[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 245 (Monday, December 22, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 71116]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-31448]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY


Directorate of Science and Technology; Notice of Homeland 
Security Science and Technology Advisory Committee (HSSTAC) Vacancy and 
Call for Applications

AGENCY: Office of the Undersecretary for Science and Technology, 
Department of Homeland Security.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 311 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, 
Pub. L. 107-296, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security 
is seeking nominations to fill a vacant seat on the Homeland Security 
Science and Technology Advisory Committee (HSSTAC). Section 311(b)(1) 
of the statute requires that the committee include among its membership 
``Representatives of citizens groups, including economically 
disadvantaged communities.'' Therefore, we are requesting qualified 
individuals that meet this criterion and are interested in serving on 
this committee to apply for membership. Nominees should send a letter 
of interest and brief biography to [email protected] or fax to the 
attention of Dr. Ron Taylor at 202-772-9916. Applicants selected for 
appointment will be required to pass an appropriate security background 
check prior to appointment to the committee.

DATES: Your letter of interest and brief biography should reach the 
Department of Homeland Security on or before January 15, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Ronald Taylor, Director, Office of 
Studies and Analysis, Department of Homeland Security Science and 
Technology Directorate, telephone 202-205-5041, fax 202-772-9916.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Purpose

    The HSSTAC shall make recommendations with respect to the 
activities of the Under Secretary for Science and Technology, including 
identifying research areas of potential importance to the security of 
the Nation. The HSSTAC is to be a source of independent, scientific and 
technical planning advice for the Under Secretary for Science and 
Technology.

Membership

    The HSSTAC consists of 20 members appointed by the Under Secretary 
for Science and Technology. The HSSTAC also includes emergency first-
responders or representatives of organizations or associations of 
emergency first-responders. (We are not requesting applicants for these 
positions in this notice.) The HSSTAC also includes representatives of 
citizens groups, including economically-disadvantaged communities. The 
HSSTAC members are (1) eminent in fields such as emergency response, 
research, engineering, new product development, business, and 
management consulting; (2) selected solely on the basis of established 
records of distinguished service; (3) not employees of the Federal 
Government; and, (4) selected as to provide representation of a cross-
section of the research, development, demonstration, and deployment 
activities supported by the Under Secretary for Science and Technology.
    Members will serve terms of office of 3 years. However, to permit 
orderly turnover of the committee's membership, the original members of 
the HSSTAC will be appointed to three groups of approximately equal 
numbers each, and their terms of office will be staggered. One group 
will have a term of 1 year, 1 a term of 2 years, and the other a term 
of 3 years.
    While attending meetings or otherwise engaged in Committee 
business, Committee members are authorized travel and subsistence or 
per diem allowances (as appropriate) in accordance with Federal 
government regulations.

Meetings

    The HSSTAC will meet at least quarterly at the call of the Chair or 
whenever one-third of the members so request in writing.

Duration

    The HSSTAC is expected to be needed on a continuing basis. However, 
the HSSTAC will terminate on November 25, 2005, pursuant to section 
311(j) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 unless extended.

    Dated: December 16, 2003.
Charles E. McQueary,
Under Secretary for Science and Technology, Department of Homeland 
Security.
[FR Doc. 03-31448 Filed 12-19-03; 8:45 am]
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