[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 162 (Monday, August 22, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56604-56605]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-19952]


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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

[[Page 56605]]

Areas Federal Advisory Committee (Committee). The Committee advises the 
Secretaries of Commerce and Interior on 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 of the 20 members of 
the Committee have terms that expire November 15, 2016, and nominations 
are sought to fill these vacancies. Additionally, notice is hereby 
given of a Committee meeting to be held via webinar on Monday, October 
3, 2016 from 3:00-5:30 p.m. ET. The Webinar is open to members of the 
public.

DATES: 
    Nominations: Nominations must be received before or on October 7, 
2016.
    Meeting: The Committee will convene a meeting via webinar on 
Monday, October 3, 2016 from 3:00-5:30 p.m. ET Webinars are open to the 
public and participants can dial in on a telephone for audio during the 
webinar. Additionally, participants who choose to use the webinar 
conference feature, in addition to a telephone, will also be able to 
view any presentations as they are being given. Members of the public 
that would like to participate in the meeting must to register in 
advance by Friday, September 30, 2016. These times and the agenda 
topics described below are subject to change. Refer to the following 
Web page for the most up-to-date meeting agenda: 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 100 F, Monterey, CA, 93940, or [email protected]. Electronic 
submissions are acceptable.
    Meeting: The meeting will be held via Web conference call. Register 
by contacting Nicole Capps at [email protected] or by telephone at 
(831) 647-6451. Webinar and teleconference capacity may be limited.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lauren Wenzel, Designated Federal 
Officer, MPA FAC, National Marine Protected Areas Center, 1305 East 
West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910. (Phone: 240-533-0652, Fax: 
301-713-3110); email: [email protected]; or visit the National MPA 
Center Web site at http://www.marineprotectedareas.noaa.gov).

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: (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 
Federal Register notice 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 will also 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 focus of the Committee's meeting will be to finalize 
and vote on subcommittee products focused on External Financing and 
Ecological Connectivity. Public comment will be accepted from 5:00-5:30 
p.m. ET. The agenda, subject to change, will be posted at http://marineprotectedareas.noaa.gov/fac/meetings/.

    Dated: August 8, 2016.
John Armor,
Acting Director, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, National Ocean 
Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2016-19952 Filed 8-19-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-NK-P