[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 76 (Wednesday, April 21, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20809-20810]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-9138]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Hydrographic Services Review Panel

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

ACTION: Notice of Additional Membership Solicitation for Hydrographic 
Services Review Panel.

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SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is 
soliciting additional applications for membership on the Hydrographic 
Services Review Panel (the Panel), a Federal advisory committee. NOAA 
is extending the previous membership solicitation period, which ended 
July 24, 2009, and will hereby accept additional membership 
applications through Wednesday, June 30, 2010. NOAA is seeking to 
broaden the areas of expertise represented on the Panel. The 
Hydrographic Services Improvement Act Amendments of 2008 states, ``the 
voting members of the Panel shall be individuals who, by reason of 
knowledge, experience, or training, are especially qualified in one or 
more of the disciplines and fields relating to hydrographic data and 
hydrographic services, marine transportation, port administration, 
vessel pilotage, coastal and fishery management, and other disciplines 
as determined appropriate by the Administrator.'' NOAA encourages 
individuals with expertise in navigation data, products and services; 
coastal management; fisheries management; coastal and marine spatial 
planning; geodesy; water levels; and other science-related fields to 
submit applications for Panel membership. To apply for membership on 
the Panel, applicants should submit a resume as indicated in the 
ADDRESSES section. NOAA is an equal opportunity employer.

DATES: Application materials should be sent to the address, email, or 
fax specified and must be received by June 30, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Submit applications for Panel membership, in the form of a 
resume, to Kathy Watson via mail, fax, or e-mail. Mail: Kathy Watson, 
NOAA National Ocean Service, Office of Coast Survey, NOAA (N/CS), 1315 
East West Highway, SSMC3 Rm. 6126, Silver Spring, MD, 20910; Fax: 301-
713-4019; E-mail: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathy Watson, NOAA National Ocean 
Service, Office of Coast Survey, NOAA (N/CS), 1315 East West Highway, 
SSMC3 Rm. 6126, Silver Spring, Maryland, 20910; Telephone: 301-713-2770 
x158, Fax: 301-713-4019; E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice responds to the Hydrographic 
Services Improvement Act Amendments of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-372), which 
requires the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere to 
solicit nominations for Panel membership. The Panel shall advise the 
NOAA Administrator on matters related to the responsibilities and 
authorities set forth in section 303 of the Hydrographic Services 
Improvement Act of 1998, its amendments, and such other appropriate 
matters as the

[[Page 20810]]

Administrator refers to the Panel for review and advice.
    Under 33 U.S.C. 883a, et seq., NOAA's National Ocean Service (NOS) 
is responsible for providing nautical charts and related information 
for safe navigation. NOS collects and compiles hydrographic, tidal and 
current, geodetic, and a variety of other data in order to fulfill this 
responsibility. The Hydrographic Services Review Panel provides advice 
on current and emerging oceanographic and marine science technologies 
relating to operations, research and development; and dissemination of 
data pertaining to:
    (a) Hydrographic surveying;
    (b) Shoreline surveying;
    (c) Nautical charting;
    (d) Water level measurements;
    (e) Current measurements;
    (f) Geodetic measurements;
    (g) Geospatial measurements;
    (h) Geomagnetic measurements; and
    (i) Other oceanographic/marine related sciences.
    The Panel has fifteen voting members appointed by the Administrator 
in accordance with 33 U.S.C. 892c. Members are selected on a 
standardized basis, in accordance with applicable Department of 
Commerce guidance. The Co-Directors of the Center for Coastal and Ocean 
Mapping/Joint Hydrographic Center and two other NOAA employees serve as 
nonvoting members of the Panel. The Director, NOAA Office of Coast 
Survey, serves as the Designated Federal Official (DFO).
    This solicitation is to obtain candidate applications for up to 11 
full voting member vacancies on the Panel as of January 1, 2011. 
Additional appointments may be made to fill vacancies left by any 
members who choose to resign during 2010. Be advised that some voting 
members whose terms expire January 1, 2011 may be reappointed for 
another full term if eligible.
    If you submitted an application for the July 16, 2009 Federal 
Register Notice for membership solicitation, and are still interested 
in being considered for HSRP membership, you need to confirm your 
interest by contacting NOAA's HSRP Program Coordinator, Kathy Watson, 
at [email protected] or 301-713-2770 x 158. If you respond 
that you are still interested, your 2009 application will remain valid 
and will be included in this 2010 selection.
    Voting members are individuals who, by reason of knowledge, 
experience, or training, are especially qualified in one or more 
disciplines relating to hydrographic surveying, tides, currents, 
geodetic and geospatial measurements, marine transportation, port 
administration, vessel pilotage, coastal or fishery management, and 
other oceanographic or marine science areas as deemed appropriate by 
the Administrator. Full-time officers or employees of the United States 
may not be appointed as a voting member. Any voting member of the Panel 
who is an applicant for, or beneficiary of (as determined by the Under 
Secretary) any assistance under 33 U.S.C. 892c shall disclose to the 
Panel that relationship, and may not vote on any other matter 
pertaining to that assistance.
    Voting members of the Panel serve a four-year term, except that 
vacancy appointments are for the remainder of the unexpired term of the 
vacancy. Members serve at the discretion of the Under Secretary and are 
subject to government ethics standards. Any individual appointed to a 
partial or full term may be reappointed for one additional full term. A 
voting member may serve until his or her successor has taken office. 
The Panel selects one voting member to serve as the Chair and another 
to serve as the Vice Chair. The Vice Chair acts as Chair in the absence 
or incapacity of the Chair but will not automatically become the Chair 
if the Chair resigns. Meetings occur at least twice a year, and at the 
call of the Chair or upon the request of a majority of the voting 
members or of the Under Secretary. Voting members receive compensation 
at a rate established by the Under Secretary, not to exceed the maximum 
daily rate payable under section 5376 of title 5, United States Code, 
when engaged in performing duties for the Panel. Members are reimbursed 
for actual and reasonable expenses incurred in performing such duties.

Individuals Selected for Panel Membership

    Upon selection and agreement to serve on the HSRP Panel, you become 
a Special Government Employee (SGE) of the United States Government. 18 
U.S.C. 202(a) An SGE (s) is an officer or employee of an agency who is 
retained, designated, appointed, or employed to perform temporary 
duties, with or without compensation, for not to exceed 130 days during 
any period of 365 consecutive days, either on a fulltime or 
intermittent basis. Please be aware that after the selection process is 
complete, applicants selected to serve on the Panel must complete the 
following actions before they can be appointed as a Panel member:
    (a) Security Clearance (on-line Background Security Check process 
and fingerprinting conducted through NOAA Workforce Management); and
    (b) Confidential Financial Disclosure Report-As an SGE, you are 
required to file a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report to avoid 
involvement in a real or apparent conflict of interest. You may find 
the Confidential Financial Disclosure Report at the following Web site: 
http://www.usoge.gov/forms/form_450.aspx

    Dated: April 14, 2010.
Captain John E. Lowell, Jr.,
NOAA, Director, Office of Coast Survey, National Ocean Service, 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2010-9138 Filed 4-20-10; 8:45 am]
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