[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 31 (Wednesday, February 14, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6519-6520]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-02969]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Hydrographic Services Review Panel

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: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is seeking 
nominations for members to serve on the Hydrographic Services Review 
Panel.

DATES: Nominations are sought to fill five vacancies that occur on 
January 1, 2019. Nominations should be submitted by no later than May 
25, 2018. Nominations will be accepted and kept on file on an ongoing 
basis regardless of date submitted for use with current and future 
vacancies. HSRP maintains a pool of candidates and advertises once a 
year to fulfill the HSIA requirements on membership solicitation. 
Current members who may be eligible for a second term must reapply.

ADDRESSES: Nominations will be accepted by email and should be sent to: 
[email protected] and [email protected]. You will 
receive a confirmation response.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lynne Mersfelder-Lewis, NOAA HSRP 
program manager, email [email protected] or phone: 240-523-
0064.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Hydrographic Service 
Improvements Act Amendments of 2002, Public Law 107-372, the 
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
(NOAA) is required to solicit nominations for membership at least once 
a year for the 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 ``the 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.'' The NOAA Administrator seeks and encourages 
individuals with expertise in marine navigation and technology, port 
administration, marine shipping or other intermodal transportation 
industries, cartography and geographic information systems, geodesy, 
physical oceanography, coastal resource management, including coastal 
preparedness and emergency response, and other related fields. To apply 
for membership, applicants are requested to submit five items including 
a cover letter that responds to the five questions below. The entire 
package should be a maximum length of eight pages or fewer. NOAA is an 
equal opportunity employer.
    (1) A cover letter that responds to the five questions listed below 
and serves as a statement of interest to serve on the panel. Please see 
``Short Response Questions'' below.
    (2) Highlight the nominee's specific area(s) of expertise relevant 
to the purpose of the Panel from the list in the Federal Register 
Notice.
    (3) A short biography of 300 to 400 words.
    (4) A current resume.
    (5) The nominee's full name, title, institutional affiliation, 
mailing address, email, phone, fax and contact information.

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 NOS 
navigation data, products, and services.
    (5) Generally describe the breadth and scope of your knowledge of 
stakeholders, users, or other groups who interact with NOAA and whose 
views and input you believe you can share with the panel.
    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. The Co-Directors of the Center for Coastal and Ocean 
Mapping/Joint Hydrographic Center and two other NOAA employees serve as 
nonvoting members of the Panel. The Director, NOAA Office of Coast 
Survey, serves as the Designated Federal Official (DFO).
    Voting members are individuals who, by reason of knowledge, 
experience, or training, are especially qualified in one or more 
disciplines relating to hydrographic surveying, tides, currents, 
geodetic and geospatial measurements, marine transportation, port 
administration, vessel pilotage, coastal

[[Page 6520]]

or fishery management, and other oceanographic or marine science areas 
as deemed appropriate by the Administrator. 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 other 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 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. The Vice Chair acts as Chair in the absence 
or incapacity of the Chair but will not automatically become the Chair 
if the Chair resigns. 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.
    Past HSRP public meeting summary reports, agendas, presentations, 
transcripts, webinars, and other information is available online at: 
https://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/hsrp/meetings.htm.

Individuals Selected for Panel Membership

    Upon selection and agreement to serve on the HSRP Panel, you become 
a Special Government Employee (SGE) of the United States Government. 18 
U.S.C. 202(a) an SGE (s) 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. After the selection process is complete, applicants selected to 
serve on the Panel must complete the following actions before they can 
be appointed as a Panel member:
    (a) Security Clearance (on-line Background Security Check process 
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 website. 
http://www.usoge.gov/forms/form_450.aspx.

    Dated: February 1, 2018.
Kathryn Ries,
Deputy Director, Office of Coast Survey, National Ocean Service, 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2018-02969 Filed 2-13-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-JE-P