[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 80 (Tuesday, April 26, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 23339]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-9981]



[[Page 23339]]

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MARINE MAMMAL COMMISSION


Notice of Solicitation

AGENCY: Marine Mammal Commission.

ACTION: Notice of solicitation for nominations for potential members of 
the Committee of Scientific Advisors on Marine Mammals.

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SUMMARY: The Marine Mammal Commission was created under Title II of the 
Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended. The Commission is 
assisted in its duties by the Committee of Scientific Advisors on 
Marine Mammals. The Committee consists of nine members, appointed by 
the Chairman of the Commission. As a general rule, Committee members 
are appointed for three-year terms, which may be extended as necessary, 
but vacancies do not occur on a regularly scheduled basis. To assist 
the Commission in identifying qualified candidates for appointment to 
the Committee if and when vacancies occur, the Commission is soliciting 
nominations from the public.

DATES: Nominations for this solicitation should be received by May 23, 
2011. Nominations also will be accepted at other times on an on-going 
basis.

ADDRESSES: Catherine M. Jones, Administrative Officer, Marine Mammal 
Commission, 4340 East-West Highway, Room 700, Bethesda, Maryland 20814. 
Nominations (Word, PDF, in text of e-mail) may be sent via e-mail to 
[email protected]. Nominations should include a brief statement of the 
nominee's qualifications and should include a copy of the nominee's 
curriculum vitae. Self-nominations are acceptable.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Timothy J. Ragen, Ph.D., Executive 
Director, Marine Mammal Commission, 4340 East-West Highway, Room 700, 
Bethesda, Maryland 20814; (301) 504-0087.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 203 of the Marine Mammal Protection 
Act directs the Commission to establish a nine-member Committee of 
Scientific Advisors on Marine Mammals. The Committee is to consist of 
scientists knowledgeable in marine ecology and marine mammal affairs. 
Members are appointed by the Chairman after consultation with the 
Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality, the Secretary of the 
Smithsonian Institution, the Director of the National Science 
Foundation, and the Chairman of the National Academy of Sciences. The 
Commission is required to consult with the Committee on all studies and 
recommendations that it may propose to make or has made, on research 
programs conducted or proposed to be conducted under the authority of 
the Act, and on all applications for permits for scientific research.
    In selecting individuals to serve on the Committee, the Commission 
seeks to ensure that the Committee membership as a whole possesses a 
high level of expertise with respect to scientific disciplines, marine 
mammal species, and geographic areas of importance to the Commission's 
responsibilities. In particular, the Commission requires a high level 
of knowledge with respect to the biology and ecology of certain marine 
mammal species that, due to their small population levels and/or 
threats they face, require special attention. These include, but are 
not limited to, the West Indian manatee, the right whale and other 
species of large whales, the vaquita, sea otters, the Cook Inlet stock 
of beluga whales, the polar bear, and the Hawaiian monk seal. In 
addition, Committee members are selected to provide broad familiarity 
with marine mammal species and issues from a range of geographic 
regions where Commission responsibilities are especially great.
    A listing of the current members of the Committee is available on 
the Commission's Web site at http://www.mmc.gov.

    Dated: April 18, 2011.
Timothy J. Ragen,
Executive Director.
[FR Doc. 2011-9981 Filed 4-25-11; 8:45 am]
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