[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 32 (Thursday, February 16, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9210-9211]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-3697]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XB003


International Pacific Halibut Commission Appointments

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

ACTION: Notice of nominations.

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SUMMARY: NOAA is soliciting nominations for two individuals to serve as 
United States Commissioners to the International Pacific Halibut 
Commission (IPHC). This action is necessary to ensure that the 
interests of the United States and all of its stakeholders in the 
Pacific halibut fishery are adequately represented. The intended effect 
of this action is to improve transparency and stakeholder participation 
in the nomination process.

DATES: Nominations must be received by March 19, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Nominations for U.S. Commissioners to the IPHC should be 
made in writing to Mr. Patrick E. Moran, Office of International 
Affairs, National Marine Fisheries Service, at 1315 East-West Highway, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910. Nominations can also be sent via fax (301-713-
2313) or email ([email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Patrick E. Moran, (301) 427-8370.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The IPHC is a bilateral regional fishery management organization 
established pursuant to the Convention between Canada and the United 
States for the Preservation of the Halibut Fishery of the North Pacific 
Ocean and Bering Sea (Convention). The Convention was signed at Ottawa, 
Ontario, on March 2, 1953, and was amended by a Protocol Amending the 
Convention signed at Washington, DC, on March 29, 1979. The 
Convention's central objective is to develop the stocks of Pacific 
halibut in waters off the west coasts of Canada and the United States 
to levels that will permit the optimum yield from the Pacific halibut 
fishery

[[Page 9211]]

and to maintain the stocks at those levels. The IPHC fulfills this 
objective in part by recommending Pacific halibut fishery conservation 
and management measures for approval by the United States and Canada. 
Pursuant to the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982, the Secretary of 
State, with the concurrence of the Secretary of Commerce, may accept or 
reject, on behalf of the United States, conservation and management 
measures recommended by the IPHC. 16 U.S.C. 773b. Measures accepted by 
the Secretary of State are adopted as binding regulations governing 
fishing for Pacific halibut in Convention waters of the United States. 
16 U.S.C. 773c(b)(1). More information on the IPHC can be found at 
http://www.iphc.int.
    Section 773a of the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982 (16 U.S.C. 
773a) requires that the United States be represented on the IPHC by 
three U.S. Commissioners. U.S. Commissioners are appointed for a term 
not to exceed 2 years, but are eligible for reappointment. Of the 
Commissioners:
    (1) One must be an official of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration; and
    (2) two must be knowledgeable or experienced concerning the 
Northern Pacific halibut fishery; of these, one must be a resident of 
Alaska and the other shall be a nonresident of Alaska. Of the three 
commissioners described in paragraphs (1) and (2), one must also be a 
voting member of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council.
    (3) Commissioners who are not Federal employees are not considered 
to be Federal employees except for the purposes of injury compensation 
or tort claims liability as provided in section 8101 et seq. of title 5 
and section 2671 et seq. of title 28.
    In their official IPHC duties, Commissioners represent the 
interests of the United States and all of its stakeholders in the 
Pacific halibut fishery. These duties require a modest amount of travel 
(typically two or three trips per year lasting less than a week), and 
travel expenses are paid by the U.S. Department of State. Commissioners 
receive no compensation for their services.

Nomination Process

    The U.S. Department of Commerce is currently accepting nominations 
for two U.S. Commissioners for the IPHC who are not officials of the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Successful 
nominees will be considered for appointment by the President and 
(pending Presidential action) interim designation by the Department of 
State.
    Nomination packages should provide details of an individual's 
knowledge and experience in the Pacific halibut fishery. Examples of 
such knowledge and/or experience could include (but are not limited to) 
such activities as: Participation in commercial, tribal, Community 
Development Quota (CDQ) and/or sport and charterboat halibut fishing 
operations; participation in halibut processing operations; and 
participation in Pacific halibut management activities.
    Nomination packages should document an individual's qualifications 
and state of residence. Self-nominations are acceptable, and current 
and former IPHC Commissioners are eligible for reappointment. 
R[eacute]sum[eacute]s, curriculum vitae, and/or letters of 
recommendation are useful but not required. Nomination packages will be 
evaluated on a case-by-case basis by officials in the Department of 
Commerce who are familiar with the duties and responsibilities of IPHC 
Commissioners; evaluations will consider the aggregate of an 
individual's prior experience and knowledge of the Pacific halibut 
fishery, residency requirements, and any letters of recommendation 
provided. Nominees will be notified of their status (including 
rejection or approval) and any need for further information once the 
nomination process is complete.

    Dated: February 10, 2012.
Rebecca Lent,
Director, Office of International Affairs, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-3697 Filed 2-15-12; 8:45 am]
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