[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 91 (Monday, May 11, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27758-27759]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-10008]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-HQ-FAC-2019-N074; FX.IA167209TRG00-201]


Call for Nominations for the Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize 
Advisory Council and Advisory Boards

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of the Interior (Department) is seeking 
nominations for the Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize Advisory Council 
(Council) to advise the Secretary of the Interior regarding the 
Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize competitions. In addition, the 
Department is seeking nominations for the five Advisory Boards (Boards) 
to help implement the Prizes.

DATES: Nominations for the Council and Boards must be submitted no 
later than June 10, 2020.

ADDRESSES: You may submit nominations by any of the following methods:
     Email: [email protected]; or
     U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Stephanie Rickabaugh, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, MS: WSFR, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, 
VA 22041-3803.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephanie Rickabaugh, Wildlife and 
Sport Fish Restoration Program, by telephone at 703-358-2214, by email 
at [email protected], or via the Federal Relay Service at 
800-877-8339 for TTY assistance.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Council and Boards are established under 
the John D. Dingell, Jr., Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act, 
March 12, 2019 (Pub. L. 116-9).
    The Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize Advisory Council (Council) 
advises the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) regarding the five 
Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize competitions. The Council is regulated 
by the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA).
    The Prize competitions encourage technological innovation with the 
potential to advance the mission of the Fish and Wildlife Service in 
the following areas of concern: (1) Preventing wildlife poaching and 
trafficking, (2) promoting wildlife conservation, (3) managing invasive 
species, (4) protecting endangered species, and (5) managing nonlethal 
human-wildlife conflict. The enabling legislation calls for annual cash 
prizes up to $100,000 for each of the five competitions; potential 
awards could total $500,000.
    The Act establishes five Boards to help implement the Prizes. These 
Boards are responsible for selecting topics; issuing problem 
statements, consulting with Federal stakeholders, and advising prize 
winners regarding opportunities to pilot and implement winning 
technologies. Each Board must be made up of no fewer than nine members, 
appointed by the Secretary, including at least one member who is expert 
in the area of concern for that Board and other members expert in 
wildlife conservation and management, biology, technology development, 
engineering, economics, and business development and management.
    The five Boards are established to focus on technology innovation 
related to (1) the prevention of poaching and wildlife trafficking, (2) 
the promotion of wildlife conservation, (3) the management of invasive 
species, (4) the protection of endangered species, and (5) the 
nonlethal management of human-wildlife conflicts.
    Additionally, under the Act, the Boards have an advisory duty: To 
develop recommendations for the Secretary regarding opportunities for 
technological innovation to assist in addressing the statute's five 
areas of concern. Establishment of the Council facilitates FACA 
compliance for the performance of the Boards' role advising the 
Secretary.
    The Secretary will appoint Council members to serve until the 
Council is terminated on December 31, 2023, as is required by the Act. 
The Council will have at least 12 members, and each Board will have at 
least 9 members who may be members of the Council or experts from 
outside the Council. The Council and Boards will meet approximately two 
times per year and will minimize the administrative costs by 
encouraging remote participation.

Membership Expertise

    We are seeking nominations for membership of individuals with the 
following types of expertise:
     Wildlife trafficking and trade,
     Wildlife conservation and management,
     Invasive species,
     Endangered species,
     Nonlethal wildlife management,
     Social aspects of human-wildlife conflict management,
     Biology,
     Technology development,
     Engineering,
     Economics,
     Business development and management, and
     Any other discipline that the Secretary determines to be 
necessary to achieve the purposes of the Act.
    Individuals who are federally registered lobbyist are ineligible to 
serve on all FACA and non-FACA boards, committees, or councils in an 
individual capacity. The term ``individual capacity'' refers to 
individuals who are appointed to exercise their own individual best 
judgment on behalf of the Government, such as when they are designated 
as Special Government Employees (SGE), rather than being appointed to 
represent a particular interest.
    Members of the Council and Boards appointed as SGEs are subject to 
applicable Federal ethics statutes and regulations, to include 
applicable exceptions and exemptions. The Department will provide 
materials to those members serving as SGEs, explaining their ethical 
obligations.

[[Page 27759]]

Submitting Nominations

    Individuals may nominate themselves or be nominated by others. 
Nominations should include the following:
     The area(s) of expertise of the nominee(s), as required 
under Membership Expertise, above; and
     A resume providing an adequate description of the 
nominee's qualifications, including information that would enable the 
Service to make an informed decision regarding the nominee's potential 
to meet the membership requirements of the Council and Boards, and 
contact information for the potential member.

(Authority: 5 U.S.C. Appendix 2)

Aurelia Skipwith,
Director--U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-10008 Filed 5-8-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P