[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 116 (Tuesday, June 16, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36381-36382]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-12913]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


United States Integrated Ocean Observing System Advisory 
Committee

AGENCY: National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of new member solicitation for the United States 
Integrated Ocean Observing System (U.S. IOOS) Advisory Committee.

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SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is 
soliciting applications for membership on the United States Integrated 
Ocean Observing System Advisory Committee (the Committee), which is a 
Federal advisory committee. Members of the Committee will fulfill the 
requirements of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act 
of 2009 (the Act). The Committee provides advice to the Under Secretary 
of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and to the Interagency Ocean 
Observation Committee on the planning, integrated design, operation, 
maintenance, enhancement, and expansion of the United States Integrated 
Ocean Observing System (U.S. IOOS). U.S. IOOS promotes research to 
develop, test, and deploy innovations and improvements in coastal and 
ocean observation technologies and modeling systems, addresses regional 
and national needs for ocean information, gathers data on key coastal, 
ocean, and Great Lakes variables and ensures timely and sustained 
dissemination and availability of these data for societal benefits. 
U.S. IOOS benefits national safety, the economy, and the environment 
through support for national defense, marine commerce and forecasting, 
navigation safety, weather, climate, energy siting and production, 
economic development, ecosystem-based management of marine and coastal 
areas, conservation of ocean and coastal resources and public safety.
    The Act requires the establishment and administration of this 
Committee by the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere.
    NOAA will hereby accept applications for membership on the 
Committee to fill two vacancies that occurred in late 2019. These 
vacancy appointments shall be for the remainder of the unexpired term 
of the vacancy, which ends August 15, 2021. An individual so appointed 
may subsequently be appointed for an additional three-year term. The 
Act states: ``Members shall be qualified by education, training, and 
experience to evaluate scientific and technical information related to 
the design, operation, maintenance, or use of the [Integrated Ocean 
Observing] System, or use of data products provided through the 
System.'' NOAA encourages individuals with expertise in oceanographic 
data, products, and services; coastal management; fisheries management; 
coastal and marine spatial planning; geodesy; water levels; and other 
science-related fields to submit applications for Committee membership. 
To apply for membership on the Committee, applicants should submit a 
resume highlighting their qualifications as indicated in the ADDRESSES 
section. NOAA is an equal-opportunity employer.

DATES: Nominations should be submitted no later than July 30, 2020. 
Applications received after July 30, 2020 may not be considered during 
this membership application cycle, but may be considered for future 
membership cycles.

ADDRESSES: Submit an application for Committee membership, including 
cover letter, resume, and requested items below, to Laura Gewain via 
Email [email protected]. Please direct any questions regarding 
application submission to Laura Gewain via Email or Telephone: 240-533-
9456.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Krisa Arzayus, 1315 East-West Highway, 
Station 2616, Silver Spring, MD 20910; Telephone: 240-533-9455; Email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice responds to the ICOOS Act of 
2009 (Pub. L. 111-11, section 12304), which requires the Under 
Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere to solicit nominations 
for Committee membership. The Committee will advise the NOAA 
Administrator or Interagency Ocean Observation Committee on matters 
related to the responsibilities and authorities set forth in section 
12302 of the ICOOS Act of 2009 and other appropriate matters as the 
Under Secretary refers to the Committee for review and advice.
    The United States Integrated Ocean Observing System Advisory 
Committee will provide advice on:
    (a) Administration, operation, management, and maintenance of the 
System;
    (b) Expansion and periodic modernization and upgrade of technology 
components of the System;
    (c) Identification of end-user communities, their needs for 
information provided by the System, and the System's effectiveness in 
dissemination information to end-user communities and to the general 
public; and
    (d) Any other purpose identified by the Under Secretary of Commerce 
for Oceans and Atmosphere or the Interagency Ocean Observation 
Committee.
    The Committee's voting members will be appointed by the Under 
Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere. Members shall be 
qualified by education, training, and experience to evaluate scientific 
and technical information related to the design, operation, 
maintenance, or use of the System, or the use of data products provided 
through the System. Members are selected on a standardized basis, in 
accordance with applicable Department of Commerce guidance. Members 
will be appointed for three-year terms, renewable once. One Committee 
member will be designated by the Under Secretary as chairperson. Full-
time officers or employees of the United States may not be appointed as 
a voting member. Members will be appointed as special Government 
employees (SGEs) for purposes of section 202(a) of title 18, United 
States Code. Members serve at the discretion of the Under Secretary and 
are subject to government ethics standards. Members of the Committee 
will not be compensated for service on the Committee, but they may be 
allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in 
accordance with subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States 
Code.
    The Committee will meet at least once each year, and at other times 
at the call of the Under Secretary, the Interagency Ocean Observation 
Committee, or the Committee Chairperson. The Committee has 
approximately fifteen voting members. This solicitation is to obtain 
candidate applications for up to two full voting member vacancies.
    To apply for membership, applicants must submit the following five 
items,

[[Page 36382]]

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 your area(s) of expertise, as listed above.
    (2) List the geographic region(s) of the country with which you 
primarily associate your expertise.
    (3) Describe your leadership or professional experience that you 
believe will contribute to the effectiveness of this panel.
    (4) Describe your familiarity and experience with U.S. IOOS data, 
products, and services.
    (5) Generally describe the breadth and scope of your knowledge of 
stakeholders, users, or other groups who interact with NOAA or other 
U.S. IOOS agencies and whose views and input you believe you can share 
with the panel.

Individuals Selected for Committee Membership

    Upon selection and agreement to serve on the United States 
Integrated Ocean Observing System Advisory Committee, one becomes a 
Special Government Employee (SGE) of the United States Government. An 
SGE is an officer or employee of an agency who is retained, designated, 
appointed, or employed to perform temporary duties, with or without 
compensation, for not to exceed 130 days during any period of 365 
consecutive days, either on a full-time or intermittent basis. After 
the membership selection process is complete, applicants who are 
selected to serve on the Committee must complete the following actions 
before they can be appointed as a Committee member:
    (a) Background Check (on-line Background Check process and 
fingerprinting conducted through NOAA Workforce Management); and
    (b) Confidential Financial Disclosure Report: As an SGE, one is 
required to file annually a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report to 
avoid involvement in a real or apparent conflict of interest. One may 
find the Confidential Financial Disclosure Report at the following 
website: http://www.usoge.gov/forms/form_450.aspx.

Krisa M. Arzayus,
Deputy Director, U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System Office, 
National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2020-12913 Filed 6-15-20; 8:45 am]
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