[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 25 (Thursday, February 6, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6115-6116]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-2837]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Call for Applications for Representatives and Alternates to the 
Northewestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve Advisory 
Council for the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem 
Reserve

AGENCY: National Marine Sanctuary Program (NMSP), National Ocean 
Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Department of Commerce (DOC).

ACTION: Notice and request for applications.

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SUMMARY: The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve 
is seeking applicants for the following vacant seats on its Reserve 
Advisory Council (Council): (1) Conservation, (2) Research, (1) Ocean-
Related Tourism, (1) Recreational Fishing, (1) Education, (1) Citizen-
At-Large. Council Representatives and Alternates are chosen based upon 
their particular expertise and experience in relation to the seat for 
which they are applying; community and professional affiliations; 
philosophy regarding the protection and management of marine resources; 
and possibly the length of residence in the area affected by the 
Sanctuary. Applicants who are chosen as Representatives or Alternates 
should expect to serve three-year terms, pursuant to the Council's 
Charter. Persons who are interested in applying for membership on the 
Council as either a Representative or Alternate may obtain an 
application from the person or website identified under the ADDRESSES 
section below.

DATES: Completed applications must be postmarked no later than February 
28, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Applications may be obtained from Moani, Pai, 6700 
Kalanianaole Highway, Suite 215, Honolulu, Hawaii 96825, (808) 397-2661 
or online at http://hawaiireef.noaa.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Aulani Wilheim, 6700 Kalanianaole 
Highway, Suite 215, Honolulu, Hawaii 96825, (808) 397-2657, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NWHI Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve is a 
new marine protected area to conserve and protect the coral reef 
ecosystem and related natural and cultural resources of the area. The 
Reserve was established by Executive Order pursuant to the National 
Marine Sanctuaries Amendments Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-513). The NWHI 
Reserve was established by Executive Order 13178 (December 2000) and 
Executive Order 13196 (January 2001).
    The Reserve encompasses an area of the marine waters and submerged 
lands of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, extending approximately 
1200 nautical miles long and 100 nautical miles wide. The Reserve is 
adjacent to and seaward of the seaward boundary of Hawaii State waters 
and submerged lands and the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, and 
includes the Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge to the extent it 
extends beyond Hawaii State waters and submerged lands. The Reserve is 
managed by the Secretary of Commerce pursuant to the National Marine 
Sanctuaries Act and the Executive Orders. The Secretary has also 
initiated the process to designate the Reserve as a National Marine 
Sanctuary. The management principles and implementation strategy and 
requirements for the Reserve are found in the enabling Executive 
Orders, which are part of the application kit and can be found on the 
website listed above.
    In designating the Reserve, the Secretary of Commerce was directed 
to establish a Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve Advisory Council, pursuant 
to section 315 of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, to provide 
advice and recommendations on the development of the Reserve Operations 
Plan and the designation and management of a Northwestern Hawaiian 
Islands National Marine Sanctuary by the Secretary.
    The National Marine Sanctuary Program (NMSP) has established the 
Reserve Advisory Council and is now accepting applications from 
interested individuals for Council Representatives and Alternates for 
the following seven citizen/constituent positions on the Council:
    1. Two (2) representatives from the non-Federal science community 
with experience specific to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and with 
expertise in at least one of the following areas:

A. Marine mammal science.
B. Coral reef ecology.
C. Native marine flora and fauna of the Hawaiian Islands.
D. Oceanography.

[[Page 6116]]

E. Any other scientific discipline the Secretary determines to be 
appropriate.
    2. One (1) representative from a non-governmental wildlife/marine 
life, environmental, and/or conservation organization.
    3. One (1) representative from the recreational fishing industry 
that conducts activities in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
    4. One (1) representative from the ocean-related tourism industry.
    5. One (1) representative from the non-Federal community with 
experience in education and outreach regarding marine conservation 
issues.
    6. One (1) citizen-at-large representative.
    Current Reserve Council Representatives and Alternates may re-apply 
for these vacant seats.
    The Council consists of 25 members, 15 of which are non-government 
voting members and 10 of which are government non-voting members. The 
voting members are representatives of the following constituencies: 
Conservation, Citizen-At-Large, Ocean-Related Tourism, Recreational 
Fishing, Research, Commercial Fishing, Education, State of Hawaii and 
Native Hawaiian. The government non-voting seats are represented by the 
following agencies: Department of Defense, Department of the Interior, 
Department of State, Marine Mammal Commission, NOAA's Hawaiian Islands 
Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, NOAA's National Marine 
Fisheries Service, National Science Foundation, U.S. Coast Guard, 
Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, and NOAA's 
National Ocean Service.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1431, et seq.

(Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog Number 11.429 Marine Sanctuary 
Program)

    Dated: January 29, 2003.
Jamison S. Hawkins,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone 
Management.
[FR Doc. 03-2837 Filed 2-5-03; 8:45 am]
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