[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 185 (Wednesday, September 24, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57051-57052]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-22697]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


United States Integrated Ocean Observing System Advisory 
Committee; Member Solicitation

AGENCY: National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of Member Solicitation for the United States Integrated 
Ocean Observing System Advisory Committee.

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SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is 
soliciting applications for membership on the United States Integrated 
Ocean Observing System Advisory Committee (the Committee), a Federal 
advisory committee. The Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System 
(ICOOS) Act of 2009 establishes a national integrated System of ocean, 
coastal, and Great Lakes observing systems, comprised of Federal and 
non-Federal components including in situ, remote, and other coastal and 
ocean observation, technologies, and data management and communication 
systems. The System is designed to address regional and national needs 
for ocean information; to gather specific data on key coastal, ocean, 
and Great Lakes variables; and to ensure timely and sustained 
dissemination and availability of these data to support a variety of 
societal benefits. These benefits include supporting national defense; 
marine commerce; navigation safety; weather, climate, and marine 
forecasting; energy siting and production; economic development; 
ecosystem-based management of marine and coastal areas; conservation of 
ocean and coastal resources; and public safety. The System is also 
designed to promote research to develop, test, and deploy innovations 
and improvements in coastal and ocean observation technologies and 
modeling systems.
    The ICOOS Act also requires the Under Secretary of Commerce for 
Oceans and Atmosphere to establish a System advisory committee to 
provide advice to the Under Secretary and to the Interagency Ocean 
Observation Committee, which is responsible for planning for the 
integrated design, operation, maintenance, enhancement, and expansion 
of the System.
    NOAA will hereby accept applications for membership on the 
Committee through November 24, 2014. The ICOOS Act of 2009 states: 
``Members shall be qualified by education, training, and experience to 
evaluate scientific and technical information related to the design, 
operation, maintenance, or use of the [Integrated Ocean Observing] 
System, or use of data products provided though the System.'' NOAA 
encourages individuals with expertise in oceanographic data, products, 
and services; coastal management; fisheries management; coastal and 
marine spatial planning; geodesy; water levels; and other science-
related fields to submit applications for Committee membership. To 
apply for membership on the Committee, applicants should submit a 
resume as indicated in the ADDRESSES section. NOAA is an equal-
opportunity employer.

DATES: Application materials should be sent to the address, email 
address, or fax number specified and must be received by November 24, 
2014.

ADDRESSES: Submit an application for Committee membership, in the form 
of a resume, to Jessica Snowden via mail, fax, or email. Mail: 1100 
Wayne Avenue, Suite 1225, Silver Spring, MD 20910; Fax: 301-427-2073; 
Email: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jessica Snowden, 1100 Wayne Avenue, 
Suite 1225, Silver Spring, MD 20910; Telephone: 301-427-2453, Fax: 301-
427-2073; Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice responds to the ICOOS Act of 
2009 (Pub. L. 111-11, section 12304), which requires the Under 
Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere to solicit nominations 
for Committee membership. The Committee will advise the NOAA 
Administrator or Interagency Ocean Observation Committee on matters 
related to the responsibilities and authorities set forth in section 
12302 of the ICOOS Act of 2009 and other appropriate matters as the 
Under Secretary refers to the Committee for review and advice.
    The United States Integrated Ocean Observing System Advisory 
Committee will provide advice on:
    (a) Administration, operation, management, and maintenance of the 
System;
    (b) Expansion and periodic modernization and upgrade of technology 
components of the System;
    (c) Identification of end-user communities, their needs for 
information provided by the System, and the System's effectiveness in 
dissemination information to end-user communities and to the general 
public; and
    (d) Any other purpose identified by the Under Secretary of Commerce 
for Oceans and Atmosphere or the Interagency Ocean Observation 
Committee.
    The Committee's voting members will be appointed by the Under 
Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere. Members shall be 
qualified by education, training, and experience to evaluate scientific 
and technical information related to the design, operation, 
maintenance, or use of the System, or the use of data products provided 
through the System. Members are selected on a standardized basis, in 
accordance with applicable Department of Commerce guidance. Members 
will be appointed for three-year terms, renewable once. One Committee 
member will be designated by the Under Secretary as chairperson. Full-
time officers or employees of the United States may not be appointed as 
a voting member. Members will be appointed as special Government 
employees (SGEs) for purposes of section 202(a) of title 18, United 
States Code. Members serve at the discretion of the Under Secretary and 
are subject to government ethics standards. Members of the Committee 
will not be compensated for service on the Committee, but they may be 
allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in 
accordance with subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States 
Code.
    The Committee will meet at least once each year, and at other times 
at the call of the Under Secretary, the Interagency Ocean Observation 
Committee, or the Committee Chairperson. The Committee has 
approximately thirteen voting members. This solicitation is to obtain 
candidate applications for up to thirteen full voting member vacancies. 
Be advised that some voting members whose terms expire August 28, 2015 
may be reappointed for another full term if eligible.
    If an applicant submitted a resume application for the 2011 Federal 
Register Notice for IOOS Advisory Committee membership solicitation, 
and is still interested in being considered for membership on the 
Committee, the applicant needs to confirm his or her interest by 
contacting the Jessica Snowden as indicated in the ADDRESSES section. 
An applicant who is still interested, may either request this his or 
her 2011 resume application be resubmitted, or he or she may choose to 
submit a current resume application for the 2015 selection process.

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Individuals Selected for Committee Membership

    Upon selection and agreement to serve on the United States 
Integrated Ocean Observing System Advisory Committee, one becomes a 
Special Government Employee (SGE) of the United States Government. An 
SGE is an officer or employee of an agency who is retained, designated, 
appointed, or employed to perform temporary duties, with or without 
compensation, for not to exceed 130 days during any period of 365 
consecutive days, either on a full-time or intermittent basis. After 
the membership selection process is complete, applicants who are 
selected to serve on the Committee must complete the following actions 
before they can be appointed as a

Committee Member

    (a) Background Security Check (on-line Background Security Check 
process and fingerprinting conducted through NOAA Workforce 
Management); and
    (b) Confidential Financial Disclosure Report: As an SGE, one is 
required to file annually a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report to 
avoid involvement in a real or apparent conflict of interest. One may 
find the Confidential Financial Disclosure Report at the following Web 
site: http://www.usoge.gov/forms/form_450.aspx.

    Dated: September 8, 2014.
Zdenka Willis,
Director, U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System.
[FR Doc. 2014-22697 Filed 9-23-14; 8:45 am]
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