[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 161 (Wednesday, August 19, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51041-51042]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-18105]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2020-0318]


Gulf of Mexico Area Maritime Security Advisory Committee (AMSC)

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Solicitation for membership.

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SUMMARY: This notice requests individuals interested in serving on the 
Gulf of Mexico Area Maritime Security Advisory Committee (AMSC) submit 
their applications for membership to the Federal Maritime Security 
Coordinator (FMSC) Eighth Coast Guard District. The Committee assists 
the FMSC, Eighth District, in developing, reviewing, and updating the 
Area Maritime Security Plan for their area of responsibility.

DATES: Requests for membership should reach the U.S. Coast Guard FMSC 
Eighth Coast Guard District on September 18, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Applications for membership should be submitted to the FMSC 
at the following address: Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District, Attn: 
Mr. Nick Parham, Gulf Mexico AMSC Executive Secretary, Hale Boggs 
Federal Building, 500 Poydras St., Suite 1341, New Orleans, LA 70130.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions about submitting an

[[Page 51042]]

application or about the AMSC in general, contact Mr. Nick Parham, Gulf 
of Mexico AMSC Executive Secretary, Phone: (504) 671-2044.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority

    Section 102 of the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) of 
2002 (Pub. L. 107-295) added section 70112 to Title 46 of the U.S. 
Code, and authorized the Secretary of the Department in which the Coast 
Guard is operating to establish Area Maritime Security Advisory 
Committees for any port area of the United States. (See 33 U.S.C. 1226; 
46 U.S.C. 70112; 33 CFR 1.05-1, 6.01; Department of Homeland Security 
Delegation No. 0170.1). The MTSA includes a provision exempting these 
AMSCs from the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), Public Law 92-
436, 86 Stat. 470 (5 U.S.C. App.2).

Gulf of Mexico AMSC Mission

    The AMSCs shall assist the Federal Maritime Security Coordinator in 
the development, review, update, and exercising of the AMS Plan for 
their area of responsibility. Such matters may include, but are not 
limited to: Identifying critical port infrastructure and operations; 
Identifying risks (threats, vulnerabilities, and consequences); 
Determining mitigation strategies and implementation methods; 
Developing strategies to facilitate the recovery of the MTS after a 
Transportation Security Incident; Developing and describing the process 
to continually evaluate overall port security by considering 
consequences and vulnerabilities, how they may change over time, and 
what additional mitigation strategies can be applied; and Providing 
advice to, and assisting the Federal Maritime Security Coordinator in 
developing and maintaining the Area Maritime Security Plan.
    The Gulf of Mexico Area Maritime Security Committee was chartered 
by the Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District to study and consider 
issues related to security in the Gulf of Mexico, in addition to 
reviewing the proposed Area Maritime Security Plan and serving as a 
link to communicating threats to waterway users in the Gulf of Mexico 
and identifying and quantifying those threats. It serves to protect the 
Gulf of Mexico through improved security procedures and communication 
and as a forum to coordinate security procedures to decrease the 
vulnerability of resources in the Gulf of Mexico. It shall serve as an 
interface between regulators and industry and will assist governmental 
agencies to implement policies and procedures to improve security in 
the Gulf of Mexico. Details regarding the specific objectives of the 
Gulf Area Maritime Security Committee can be found in the charter.

AMSC Composition

    The composition of an AMSC, to include the Gulf of Mexico AMSC, is 
prescribed under 33 CFR 103.305. Pursuant to that regulation, members 
may be selected from the Federal, Territorial, or Tribal government; 
the State government and political subdivisions of the State; local 
public safety, crisis management, and emergency response agencies; law 
enforcement and security organizations; maritime industry, including 
labor; other port stakeholders having a special competence in maritime 
security; and port stakeholders affected by security practices and 
policies. Members of the AMSC should have at least five years of 
experience related to maritime or port security operations.

AMSC Membership

    The Gulf of Mexico AMSC has seven members. We are seeking to fill 
two vacancies with this solicitation:
    Vice-Chairperson: The Vice Chairperson will act as Chairperson in 
the absence or incapacity of the Chairperson, or in the event of a 
vacancy in the office of the Chairperson. The ideal candidate for this 
position will have more than ten years of experience in security and/or 
emergency operations management with a significant amount of time spent 
working in the Gulf of Mexico or similar operational environments.
    Co-Chairperson (Planning and Exercises Subcommittee): This 
subcommittee assists in the management of the Area Maritime Security 
Training and Exercise Program requirements. They will collaborate on 
the needed type and scope of the required annual exercises, and support 
the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP). This 
sub-committee also provides vetting for the development, revision, and 
approval of revisions of the Gulf of Mexico Area Maritime Security 
Plan. The ideal candidate for this position will have more than ten 
years of experience in emergency management planning for a maritime 
company or energy exploration and production company working in the 
Gulf of Mexico or similar operating environment.
    Applicants may be required to pass an appropriate security 
background check prior to appointment to the committee. Members' terms 
of office will be for five years; however, a member is eligible to 
serve additional terms of office. Members will not receive any salary 
or other compensation for their service on an AMSC. In support of the 
USCG policy on gender and ethnic diversity, we encourage qualified 
women and members of minority groups to apply.

D. Request for Applications

    Those seeking membership are not required to submit formal 
applications to the local FMSC; however, because we do have an 
obligation to ensure that a specific number of members have the 
prerequisite maritime security experience, we encourage the submission 
of resumes highlighting experience in the maritime and security 
industries.
    The Department of Homeland Security does not discriminate in 
selection of Committee members on the basis of race, color, religion, 
sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender 
identity, marital status, disability and genetic information, age, 
membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factor. The 
Department of Homeland Security strives to achieve a widely diverse 
candidate pool for all of its recruitment actions.

    Dated: August 3, 2020.
John P. Nadeau,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Federal Maritime Security Coordinator--
Gulf of Mexico.
[FR Doc. 2020-18105 Filed 8-18-20; 8:45 am]
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