[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 47 (Monday, March 10, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 12705]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-4683]


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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 is continuing its solicitation of nominations for the 
Advisory Panel (AP) on Pacific Whiting called for in the Pacific 
Whiting Act of 2006 (Act). An initial solicitation was published in the 
Federal Register on October 24, 2007 and resulted in insufficient 
nominations to meet the requirements of the Act. Nominations are being 
sought for at least 6, but not more than 12 individuals to serve as 
United States representatives on the AP. Nomination packages received 
during the initial solicitation period will be considered in final 
selection of United States representatives to the AP and it is not 
necessary to resubmit them.

DATES: Nominations must be received April 9, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You may submit nominations 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.
    It is not necessary to resubmit nomination packages that were sent 
in during the initial solicitation period.

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 United States of America and the 
Government of 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. An initial solicitation was published in the Federal Register 
on October 24, 2007 (72 FR 60317) and resulted in insufficient 
nominations to meet the requirements of the Act. 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 term 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. 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: March 4, 2008.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-4683 Filed 3-7-08; 8:45 am]
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