[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 247 (Wednesday, December 26, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76001-76002]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-30926]


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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 membership solicitation for Hydrographic Services 
Review Panel.

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SUMMARY: This notice responds to the Hydrographic Service Improvements 
Act Amendments of 2002, Public Law

[[Page 76002]]

107-372, which requires the Administrator of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), to solicit nominations (on a yearly 
basis) for membership on the Hydrographic Services Review Panel (HSRP). 
The HSRP, a Federal advisory committee, advises the Administrator on 
matters related to the responsibilities and authorities set forth in 
section 303 of the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998 (as 
amended) and such other appropriate matters as the Administrator refers 
to the Panel for review and advice. The Act 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.'' The NOAA Administrator is seeking 
to broaden the areas of expertise represented on the Panel and 
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 apply for Panel membership. To apply for membership on the 
Panel, applicants should submit a current resume as indicated in the 
ADDRESSES section. A cover letter highlighting specific areas of 
expertise relevant to the purpose of the Panel is helpful, but not 
required. NOAA is an equal opportunity employer.

DATES: Resume application materials should be sent to the address, 
email, or fax specified and must be received by January 31, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Submit resume for Panel membership to Kathy Watson via mail, 
fax, or email. 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; Email: 
[email protected]; or [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; Email: [email protected]; or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 HSRP 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 NOAA 
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).
    Although there are no current vacancies on the HSRP at this time, 
this solicitation seeks to update the current pool of candidate 
applications for consideration of appointment for potential future 
vacancies on the Panel.
    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 
Administrator) 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 Administrator 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 Administrator. Voting members receive compensation at 
a rate established by the Administrator, 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 Membershp

    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, 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: December 12, 2012.
Rear Admiral Gerd F. Glang,
NOAA, Director, Office of Coast Survey, National Ocean Service, 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2012-30926 Filed 12-21-12; 8:45 am]
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