[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]


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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.

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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

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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