[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 19 (Monday, January 29, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4034-4035]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-01629]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RIN 0648-XF972]


International Pacific Halibut Commission Appointments

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

ACTION: Notice; call for nominations.

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SUMMARY: NOAA is soliciting nominations for two individuals to serve as 
U.S. Commissioners to the IPHC. This action is necessary to ensure that 
the interests of the United States and all of its stakeholders in the 
Pacific halibut fishery are adequately represented. Nominations are 
open to all qualified individuals and may include current 
Commissioners.

DATES: Nominations and any supporting documentation must be received by 
February 28, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Nominations for U.S. Commissioners to the IPHC may be made 
in writing to Mr. Patrick E. Moran, Office of International Affairs and 
Seafood Inspection, National Marine Fisheries Service, at 1315 East-
West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Nominations may also be sent via 
email ([email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Patrick E. Moran, (301) 427-8370.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The IPHC is a bilateral regional fishery management organization 
established pursuant to the Convention between Canada and the United 
States for the Preservation of the Halibut Fishery of the North Pacific 
Ocean and

[[Page 4035]]

Bering Sea (Convention). The Convention was signed at Ottawa, Ontario, 
on March 2, 1953, and was amended by a Protocol Amending the Convention 
signed at Washington, DC, on March 29, 1979. The Convention's central 
objective is to develop the stocks of Pacific halibut in waters off the 
west coasts of Canada and the United States to levels that will permit 
the optimum yield from the Pacific halibut fishery and to maintain the 
stocks at those levels. The IPHC fulfills this objective in part by 
recommending Pacific halibut fishery conservation and management 
measures for approval by the United States and Canada. Pursuant to the 
Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982, the Secretary of State, with the 
concurrence of the Secretary of Commerce, may accept or reject, on 
behalf of the United States, conservation and management measures 
recommended by the IPHC. 16 U.S.C. 773b. Measures accepted by the 
Secretary of State are adopted as binding regulations governing fishing 
for Pacific halibut in Convention waters of the United States. 16 
U.S.C. 773c(b)(1). More information on the IPHC can be found at http://www.iphc.int.
    Section 773a of the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982 (16 U.S.C. 
773a) requires that the United States be represented on the IPHC by 
three U.S. Commissioners. U.S. Commissioners are appointed for a term 
not to exceed 2 years, but are eligible for reappointment. Of the 
Commissioners:
    (1) One must be an official of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration; and
    (2) Two must be knowledgeable or experienced concerning the 
Northern Pacific halibut fishery; of these, one must be a resident of 
Alaska and the other shall be a nonresident of Alaska. Of the three 
commissioners described in paragraphs (1) and (2), one must also be a 
voting member of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council.
    (3) Commissioners who are not Federal employees are not considered 
to be Federal employees except for the purposes of injury compensation 
or tort claims liability as provided in section 8101 et seq. of title 5 
and section 2671 et seq. of title 28.
    In their official IPHC duties, Commissioners represent the 
interests of the United States and all of its stakeholders in the 
Pacific halibut fishery. These duties require a modest amount of travel 
(typically two or three trips per year lasting less than a week), and 
travel expenses are paid by the U.S. Department of State. Commissioners 
receive no compensation for their services.

Nomination Process

    NOAA Fisheries is currently accepting nominations for two U.S. 
Commissioners for the IPHC who are not officials of NOAA. Successful 
nominees will be considered for appointment by the President and 
(pending Presidential action) interim designation by the Department of 
State.
    Nomination packages should provide details of an individual's 
knowledge and experience relative to Pacific halibut. Examples of such 
knowledge and/or experience could include (but are not limited to) such 
activities as: Participation in commercial, tribal, or Community 
Development Quota (CDQ) fisheries, and/or sport and charterboat halibut 
fishing operations; participation in halibut processing operations; and 
participation in Pacific halibut management activities.
    Nomination packages should document an individual's qualifications 
and state of residence. Self-nominations are acceptable, and current 
and former IPHC Commissioners are eligible for reappointment. 
R[eacute]sum[eacute]s, curriculum vitae, and/or letters of 
recommendation/support are useful but not required. Nomination packages 
will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by officials in NOAA and the 
Department of Commerce who are familiar with the duties and 
responsibilities of IPHC Commissioners; evaluations will consider the 
aggregate of an individual's prior experience and knowledge of the 
Pacific halibut fishery, residency requirements, and any letters of 
recommendation provided. Nominees will be notified of their status 
(including rejection or approval) and any need for further information 
once the nomination process is complete.

    Dated: January 23, 2018.
Steven Wilson,
Acting Director, Office of International Affairs and Seafood 
Inspection, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-01629 Filed 1-26-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P