[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 174 (Monday, September 9, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 55064]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-21759]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Solicitation for Members of the NOAA Science Advisory Board (SAB) 
Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Science Program Advisory Working Group 
(RSPAWG)

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office 
of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Docket Number: 130823747-3747-01.
    RIN: 0648-XC834.
SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is 
publishing this notice to solicit nominations for the NOAA Science 
Advisory Board Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Science Program 
Advisory Working Group (RSPAWG). The RSPAWG is being formed to provide 
independent guidance and review of the RESTORE Act Science Program 
along with general programmatic advice and recommendations. The RSPAWG 
will also provide a mechanism for formal coordination between the 
multiple organizations conducting RESTORE-related science within the 
Gulf of Mexico. Members appointed to the RSPAWG will serve for three-
year terms.

DATES: Nominations must be received by October 9, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Nominations should be submitted electronically to 
[email protected].
    The Terms of Reference for the RSPAWG is posted at: http://www.sab.noaa.gov/Working_Groups/standing/docs/2013/RSPAWGTermsOfReference_Final_SABapprovedJul2013.pdf.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Cynthia Decker, Executive 
Director, Science Advisory Board, NOAA, Rm. 11230, 1315 East-West 
Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910. Phone: 301-734-1156, Fax: 301-
713-1459, Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere has 
requested the NOAA Science Advisory Board (SAB) to provide it with 
timely and expert advice and oversight of the Gulf Coast Ecosystem 
Restoration Science, Observation, Monitoring and Technology Program, 
commonly known as the NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program. The SAB is 
chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act and is the only 
Federal Advisory Committee with the responsibility to advise the Under 
Secretary on long- and short-range strategies for research, education, 
and application of science to resource management, and environmental 
assessment and prediction.
    The SAB is forming an external panel that will be known as the Gulf 
Coast Ecosystem Restoration Science Program Advisory Working Group 
(RSPAWG). The RSPAWG shall provide independent guidance and review of 
the RESTORE Act Science Program along with general programmatic advice 
and recommendations. The RSPAWG will also provide a mechanism for 
formal coordination between the multiple organizations conducting 
RESTORE-related science within the Gulf of Mexico. RSPAWG will provide 
its findings and results to the Science Advisory Board, which will 
deliberate on the input before forwarding it to NOAA.
    The RSPAWG will include approximately twelve Subject Matter Experts 
from academia, government, industry, and other ocean-related 
institutions as well as representatives from specific Gulf of Mexico 
organizations named in the RESTORE Act (i.e., the Gulf States Marine 
Fisheries Commission, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, and 
RESTORE Centers of Excellence in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, 
Louisiana, and Texas).

Solicitation of Nominations

    This notice solicits nominations to the RSPAWG. NOAA is seeking 
twelve Subject Matter Experts that have national and international 
reputations and degrees or professional qualifications in: Physical, 
chemical, or biological oceanography; economics or social sciences; 
wetlands ecology; fishery, wildlife, and marine mammal ecology; 
ecosystem modeling; toxicology; observing and monitoring systems; and 
ecosystem management. Nominees should be familiar with NOAA's 
organization and Strategic Plan and have scientific credentials and/or 
relevant experience that will enable them to provide expert advice 
concerning the RESTORE Act Science Program's roles within the context 
of NOAA's ocean missions and policies. They should be also familiar 
with the organization and management of complex, interdisciplinary 
science programs.
    Members will be appointed for three-year terms, renewable once, and 
serve at the discretion of the Secretary. Vacancy appointments shall be 
for the remainder of the unexpired term of the vacancy, and shall be 
renewable twice if the unexpired term is less than one year.
    Anyone is eligible to nominate and self-nominations will be 
accepted. Nominations should provide: (1) The nominee's full name, 
title, institutional affiliation, and contact information; (2) the 
nominee's area(s) of expertise; (3) a short description of his/her 
qualifications relative to the kinds of advice being solicited, and (4) 
a resume or CV not to exceed four (4) pages in length.
    The intent is to select from the nominees; however, NOAA retains 
the prerogative to nominate people to the working group that were not 
nominated through the process outlined in this FRN if it deems it is 
necessary to achieve the desired balance. Once selected, the SAB will 
post the working group members' names at http://www.sab.noaa.gov/Working_Groups/standing/index.html.

    Dated: September 3, 2013.
Jason Donaldson,
Chief Financial Officer/Chief Administrative Officer, Office of Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2013-21759 Filed 9-6-13; 8:45 am]
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