[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 125 (Tuesday, June 30, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37236-37237]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-16153]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Hydrographic Services Review Panel; Membership Solicitation

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: In accordance with the Hydrographic Service Improvements Act 
of 1998, as amended (33 U.S.C. 892 et seq.), the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is soliciting nominations for 
membership on its 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 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.'' As such, the NOAA Administrator welcomes 
applications from individuals with expertise in marine navigation, port 
administration, marine shipping or other intermodal transportation 
industries, cartography and geographic information systems, geospatial 
data management, geodesy, physical oceanography, coastal resource 
management, including coastal resilience and emergency response, and 
other related fields. As a Federal Advisory Committee, NOAA seeks to 
balance the HSRP composition to ensure a range of membership 
viewpoints, expertise, and geographic representation.
    To apply for membership on the Panel, applicants are asked to 
provide: (1) A cover letter that responds to the five ``Short Response 
Questions'' listed below as a statement of interest to serve on the 
Panel, and to highlight specific areas of expertise relevant to the 
purpose of the Panel; (2) the nominee's area(s) of expertise from the 
list above; (3) a current resume; and (4) the nominee's full name, 
title, institutional affiliation, and contact information. Applications 
should be submitted electronically to the email address specified below 
or use the nomination form at the following address, http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/ocs/hsrp/hsrp.htm. The entire package 
should be 6 pages or fewer in total. NOAA is an equal opportunity 
employer.

Short Response Questions

    (1) List the area(s) of expertise, as listed above, which you would 
best represent on this Panel.
    (2) List the geographic region(s) of the country with which you 
primarily associate your expertise.
    (3) Describe your leadership or professional experiences which you 
believe will contribute to the effectiveness of this Panel.
    (4) Describe your familiarity and experience with NOAA navigation 
data, products, and services.
    (5) 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, responses, and current resume materials should be 
submitted electronically or sent to the address specified below under 
further contact information. All materials must be received by August 
10, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Submit your cover letter, responses, and current resume 
materials electronically to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lynne Mersfelder-Lewis, HSRP Program 
Manager, NOAA National Ocean Service, Office of Coast Survey, NOAA (N/
CS), 1315 East West Highway, SSMC3 Rm 6864, Silver Spring, Maryland 
20910; Telephone: 301-713-2705 x199, Email: 
[email protected] or [email protected]; or visit the 
NOS HSRP Web site at http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/ocs/hsrp/hsrp.htm.

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

[[Page 37237]]

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 requests applications to fill five voting member 
vacancies on the Panel as of January 1, 2016. Additional appointments 
may be made to fill vacancies left by any members who choose to resign 
during 2016. Some voting members whose terms expire January 1, 2016, 
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 continue to 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. 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, individuals who 
are appointed will become Special Government Employees (SGE) of the 
United States Government. According to 18 U.S.C. 202(a), 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, not to exceed 130 days during any period of 365 
consecutive days, either on a fulltime or intermittent basis. Please be 
advised that applicants selected to serve on the Panel must complete 
the following actions before they can be appointed as a Panel member:
    (a) Background Security Check 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: June 21, 2015.
Rear Admiral Gerd F. Glang,
 Director, NOAA, Office of Coast Survey, National Ocean Service, 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2015-16153 Filed 6-29-15; 8:45 am]
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