[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 62 (Tuesday, April 1, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18282-18283]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-07204]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Requesting Nominations for the Marine Protected Areas Federal 
Advisory Committee; Notice of Public Meeting

AGENCY: National Marine Protected Areas Center, Office of National 
Marine Sanctuaries, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice and request for nominations and notice of public 
meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Department) is seeking nominations 
for membership on the Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee 
(Committee). The Committee advises the Secretary of Commerce and the 
Secretary of the Interior in implementing Section 4 of Executive Order 
13158, specifically on strategies and priorities for developing the 
national system of marine protected areas (MPAs) and on practical 
approaches to further enhance and expand protection of new and existing 
MPAs. Nominations are sought for highly qualified non-Federal 
scientists, resource managers, and people representing other interests 
or organizations involved with or affected by marine protected areas 
including in the Great Lakes. Ten members of the Committee have terms 
that expire June 30, 2014, and nominations are sought to fill these 
vacancies.

DATES: 
    Nominations: Nominations must be received on or before May 30, 
2014.
    Meeting: The Committee will meet at the Flower Garden Banks 
National Marine Sanctuary office in Galveston, Texas on June 2 from 
9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., June 3 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and June 4 
from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. These times and the agenda items below are 
subject to change. For the most recent agenda, see: http://marineprotectedareas.noaa.gov/fac/meetings/

ADDRESSES:
    Nominations: Nominations should be sent to Nicole Capps at West 
Coast Region, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, 99 Pacific Street, 
Suite 100F, Monterey, CA, 93940, or [email protected]. Electronic 
submissions are acceptable.
    Meeting: Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, NOAA 
Galveston Lab, 4700 Avenue U, Building 216, Galveston, Texas.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lauren Wenzel, National Marine 
Protected Areas Center, 301-713-7265, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Executive Order 13158 directed the 
Department of Commerce and the Department of the Interior to seek the 
expert advice and recommendations of non-federal scientists, resource 
managers, and other interested people and organizations through a 
Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee (Committee). The 
Committee was established in June 2003 and includes 20 members.
    The Committee meets at least twice annually; meetings may be in 
person or via teleconference/webinar. Committee members serve one, 
four-year nonrenewable term. Members of the Committee are not 
compensated for their time, but their travel expenses associated with 
attending Committee meetings are reimbursed.
    Nominations: Anyone is eligible to nominate and self-nominations 
will be accepted. Each nomination submission should include 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 pages in length. Nominations may choose to include letters 
of support (no more than three) describing the nominee's qualifications 
and interest in serving on the Committee. The intent is to select from 
the nominees; however, NOAA retains the prerogative to nominate people 
to the Committee that were not nominated through the process outlined 
in this FRN if it deems it is necessary to achieve the desired balance. 
Once selected, Committee members' names will be posted at: http://marineprotectedareas.noaa.gov/fac/.
    Individuals seeking membership on the Committee should possess 
demonstrable expertise in a related field or represent a stakeholder 
interest in MPAs. Nominees also will be evaluated based on the 
following factors: marine policy experience; leadership and 
organizational skills; region of country represented; and member 
demographics. The membership reflects the Department's commitment to 
attaining balance and diversity. The full text of the Committee charter 
and its current membership can be viewed at the Agency's Web page at 
http://marineprotectedareas.noaa.gov.
    Meeting: The meeting is open to the public, and public comment will 
be accepted from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Monday, June 2, 2014. In 
general, each individual or group will be limited to a total time of 
five (5) minutes. If members of the public wish to submit written 
statements, they should be submitted by May 29, 2014 to 
[email protected].
    The focus of the Committee's meeting will be the completion of 
recommendations to the Departments of Commerce and the Interior that 
address the Committee's charge related to enhancing and managing 
recreational activities in MPAs and expanding stakeholder engagement. 
The Committee will meet with representatives from National Marine 
Sanctuary Advisory Councils to discuss fostering links between MPA 
programs on issues of common interest. The agenda will be posted at 
http://marineprotectedareas.noaa.gov/fac/meetings/.


[[Page 18283]]


    Dated: March 26, 2014.
Daniel J. Basta,
Director, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, National Ocean 
Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2014-07204 Filed 3-31-14; 8:45 am]
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