[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 205 (Wednesday, October 24, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 60317]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-20931]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD49


Pacific Whiting; Advisory Panel

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: NMFS solicits nominations for the Advisory Panel (AP) on 
Pacific Whiting called for in the Agreement Between the Government of 
the United States of America and Canada on Pacific Hake/Whiting. 
Nominations are being sought for at least 6, but not more than 12 
individuals to serve as United States representatives on the AP.

DATES: Nominations must be received on or before November 23, 2007.

ADDRESSES: You may submit nominations or comments, identified by 0648-
XD49, by any of the following methods:
     E-mail: [email protected]: Include 0648-XD49 in the 
subject line of the message.
     Fax: 206-526-6736, Attn: Frank Lockhart
     Mail: D. Robert Lohn, Administrator, Northwest Region, 
NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115-0070, Attn: Frank 
Lockhart.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank Lockhart at (206) 526-6142.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title VI of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006 (MSRA,) 
entitled ``The Pacific Whiting Act of 2006,'' implements the 2003 
``Agreement Between the Government of the Government of the United 
States of America and Canada on Pacific Hake/Whiting.'' Among other 
provisions, the Whiting Act provides for the establishment of an AP to 
advise the Joint U.S.-Canada Management Committee on bilateral whiting 
management issues. Nominations are being sought to fill at least 6 but 
no more than 12 positions on the Pacific whiting AP for terms of 4-
years.
    The Whiting Act requires that appointments to the AP be selected 
from among individuals who are ``(A) knowledgeable or experienced in 
the harvesting, processing, marketing, management, conservation, or 
research of the offshore whiting resource; and (B) not employees of the 
United States.'' Nominations are sought for any persons meeting these 
requirements.
    Nomination packages for appointment to the AP should include:
    1. The name of the applicant or nominee and a description of his/
her interest in Pacific whiting; and
    2. A statement of background and/or description of how the above 
qualifications are met.
    The terms of office for the Pacific Whiting AP members will be for 
4 years (48 months). Members appointed to the AP will be reimbursed for 
necessary travel expenses.
    In the initial year of treaty implementation, NMFS anticipates that 
up to 3 meetings of the AP will be required. In subsequent years, 1-2 
meetings of the AP will be held annually. Meetings of the AP will be 
held in the United States or Canada, so AP members will need a valid 
U.S. passport. Meetings of the AP will be held concurrently with those 
of the Joint Management Committee, once per year for a period not to 
exceed 5 days in duration.
    The Pacific Whiting Act of 2006 also states that while performing 
their appointed duties as AP members, members ``shall be considered to 
be Federal employees only for purposes of-
    (1) injury compensation under chapter 81 of title 5, United States 
Code;
    (2) requirements concerning ethics, conflicts of interest, and 
corruption as provided under title 18, United States Code; and
    (3) any other criminal or civil statute or regulation governing the 
conduct of Federal employees.''

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: October 18, 2007.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-20931 Filed 10-23-07; 8:45 am]
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