[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 5 (Friday, January 8, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1576-1577]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-00121]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration


U.S. Maritime Transportation System National Advisory Committee; 
Notice of Solicitation for Applications for Potential Members

AGENCY: Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice of solicitation for membership.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to authority delegated by the Secretary of 
Transportation (Secretary) to the Maritime Administrator 
(Administrator), the Maritime Administration (MARAD) requests 
nominations for membership on the U.S. Maritime Transportation System 
National Advisory Committee (MTSNAC).

DATES: Applications must be received on or before 5:00 p.m. ET on 
February 8, 2021. After that date, MARAD will continue to accept 
applications under this notice for a period of up to two years from the 
deadline to fill any vacancies that may arise. MARAD encourages 
nominations submitted any time before the deadline for consideration of 
upcoming vacancies.

ADDRESSES: Interested applicants may submit a completed application by 
sending an email to [email protected], subject line: MTSNAC Application 
(Named Individual). Please note that due to the Coronavirus Disease 
2019 (COVID-19), MARAD will only accept electronic submissions. If that 
option does not work for you, please call the Designated Federal 
Officer for other options.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amanda Rutherford, Designated Federal 
Officer, at [email protected] or at (202) 595-4657. Please visit the 
MTSNAC website at https://www.maritime.dot.gov/outreach/maritime-transportation-system-mts/marine-transportation-system-national-advisory-committee.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Committee Objective

    The objective of the Maritime Transportation System National 
Advisory Committee (MTSNAC or Committee) is to identify and seek 
solutions to impediments hindering effective use of short sea 
transportation. The Committee will provide information, advice, and 
recommendations to the U.S. Secretary of Transportation (Secretary), 
through the Maritime Administrator (Administrator), on matters stated 
in the document Goals and Objectives for a Stronger Maritime Nation: A 
Report to Congress that are related to identifying and seeking 
solutions to impediments hindering effective use of short sea 
transportation. The Committee will not exercise program management 
responsibilities and will make no decisions directly affecting the 
programs on which it provides advice; decisions directly affecting 
implementation of maritime policy will remain with the Administrator.
    The Administrator will use the advice, information, and 
recommendations generated by MTSNAC for an array of policy 
deliberations and for interagency discussions on meeting the Goals and 
Objectives for a Stronger Maritime Nation: A Report to Congress. The 
Secretary and Administrator may accept or reject a recommendation made 
by the MTSNAC and are not bound to pursue any recommendation from the 
MTSNAC. In the exercise of his or her discretion, the Secretary, 
Administrator, or his or her designee, may withdraw a task being 
considered by the MTSNAC at any time.

Description of Duties

    During the term of the charter, MTSNAC shall undertake information 
gathering activities, develop technical advice, and present 
recommendations to the Administrator on short sea shipping matters 
including the following: (1) How to address impediments hindering 
effective use of short sea transportation, including the expansion of 
America's Marine Highways, as directed in 46 U.S.C. 55603; (2) How to 
strengthen U.S. Maritime capabilities essential to national security 
and economic prosperity; (3) Ways to ensure the availability of a U.S. 
maritime workforce that will support the sealift resource needs of the 
National Security Strategy; (4) Ways to support enhancement of U.S. 
port infrastructure and performance; and, (5) Ways to enable maritime 
industry innovation in information, automation, safety, environmental 
impact and other areas.

I. Who should be considered for nomination as MTSNAC members?

    MARAD seeks nominations for immediate consideration to fill 
positions on the Committee for the upcoming charter term, and will 
continue to accept nominations under this notice on an on-going basis 
for two years for consideration to fill vacancies that may arise during 
the charter term. Member appointment terms run until September 17, 2022 
and may be renewed, subject to charter renewal. Members will be 
selected in accordance with applicable Agency guidelines based upon 
their ability to advise the Administrator on marine transportation 
issues. Members will be selected to obtain membership balance of the 
marine transportation interests, including (1) active mariners; (2) 
vessel operators; (3) port authorities and terminal operators; (4) 
shippers or beneficial cargo owners; (5) the ship construction, repair 
and/or recycling industries; (6) relevant policy areas such as 
innovative financing, economic competitiveness, performance monitoring, 
safety, insurance, labor, and environment; (7) freight customers and 
providers; and (8) government bodies. All MTSNAC members serve at the 
pleasure of the Secretary of Transportation.
    Registered lobbyists are not eligible to serve on Federal Advisory 
Committees in an individual capacity. See ``Revised Guidance on 
Appointment of Lobbyists to Federal Advisory Committees, Boards and 
Commissions'' (79 FR 47482, August 13, 2014). Registered lobbyists are 
``lobbyists,'' as defined in Title 2 U.S.C. 1602, who are required by 
Title 2 U.S.C. 1603 to register with the Secretary of the Senate and 
the Clerk of the House of Representatives. The prohibition does not 
apply if registered lobbyists are specifically appointed to represent 
the interests of a nongovernmental entity, a recognizable group of 
persons or nongovernmental entities (an industry sector, labor unions, 
environmental groups, and similar groups) or state or local 
governments. Registered lobbyists are required to comply with 
provisions contained in the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 
110-81).

II. Do MTSNAC members receive compensation and/or per diem?

    Committee members will receive no salary for participating in 
MTSNAC activities. While attending meetings or when otherwise engaged 
in Committee business, members may be reimbursed for travel and per 
diem expenses as permitted under applicable Federal

[[Page 1577]]

travel regulations. Reimbursement is subject to funding availability.

III. What is the process for submitting applications/nominations?

    Individuals can self-apply or be nominated by any individual or 
organization. To be considered for the MTSNAC, applicants/nominators 
should submit the following information:
    (1) Contact Information for the nominee, consisting of:

a. Name
b. Title
c. Organization or Affiliation
d. Address
e. City, State, Zip
f. Telephone number
g. Email address

    (2) Statement of interest limited to 250 words on why the nominee 
wants to serve on the MTSNAC and the unique perspectives and 
experiences the nominee brings to the Committee;
    (3) Resume limited to 3 pages describing professional and academic 
expertise, experience, and knowledge, including any relevant experience 
serving on advisory committees, past and present;
    (4) An affirmative statement that the nominee is not a federally 
registered lobbyist seeking to serve on the Committee in their 
individual capacity and the identity of the interests they intend to 
represent, if appointed as member of the Committee; and
    (5) Optional letters of support.
    Please do not send company, trade association, organization 
brochures, or any other promotional information. Materials submitted 
should total five pages or less and must be in a 12 font, formatted in 
Microsoft Word or PDF. Should more information be needed, MARAD staff 
will contact the nominee, obtain information from the nominee's past 
affiliations, or obtain information from publicly available sources. 
Those interested in applying to become a member of the Committee, may 
send a completed application package by email listed in the ADDRESSES 
section. Please note that, due to circumstances relating to the COVID-
19 public health emergency, we will only accept electronic submissions. 
If electronic submission is problematic for you, please call the 
Designated Federal Officer for other options. Applications must be 
received by the deadline listed in the DATES section; however, 
candidates are encouraged to send application any time before the 
deadline.

IV. How will MARAD select MTSNAC members?

    A selection team comprising representatives from MARAD will review 
the application packages. The selection team will make recommendations 
regarding membership to the Administrator based on the following 
criteria: (1) Professional or academic expertise, experience, and 
knowledge; (2) stakeholder representation; (3) availability and 
willingness to serve; (4) relevant experience in working in committees 
and advisory panels; and (5) the MTSNAC Charter and Membership Balance 
Plan. Nominations are open to all individuals without regard to race, 
color, religion, sex, national origin, age, mental or physical 
disability, marital status, or sexual orientation.

(Authority: 49 CFR part 1.93(a); 5 U.S.C. 552b; 41 CFR parts 102-3; 
5 U.S.C. app. Sections 1-16)
* * * * *

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
    Dated: January 5, 2021.
T. Mitchell Hudson, Jr.,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 2021-00121 Filed 1-7-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-81-P