[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 145 (Thursday, July 30, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37986-37987]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-18184]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


External Advisory Panel for NOAA's Oceans and Human Health 
Initiative

AGENCY: National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of Solicitation of Members for an External Advisory 
Panel for the NOAA Oceans and Human Health Initiative.

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SUMMARY: This notice responds to the Oceans and Human Health Act of 
2005, Public Law 108-447, which authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to 
establish an Oceans and Human Health Advisory Panel (the Panel). This 
Panel assists in

[[Page 37987]]

the development and implementation of the NOAA Oceans and Human Health 
Initiative, as set forth in section 903(b) of the Oceans and Human 
Health Act. Nominations to the Panel are being solicited for a balanced 
representation of individuals with multi-disciplinary expertise in the 
marine and biomedical sciences. The Panel is not subject to the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).

DATES: Resumes should be sent to the address, e-mail, or fax specified 
and must be received by Monday, August 31, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Senior Science and Policy Analyst, Oceans and Human Health 
Initiative, National Ocean Service, NOAA, 331 Fort Johnson Road, 
Charleston, SC 29412-9110, fax: 843-762-8737, e-mail: 
[email protected]; cc: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carolyn Sotka, NOAA, Senior Science 
and Policy Analyst, National Ocean Service (NOS), NOAA, 331 Fort 
Johnson Road, Charleston, South Carolina 29412-9110; Telephone: 843-
762-8944, Fax: 843-762-8737; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the Panel is to advise NOAA 
with regard to:
    1. Development of overall vision, mission and goals for NOAA' s 
Oceans and Human Health Initiative;
    2. Preparation and periodic updating of a NOAA's Oceans and Human 
Health Initiative Research Plan;
    3. Communication, coordination and integration of Oceans and Human 
Health Initiative activities with other programs and partners, 
including but not limited to the National Science Foundation/National 
Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Centers of Oceans and Human 
Health, the Inter-Agency Task Force on Harmful Algal Blooms and 
Hypoxia, human health academic and medical communities, and state 
environmental, health and natural resource agencies;
    4. Oceans and Human Health Initiative performance and progress;
    5. Effectiveness of NOAA's education and outreach efforts; and
    6. Such other matters as may be identified.
    The Panel members shall not be employed by NOAA. Nominations should 
provide the nominee's contact information and describe their 
qualifications relative to the criteria given below, or include a 
resume. Anyone is eligible to nominate a panel member, and nominations 
from organizations and self-nominations are encouraged. The Panel is 
expected to have up to a maximum of 15 members, with a variety of 
backgrounds (recognizing that it will not be practical to have all 
backgrounds represented), with respect to:
    1. Particularly relevant areas of marine and biomedical sciences, 
such as:
    a. Conservation medicine, diseases of humans, diseases of marine 
organisms;
    b. Epidemiology and human health sciences;
    c. Harmful algal bloom impacts on public health;
    d. Source tracking and environmental microbiology;
    e. Marine pharmaceuticals and other natural products;
    f. Marine organisms and habitats as models for biomedical research 
and/or indicators of environmental condition;
    g. Pollutants, contaminants, and ecological chemistry;
    h. Seafood safety;
    i. Remote sensing, observing systems; and predictive models;
    j. Ecosystem science and services;
    k. Climate change and variability;
    l. Genomics and proteomics;
    m. Biomaterials, bioengineering, and other techniques for producing 
marine products, including chemical, aquaculture, and recombinant DNA;
    n. Outreach and education; and
    o. Social sciences relevant to human health.
    2. Experience in academia, within mission-oriented government 
agencies, non governmental organizations, and the private sector;
    3. Familiarity with NOAA's mandates; and
    4. Being a science provider to key generic groups of stakeholders, 
science interpreter to groups of stakeholders, or stakeholder with a 
history of interaction with science providers.
    The qualifications of individuals are expected to be outstanding 
with respect to one or more, but not necessarily all, of the criteria. 
Because of the limited size of the advisory panel, management 
organization expertise must include expertise directly related to 
ecosystem condition or human health or the very special features of 
science applied to government decision-making. The advisory panel 
members should have the following qualifications:
    1. National and international recognition within their profession;
    2. Knowledge of the scientific, technical, and biomedical 
information needed to support NOAA's Oceans and Human Health 
Initiative, coupled with broad familiarity with NOAA's mission;
    3. Knowledge of, and experience with, the organization and 
management of complex, mission-oriented scientific and/or public health 
programs; and
    4. Ability to represent views of academia, government agencies, 
nongovernmental organizations, or the private business sector.
    This solicitation is to obtain candidate applications for 3 current 
vacancies on the Panel. Appointments to the advisory panel will be for 
two or three-year terms, renewable once and the panel is expected to 
meet twice yearly.

    Dated: July 23, 2009.
William Corso,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone 
Management.
[FR Doc. E9-18184 Filed 7-29-09; 8:45 am]
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