[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 176 (Wednesday, September 11, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55683-55684]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-22005]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


National Sea Grant Advisory Board

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of solicitation for nominations for potential National 
Sea Grant Advisory Board members and notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice responds to Section 209 of the Sea Grant Program 
Improvement Act of 1976 (Pub. L. 94-461, 33 U.S.C. 1128), which 
requires the Secretary of Commerce to solicit nominations at least once 
a year for membership on the National Sea Grant Advisory Board, a 
Federal Advisory Committee that provides advice on the implementation 
of the National Sea Grant College Program. To apply for membership to 
the Advisory Board 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 Board is 
helpful, but not required. NOAA is an equal opportunity employer.
    This notice also sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda of a 
forthcoming meeting of the National Sea Grant Advisory Board. Board 
members will discuss and provide advice on the National Sea Grant 
College Program in the areas of program evaluation, strategic planning, 
education and extension, science and technology programs, and other 
matters as described in the agenda found on the National Sea Grant 
College Program Web site at http://seagrant.noaa.gov/WhoWeAre/Leadership/NationalSeaGrantAdvisoryBoard/AdvisoryBoardUpcomingMeetings.aspx.

DATES: Solicitation of nominations is open ended. Resumes may be sent 
to the address specified at any time. The announced meeting is 
scheduled for Monday, September 23, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 
EST and Tuesday, September 24, 2013, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. EST.
    Individuals Selected For Federal Advisory Committee Membership: 
Upon selection and agreement to serve on the National Sea Grant 
Advisory Board, 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 
Board must complete the following actions before they can be appointed 
as a Board 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.oge.gov/Forms-Library/OGE-Form-450-Confidential-Financial-Disclosure-Report/.

ADDRESSES: Nominations should be sent to Ms. Elizabeth Ban, Designated 
Federal Officer, National Sea Grant College Program, National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 11853, 
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, (301) 734-1082.
    The September meeting will be held at Stone Laboratory, 878 Bayview 
Avenue, Put-in-Bay, Ohio 43456.
    Status: The meeting will be open to public participation with a 15-
minute public comment period on Tuesday, September 24 at 1:30 p.m. 
(check agenda on Web site to confirm time).
    The Board expects that public statements presented at its meetings 
will not be repetitive of previously submitted verbal or written 
statements. In general, each individual or group making a verbal 
presentation will be limited to a total time of three (3) minutes. 
Written comments should be received by the Designated Federal Officer 
by Monday, September 16, 2013 to provide sufficient time for the Board 
review. Written comments received after Monday, September 16, 2013 will 
be distributed to the Board, but may not be reviewed prior to the 
meeting date. Seats will be available on a first-come, first-serve 
basis.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Elizabeth Ban, Designated Federal 
Officer, National Sea Grant College Program, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 11853; Silver 
Spring, Maryland 20910, (301) 734-1082.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Established by Section 209 of the Act and as 
amended the National Sea Grant College Program Amendments Act of

[[Page 55684]]

2008 (Pub. L. 110-394), the duties of the Board are as follows:
    (1) In general. The Board shall advise the Secretary and the 
Director concerning:
    (A) Strategies for utilizing the sea grant college program to 
address the Nation's highest priorities regarding the understanding, 
assessment, development, management, utilization, and conservation of 
ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources;
    (B) The designation of sea grant colleges and sea grant institutes; 
and
    (C) Such other matters as the Secretary refers to the Board for 
review and advice.
    (2) Biennial Report. The Board shall report to the Congress every 
two years on the state of the national sea grant college program. The 
Board shall indicate in each such report the progress made toward 
meeting the priorities identified in the strategic plan in effect under 
section 204(c). The Secretary shall make available to the Board such 
information, personnel, and administrative services and assistance as 
it may reasonably require to carry out its duties under this title. The 
Secretary shall make available to the Board such information, 
personnel, and administrative services and assistance as it may 
reasonably require to carry out its duties.
    The Board shall consist of 15 voting members who shall be appointed 
by the Secretary. The Director and a director of a Sea Grant program 
who is elected by the various directors of Sea Grant programs shall 
serve as nonvoting members of the Board. Not less than 8 of the voting 
members of the Board shall be individuals who, by reason of knowledge, 
experience, or training, are especially qualified in one or more of the 
disciplines and fields included in marine science. The other voting 
members shall be individuals who, by reason of knowledge, experience, 
or training, are especially qualified in, or representative of, 
education, marine affairs and resource management, coastal management, 
extension services, State government, industry, economics, planning, or 
any other activity which is appropriate to, and important for, any 
effort to enhance the understanding, assessment, development, 
management, utilization, or conservation of ocean, coastal, and Great 
Lakes resources. No individual is eligible to be a voting member of the 
Board if the individual is (A) the director of a Sea Grant college or 
Sea Grant institute; (B) an applicant for, or beneficiary (as 
determined by the Secretary) of, any grant or contract under section 
205 [33 USCS Sec.  1124]; or (C) a full-time officer or employee of the 
United States.
    The Director of the National Sea Grant College Program and one 
Director of a Sea Grant Program also serve as non-voting members. Board 
members are appointed for a 4-year term.
    Special Accomodations: These meetings are physically accessible to 
people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or 
other auxiliary aids should be directed to Elizabeth Ban, Designated 
Federal Office at 301-734-1082 by Monday, September 16, 2013.

Jason Donaldson,
Chief Financial Officer/Chief Administrative Officer, Office of Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2013-22005 Filed 9-10-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-KA-P