[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 14, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2116-2117]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-726]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Availability of Seats for the Stellwagen Bank National Marine 
Sanctuary Advisory Council

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

ACTION: Notice and request for applications.

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SUMMARY: The Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary (SBNMS) is 
seeking applicants for the following vacant seats on its Sanctuary 
Advisory Council (Council): Member (voting) seats: Research (2), 
Education (2), Conservation (2), Marine Transportation (1), Recreation 
(1), Whale Watching (1), Mobile Gear Commercial Fishing (1), Fixed Gear 
Commercial Fishing (1), Business/Industry (1), and At-Large (3); and 
the following Alternate (non-voting) seats: Research (2), Education 
(2), Conservation (2), Marine Transportation (1), Recreation (1), Whale 
Watching (1), Mobile Gear Commercial Fishing (1),

[[Page 2117]]

Fixed Gear Commercial Fishing (1), Business/Industry (1), and At-Large 
(3). The Department of Commerce General Counsel requires that all 
advisory committees must issue a Federal Register notice. Applicants 
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 
members should expect to serve a 2 to 3-year term, pursuant to the 
Council's Charter.

DATES: Applications are due by February 20, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Application kits may be obtained from Ruthetta Halbower, 
Administrative Secretary, SBNMS, 175 Edward Foster Road Scituate, MA 
02066. Telephone: 781-545-8026 X 201. E-mail: 
[email protected]. Or applications can be downloaded from the 
SBNMS web site: http://stellwagen.nos.noaa.gov/management/sac/charter.html. Completed applications should be sent to the same 
address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nathalie Ward, Sanctuary Advisory 
Council Coordinator 175 Edward Foster Road Scituate, MA 02066. 
Telephone: 781-545-8026 X 206 E-mail: nathalie. [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The SBNMS Sanctuary Advisory Council (SAC or 
council) is a community-based advisory group established to advise the 
Sanctuary Superintendent and staff on issues relevant to the effective 
implementation of the Sanctuary Management Plan. The Council is the 
formal organizational link to the Sanctuary's user community and others 
interested in the management of this nationally significant area of the 
marine environment.
    Duties of the Council include:
    [sbull] Providing advice and recommendations to the Superintendent 
regarding management of the Sanctuary drawing upon the expertise of its 
members and other sources;
    [sbull] Serving as liaisons between their communities and the 
Sanctuary, by keeping the Sanctuary staff informed of issues and 
concerns, as well as performing outreach to their respective 
communities on the Sanctuary's behalf; and
    [sbull] Serving as a forum for consultation and deliberation among 
its members and as a source of consensus advice to the Superintendent.
    The Council membership is to be made up of 15 non-governmental 
voting members and six governmental ex-officio members (non-voting). 
The non-governmental members are selected to represent local user 
groups, conservation and other public interest organizations, 
scientific and educational organizations, or members of the public 
interested in the protection and multiple use management of Sanctuary 
resources. Representatives from the following groups will be chosen: 
Conservation (2), education (2), research (2), recreation (1), whale 
watching (1), fixed fishing gear (1), mobile fishing gear (1), marine 
transportation (1), business/industry (1); and citizens-at-large (3).
    The governmental members are to represent agencies with regulatory 
authorities or other direct interests in the Sanctuary and its 
resources. The member organizations are:
    National Marine Fisheries Service Northeast Regional Center 
(federal fisheries and protected species management);
    New England Regional Fishery Management Council (federal fisheries 
management planning);
    U.S. Coast Guard (federal marine resources and maritime 
enforcement);
    Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (state-federal 
ocean management consistency);
    Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (state ocean fisheries 
management); and
    Massachusetts Division of Law Enforcement (cooperative state-
federal environmental law enforcement).

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

(Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog Number 11.429 Marine Sanctuary 
Program)

    Dated: January 7, 2004.
Richard W. Spinrad,
Assistant Administrator, Ocean Services and Coastal Zone Management, 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 04-726 Filed 1-13-04; 8:45 am]
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