[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 219 (Friday, November 13, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70187-70188]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-28775]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE273


Pacific Whiting; Advisory Panel

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; call for nominations.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is soliciting nominations for appointments to the United 
States Advisory Panel (AP) established in the Agreement between the 
Government of the United States of America and the Government of Canada 
on Pacific Hake/Whiting (Pacific Whiting Treaty). Nominations are being 
sought to fill two positions on the AP for terms that begin on January 
23, 2016 and end September 15, 2019.

DATES: Nominations must be received by December 18, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may submit nominations by any of the following methods:
     Email: [email protected].
     Fax: 206-526-6736, Attn: Frank Lockhart.
     Mail: William W. Stelle, Jr., Regional Administrator, West 
Coast Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., Seattle, WA 98115-0070.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank Lockhart, (206) 526-6142 or 
Miako Ushio, (206) 526-4644.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Pacific Whiting Treaty Committees Background

    The Pacific Whiting Act of 2006 (Pacific Whiting Act), 16 U.S.C. 
7001-10, implements the 2003 Agreement between the Government of the 
United States of America and the Government of Canada on Pacific Hake/
Whiting. Among other provisions, the Pacific Whiting Act provides for 
the establishment of an Advisory Panel (AP). The AP advises the Joint 
Management Committee on bilateral Pacific whiting management issues. AP 
members must be knowledgeable or experienced in the harvesting, 
processing, marketing, management, conservation, or research of the 
offshore Pacific whiting resource. Eight individuals represent the 
United States on the AP, and nominations for two of those positions 
(id. at Sec.  7005) are solicited through this notice.
    Members appointed to the U.S. sections of the AP will be reimbursed 
for necessary travel expenses in accordance with Federal Travel 
Regulations and sections 5701, 5702, 5704 through 5708, and 5731 of 
Title 5. (Id. at Sec.  7008). NMFS anticipates that 1-2 meetings of the 
AP will be held annually, and these meetings will be held in the United 
States or Canada. AP members will need a valid U.S. passport.
    The Pacific Whiting Act also states that while performing their 
appointed duties, members ``other than officers or employees of the 
United States Government, shall not be considered to be Federal 
employees while performing such service, except for purposes of injury 
compensation or tort claims liability as provided in chapter 81 of 
title 5 and chapter 171 of title 28.'' (Id.)
    Information on the Pacific Whiting Treaty, including current 
committee members can be found at: www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/fisheries/management/whiting/pacific_whiting_treaty.html.

Advisory Panel Qualifications

    AP member nominees must be knowledgeable or experienced in the 
harvesting, processing, marketing, management, conservation, or 
research of the offshore Pacific whiting resource; and must not be 
employees of the United States government. Nomination

[[Page 70188]]

packages for appointments should include:
    1. The name of the applicant or nominee, position they are being 
nominated for and a description of his/her interest in Pacific whiting; 
and
    2. A statement of background and/or description of how the nominee 
is knowledgeable or experienced in the harvesting, processing, 
marketing, management, conservation, or research of the offshore 
Pacific whiting resource. Letters of support for nominees will also be 
considered.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 7001 et seq.

    Dated: November 6, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-28775 Filed 11-12-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P