[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 159 (Friday, August 16, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50037-50038]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-19941]


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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 107-372, which requires the 
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
(NOAA), to solicit nominations 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 (HSIA) of 1998 (as amended) and such other appropriate 
matters as the Administrator refers to the Panel for review and advice. 
Those responsibilities and authorities include, but are not limited to: 
Acquiring and disseminating hydrographic data and providing 
hydrographic services, as those terms are defined in the Act; 
promulgating standards for hydrographic data and services; ensuring 
comprehensive geographic coverage of hydrographic services; and 
testing, developing, and operating vessels, equipment, and technologies 
necessary to ensure safe navigation and maintain operational expertise 
in hydrographic data acquisition and hydrographic services.
    The Act states that ``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 welcomes applications from 
individuals with expertise in navigation data, products and services; 
marine cartography and geospatial information systems; geodesy; 
physical oceanography; coastal resource management, including fisheries 
management and regional marine planning; and other science-related

[[Page 50038]]

fields. To apply for membership on the Panel, applicants are asked to 
provide: (1) A cover letter that includes responses to the ``Short 
Response Questions'' listed below, and (2) a current resume (see 
ADDRESSES section). NOAA is an equal opportunity employer.
    Short Response Questions:
    (1) What area(s) of expertise, as listed above, would you best 
represent on this panel?
    (2) What geographic region(s) of the country do you primarily 
associate your expertise with?
    (3) Describe your leadership or professional experiences which you 
believe will contribute to the effectiveness of this panel.
    (4) Generally describe the breadth and scope of stakeholders, 
users, or other groups whose views and input you believe you can 
represent on the panel.

DATES: Cover letter and current resume materials should be sent to the 
address, email, or fax specified and must be received by September 13, 
2013.

ADDRESSES: Submit cover letter and current resume 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. In addition, there are four non-voting members that 
serve on the Panel: The Co-Directors of the NOAA-University of New 
Hampshire Joint Hydrographic Center/Center for Coastal and Ocean 
Mapping, and the Directors of NOAA's Office of National Geodetic Survey 
and NOAA's Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services. 
The Director, NOAA Office of Coast Survey, serves as the Designated 
Federal Official (DFO).
    This solicitation is to obtain candidate applications for five (5) 
voting member vacancies on the Panel as of January 1, 2014. Additional 
appointments may be made to fill vacancies left by any members who 
choose to resign during 2014. Be advised that some voting members whose 
terms expire January 1, 2014, may be reappointed for another full term 
if eligible.
    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 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: August 8, 2013.
Gerd F. Glang,
Director, Office of Coast Survey, National Ocean Service, National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2013-19941 Filed 8-15-13; 8:45 am]
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