[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 206 (Wednesday, October 24, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53608-53609]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-23255]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee: Call for 
Nominations and Public Meeting

AGENCY: National Marine Protected Areas Center (MPAC), Office of 
National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS), National Ocean Service (NOS), 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of 
Commerce (DOC).

ACTION: Notice and call for nominations of new Marine Protected Areas 
Federal Advisory Committee (MPA FAC) members, and notice of public 
meeting via teleconference.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Department) is seeking nominations 
for membership on the Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee 
(Committee). The Committee advises the Secretaries of Commerce and 
Interior on implementing Section 4 of Executive Order 13158, focusing 
mainly on strategies and priorities for the design, monitoring and 
adaptive management of effective MPAs in U.S. waters. Nominations are 
sought for 11 highly qualified non-Federal scientists (natural and 
social), resource managers, and people representing other interests or 
organizations involved with, or affected by, marine protected areas, 
including in the Great Lakes. Additionally, notice is hereby given of a 
Committee meeting to be held via teleconference on Thursday, November 
8, 2018, from 3:00-4:00 p.m. Eastern Time (12:00-1:00 p.m. Pacific 
Time). The teleconference is open to members of the public.

DATES: 
    Nominations: Nominations must be received before or on December 1, 
2018.
    Meeting: The Committee will convene a meeting via webinar on 
Thursday, November 8, 2018, from 3:00-4:00 p.m. Eastern Time (12:00-
1:00 p.m. Pacific Time). The teleconference is open to the public, and 
documents will be available for public viewing at the web page noted 
below. Members of the public who wish to participate in the meeting 
must register in advance by Friday, November 2, 2018 (see below). These 
times and the agenda topics described below are subject to change. 
Refer to the following web page for dial in information and 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 teleconference call. Register 
by contacting Nicole Capps at [email protected] or by telephone at 
(831) 647-6451. Teleconference capacity may be limited.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Dr. Charles Wahle, Designated Federal 
Officer, MPA FAC, National Marine Protected Areas Center, 99 Pacific 
Street, Suite 100-F, Monterey, CA 93940, (Phone: 831-238-2244; Email: 
[email protected]; or visit the National MPA Center website at 
http://www.marineprotectedareas.noaa.gov).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Executive Order 13158 directs the Department 
of Commerce and the Department of the Interior to seek the expert 
advice and recommendations of non-federal scientists (natural and 
social), 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

[[Page 53609]]

meets at least twice annually; meetings may be in person or via 
teleconference/webinar. Committee members serve a four-year term, and 
serve at the discretion of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans 
and Atmosphere in consultation with the designee of the Secretary of 
the Interior. Members of the Committee are not compensated for their 
time, but their travel expenses associated with attending Committee 
meetings are reimbursed, as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 5703.
    Nominations: The Committee operates according to a Charter and a 
Member Balance Plan. The Member Balance Plan identifies the following 
approximate number of representatives on the Committee:

--Commercial fishing (2)
--Recreational fishing (2)
--Ocean industry (e.g., energy, undersea cables, etc) (2)
--Conservation (3)
--State resource managers (1)
--Tribal and indigenous representatives (2)
--Natural science (2)
--Social science (2)
--Cultural resource management (2)
--Non-consumptive uses (e.g., diving, tourism) (2)
--Other (Foundations, education, etc) (0)

    While these numbers are not binding, they provide guidance to 
ensure the maintenance of diverse expertise and perspectives on the 
Committee. Individuals seeking membership on the Committee should 
possess demonstrable expertise in a related field or represent a 
specific stakeholder interest in MPAs. Nominees will also be evaluated 
based on the following factors: Marine policy and management 
experience; leadership and organizational skills, including working 
effectively in diverse groups; region of country represented; and 
member demographics. The Committee's membership reflects the 
Department's commitment to attaining balance and diversity. Members 
will be expected to participate regularly in meetings, report 
preparation and review, and constructive discussion of important and 
timely ocean management issues in the United States.
    Anyone is eligible to nominate; self-nominations will also 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. Individuals 
submitting 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 new members from 
the nominees; however, NOAA retains the discretion to appoint, subject 
to the appropriate procedures, individuals to the Committee who were 
not nominated through the process outlined in this Federal Register 
notice if it deems it is necessary to achieve the desired balance. 
After the membership selection process is complete, applicants who are 
selected to serve on the Committee must complete a security clearance 
through NOAA. Once selected, Committee members' names will be posted 
at: http://marineprotectedareas.noaa.gov/fac/. 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 on Thursday, November 
8, 2018 will be to finalize and vote on three products for submission 
to the U.S. Departments of Commerce and the Interior. These products 
address: Sustaining MPA Benefits in a Changing Ocean; Factors 
Influencing Resilience in MPAs (a Supplementary Report); and, revisions 
and updates to the MPA Center's existing Cultural Heritage Resources 
Tool Kit. Public comment will be accepted during the meeting 
teleconference from 3:10-3:20 p.m. Eastern Time (12:10-12:20 p.m. 
Pacific Time). The Committee's products and meeting agenda, subject to 
change, will be posted at http://marineprotectedareas.noaa.gov/fac/meetings/.

    Dated: October 18, 2018.
Rebecca R. Holyoke,
Acting Director, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, National Ocean 
Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2018-23255 Filed 10-23-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-NK-P