[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 210 (Tuesday, October 30, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54573-54575]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-23634]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XG567
Nominations for the 2019-2022 General Advisory Committee and the
Scientific Advisory Subcommittee to the United States Delegation to the
Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; request for nominations.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: National Marine Fisheries Service, on behalf of the Secretary
of Commerce, is seeking nominations for the General Advisory Committee
to the U.S. delegation to the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission,
as well as to a Scientific Advisory Subcommittee of the General
Advisory Committee. The purpose of the General Advisory Committee and
its Scientific Advisory Subcommittee is to provide public input
[[Page 54574]]
and advice to the U.S. delegation in the formulation of policy and
positions at meetings of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission
and its subsidiary bodies. The Scientific Advisory Subcommittee shall
also function as the National Scientific Advisory Committee provided
for in the Agreement on the International Dolphin Conservation Program.
DATES: Nominations must be received no later than November 29, 2018.
ADDRESSES: Nominations should be directed to Barry Thom, Regional
Administrator, NMFS West Coast Region, and may be submitted by any of
the following means:
Email: [email protected] with the
subject line: ``General Advisory Committee and Scientific Advisory
Subcommittee nominations''
Mail: Taylor Debevec, NMFS West Coast Region Long Beach
Office, 501 W. Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Taylor Debevec, NMFS West Coast
Region; email: [email protected]; telephone: 562-980-4066.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
General Advisory Committee
The Tuna Conventions Act (16 U.S.C. 951 et seq.) (TCA) provides
that the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of
State, shall appoint a ``General Advisory Committee'' (GAC) to advise
the U.S. delegation to the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission
(IATTC or Commission). The GAC shall be composed of no more than 25
individuals who shall be representative of the various groups concerned
with the fisheries covered by the IATTC, including non-governmental
conservation organizations, providing an equitable balance among such
groups to the maximum extent practicable. Members of the GAC shall be
invited to attend all non-executive meetings of the U.S. delegation to
the IATTC and at such meetings shall be given the opportunity to
examine and be heard on all proposed programs of investigation,
reports, recommendations, and regulations of the Commission.
The Chair of the Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific
Council) Advisory Subpanel for Highly Migratory Fisheries and the Chair
of the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Western Pacific
Council's) Advisory Committee shall be ex-officio members of the GAC by
virtue of their positions advising those Councils. GAC members will be
eligible to participate as members of the U.S. delegation to the
Commission and its working groups to the extent that the Commission
rules and space for delegations allow.
Meetings of the GAC, except when in executive session, shall be
open to the public, and prior notice of meetings shall be made public
in timely fashion. In accordance with Public Law 114-81, the GAC shall
not be subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).
Individuals appointed to serve as a member of the GAC shall serve
without pay. While away from their homes or regular places of business
to attend meetings of the GAC, they shall be allowed travel expenses,
including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as
persons employed intermittently by the Federal Government are allowed
expenses under 5 U.S.C. 5703. In addition, individuals appointed to
serve as a member of the GAC shall not be considered Federal employees
except for the purposes of injury compensation or tort.
Scientific Advisory Subcommittee
The TCA also provides that the Secretary of Commerce, in
consultation with the Secretary of State, shall appoint persons to
serve on the subcommittee of the GAC, referred to here as the
``Scientific Advisory Subcommittee'' (SAS). The SAS shall be composed
of no fewer than 5 and no more than 15 qualified scientists with
balanced representation from the public and private sectors, including
non-governmental conservation organizations. In determining whether a
person is a qualified scientist the Secretary may consider, among other
things, advanced degrees and/or publications in fields such as
fisheries or marine science.
National Scientific Advisory Committee
The SAS shall also function as the National Scientific Advisory
Committee which is required to be established pursuant to Article XI of
the Agreement on the International Dolphin Conservation Program
(AIDCP). In this regard, the SAS shall perform the functions of the
National Scientific Advisory Committee as specified in Annex VI of the
AIDCP. These functions include, but are not limited to: (1) Receiving
and reviewing relevant data, including data provided to NMFS by IATTC
staff; (2) advising and recommending measures and actions to the U.S.
Government that should be undertaken to conserve and manage stocks of
living marine resources in the eastern Pacific Ocean; (3) making
recommendations to the U.S. Government regarding research needs related
to the eastern Pacific Ocean tuna purse seine fishery; (4) promoting
the regular and timely full exchange of data among the AIDCP Parties on
a variety of matters related to the implementation of the AIDCP; and
(5) consulting with other experts, as necessary, in order to achieve
the objectives of the AIDCP.
Members of the SAS/National Scientific Advisory Committee shall
receive no compensation for their service.
General Provisions
Each member of the GAC shall be appointed for a term of 3 years and
may be reappointed. The Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of
State shall provide the GAC with relevant information concerning
fisheries and international fishery agreements. The Secretary of
Commerce shall provide to the GAC such administrative and technical
support services that are necessary for its effective functioning in a
timely manner.
Procedures for Submitting Applications
Applications for the GAC and the SAS/National Scientific Advisory
Committee should be submitted to NMFS West Coast Region (see
ADDRESSES). This request for applications is for first time nominees,
current members whose appointments will end in April 2019, and previous
members. Self-nomination applications are acceptable. Applications
should include all of the following information:
(1) Full name, address (home and business, if different),
telephone, and email address of nominee;
(2) Specification about whether the application is for the GAC or
the SAS/National Scientific Advisory Committee or both;
(3) Nominee's organization(s) or professional affiliation(s)
serving as the basis for the nomination;
(4) Background statement describing the nominee's qualifications
and experience, especially as related to fisheries for tuna and tuna-
like species in the eastern Pacific Ocean or other factors relevant to
the implementation of the Convention Establishing the IATTC or the
AIDCP. Applications to the SAS should highlight advanced degrees and
academic publications; and
(5) A written statement from the nominee of intent to participate
actively and in good faith in the meetings and activities of either the
GAC or the SAS/National Scientific Advisory Committee, or both.
Applicants who submitted material in response to the Federal
Register Notice
[[Page 54575]]
published by NMFS on January 20, 2016 (81 FR 3118), or prior, should
resubmit their applications pursuant to this notice.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 951 et seq.
Dated: October 24, 2018.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-23634 Filed 10-29-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P