[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 182 (Tuesday, September 20, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64441-64442]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-22620]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


National Sea Grant Advisory Board (NSGAB)

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 
Department of Commerce (DOC).

ACTION: Notice of solicitation for nominations for the National Sea 
Grant Advisory Board and notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice responds to Section 209 of the Sea Grant Program 
Improvement Act of 1976 (Pub. L. 94-461, 33 U.S.C. 1128), which 
requires the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to solicit nominations 
at least once a year for membership on the National Sea Grant Advisory 
Board (Board), a Federal Advisory Committee that provides advice on the 
implementation of the National Sea Grant College Program (NSGCP). To 
apply for membership to the Board, applicants should submit a current 
resume to Mrs. Jennifer Hinden using the methods under the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section. A cover letter highlighting specific areas 
of expertise relevant to the purpose of the Board is helpful, but not 
required. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is an 
equal opportunity employer.
    This notice also sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda of a 
forthcoming meeting of the Board. Board members will discuss and 
provide advice on the NSGCP in the areas of program evaluation, 
strategic planning, education and extension, science and technology 
programs, and other matters as described in the agenda found on the 
National Sea Grant College Program Web site at http://seagrant.noaa.gov/WhoWeAre/Leadership/NationalSeaGrantAdvisoryBoard/UpcomingAdvisoryBoardMeetings.aspx.

DATES: Solicitation of nominations is open ended. Resumes may be sent 
to Mrs. Jennifer Hinden using the methods under the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section, at any time.
    The announced meeting is scheduled for Sunday, October 9, 2016 from 
9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. EDT, and Monday, October 10, 2016 from 8:00 a.m. 
to 11:00 a.m. EDT.
    Individuals Selected for Federal Advisory Committee Membership: 
Upon selection and agreement to serve on the Board, you become a 
Special Government Employee (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 aware that after the selection process is 
complete, applicants selected to serve on the Board must complete the 
following actions before they can be appointed as a Board member: (a) 
Security clearance (on-line background security check process and 
fingerprinting), and other applicable forms, both conducted through 
NOAA Workforce Management; and (b) Confidential Financial Disclosure 
Report--As an SGE, you are required to file a Confidential Financial 
Disclosure Report annually to avoid involvement in a real or apparent 
conflict of interest. You may find the Confidential Financial 
Disclosure Report at the following Web site: https://www.oge.gov/Web/
oge.nsf/0/98A9E45F947BE66B85257EC10064B655/$FILE/
oge450%20(June%202015)%20(fillable).pdf.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nominations will be accepted by email 
or mail. They should be sent to the attention of Mrs. Jennifer Hinden, 
National Sea Grant College Program, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, 1315 East-West Highway, SSMC 3, Room 11717, Silver 
Spring, Maryland 20910, or [email protected]. If you need 
additional assistance, call 301-734-1083.
    For any additional questions concerning the meeting, please contact 
Mrs. Hinden using the contact information above.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Newport Marriott Hotel 
located at 25 America's Cup Avenue, Newport, RI 02840.
    Status: The meeting will be open to public participation with a 15-
minute public comment period on Sunday, October 9, 2016 at 11:45 a.m. 
Check the agenda on the Web site to confirm time.
    The Board expects that public statements presented at its meetings 
will not be repetitive of previously submitted verbal or written 
statements. In general, each individual or group making a verbal 
presentation will be limited to a total time of three (3) minutes. 
Written comments should be received by Mrs. Jennifer Hinden using the 
methods under the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section by Friday, 
September 30, 2016 to provide sufficient time for the Board review. 
Comments received after the deadline will be

[[Page 64442]]

distributed to the Board, but may not be reviewed prior to the meeting 
date. Seats will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
    Special Accomodations: These meetings are physically accessible to 
people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or 
other auxiliary aids should be directed to Mrs. Jennifer Hinden using 
the methods under the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section by 
Monday, September 26, 2016.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Established by Section 209 of the Act and as 
amended the National Sea Grant College Program Amendments Act of 2008 
(Pub. L. 110-394), the duties of the Board are as follows:
    (1) In general. The Board shall advise the Secretary and the 
National Sea Grant College Program Director (Director) concerning:
    (A) Strategies for utilizing the Sea Grant College Program to 
address the Nation's highest priorities regarding the understanding, 
assessment, development, management, utilization, and conservation of 
ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources;
    (B) The designation of Sea Grant Colleges and Sea Grant Institutes; 
and
    (C) Such other matters as the Secretary refer to the Board for 
review and advice.
    (2) Biennial Report. The Board shall report to the Congress every 
two years on the state of the National Sea Grant College Program. The 
Board shall indicate in each such report the progress made toward 
meeting the priorities identified in the strategic plan in effect under 
section 204(c). The Secretary shall make available to the Board such 
information, personnel, and administrative services and assistance as 
it may reasonably require carrying out its duties under this title.
    The Board shall consist of 15 voting members who will be appointed 
by the Secretary for a 4-year term. The Director and a director of a 
Sea Grant program who is elected by the various directors of Sea Grant 
programs shall serve as nonvoting members of the Board. Not less than 8 
of the voting members of the Board shall be individuals who, by reason 
of knowledge, experience, or training, are especially qualified in one 
or more of the disciplines and fields included in marine science. The 
other voting members shall be individuals who, by reason of knowledge, 
experience, or training, are especially qualified in, or representative 
of, education, marine affairs and resource management, coastal 
management, extension services, State government, industry, economics, 
planning, or any other activity which is appropriate to, and important 
for, any effort to enhance the understanding, assessment, development, 
management, utilization, or conservation of ocean, coastal, and Great 
Lakes resources. No individual is eligible to be a voting member of the 
Board if the individual is (A) the director of a Sea Grant College or 
Sea Grant Institute; (B) an applicant for, or beneficiary (as 
determined by the Secretary) of, any grant or contract under section 
205 [33 U.S.C. 1124]; or (C) a full-time officer or employee of the 
United States.

    Dated: September 14, 2016.
Jason Donaldson,
Chief Financial Officer, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2016-22620 Filed 9-19-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-KA-P