scientific Advisory Committee/NATSAC (applicants may specify 
both);
    (3) Applicant/nominee's organization or professional affiliation 
serving as the basis for the application/nomination;
    (4) Background statement describing the applicant/nominee's 
qualifications and experience, especially as related to the tuna purse 
seine fishery in the eastern Pacific Ocean or other factors relevant to 
the implementation of the Convention Establishing the IATTC or the 
Agreement on the International Dolphin Conservation Program;
    (5) A written statement from the applicant/nominee of intent to 
participate actively and in good faith in the meetings and activities 
of the General Advisory Committee and/or the Scientific Advisory 
Subcommittee/NATSAC.

    Dated: January 30, 2003.
David A. Balton,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Fisheries, Department 
of State.
[FR Doc. 03-2709 Filed 2-4-03; 8:45 am]
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