[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 209 (Wednesday, October 29, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61657-61658]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-27207]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee; Public Meeting

AGENCY: National Ocean Service, NOAA, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of open meeting.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the second meeting of the Marine 
Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee (MPAFAC) in San Mateo, 
California.

[[Page 61658]]


DATES: The meeting will be held Monday, November 17, 2003, from 8:30 
a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday, November 18, 2003, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., 
and Wednesday, November 19, 2003, from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. These times 
and the agenda topics described below may be subject to change. Refer 
to the Web page listed below for the most up-to-date meeting agenda.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the San Mateo Marriott San 
Francisco Airport Hotel, 1770 South Amphlett Boulevard, San Mateo, 
California 94402-2708. The hotel is located seven miles south of the 
San Francisco International Airport and northwest of the intersection 
of Highways 101 and 92.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marjorie Ernst, Designated Federal 
Officer, MPAFAC, National Marine Protected Areas Center, NOAA, Rm. 
12227, 1305 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910. (Phone: 
301-563-7111; Fax: 301-713-3110; e-mail: [email protected]; or 
visit the National MPA Center Web site at http://www.mpa.gov).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The MPAFAC, composed of external, 
knowledgeable representatives of stakeholder groups, has been 
established by the Department of Commerce to provide advice to the 
Secretaries of Commerce and Interior on implementation of section 4 of 
Executive Order 13158 on MPAs. The meeting will be open to public 
participation, with a 1.5-hour time period set aside from 9 a.m.-10:30 
a.m. on Wednesday, November 19, 2003, for the Committee to receive 
verbal comments from the public. In general, each individual or group 
making a verbal presentation will be limited to a total time of five 
(5) minutes. Copies of written statements should be submitted to the 
Designated Federal Official by Friday, November 14, 2003.
    Matters to be Considered: On Monday, November 17, the Committee 
will elect and install a Chair and Vice-Chair. This will be followed by 
a discussion and adoption of procedural rules by which the Committee 
will operate. The Committee will receive several presentations from 
NOAA officials both to help place their mission in perspective vis-a-
vis the two Departments and to clarify their charge and relationship to 
the National MPA Center. The Committee will then be briefed by 
representatives from both Departments on the status of selected Federal 
Marine Protected Area programs. The Committee will spend the remainder 
of the day exploring the formation of suitable subcommittees and 
working groups for addressing facets of its mission.
    On Tuesday, November 18, the Chair will oversee the process for the 
establishment of proposed subcommittees. Once formed, members will 
break into these smaller groups over the course of the day to discuss 
their respective goals, tasks, individual assignments, and the nature 
of the reports and other products that the full committee will 
deliberate on and issue, based on the input developed by the 
subcommittees. At several junctures on Tuesday, the subcommittees will 
report back on progress during plenary sessions. The public is welcomed 
to observe these breakout sessions, although space may be limited in 
some cases.
    On Wednesday morning, the Committee will reconvene to review and 
conclude discussions based on the previous day's work before they 
receive verbal comments or questions from the public. The Committee 
will conclude the meeting with a discussion of the timing and location 
of the next meeting, as well as a consideration of potential agenda 
items.

    Dated: October 21, 2003.
Richard W. Spinrad,
Assistant Administrator, Ocean Services and Coastal Zone Management, 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 03-27207 Filed 10-28-03; 8:45 am]
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