[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 244 (Thursday, December 23, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72930-72932]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-27844]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Hydrographic Services Review Panel

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

ACTION: Notice of call for nominations for NOAA's Hydrographic Services 
Review Panel (HSRP) federal advisory committee.

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SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is seeking 
nominations for members to serve on the Hydrographic Services Review 
Panel with nominations due by April 15, 2022.

DATES: Nominations are sought for submission by April 15, 2022, and 
will be kept on file to be used for future HSRP vacancies. Five 
vacancies will occur on January 1, 2023, for a four-year term. Current 
members who may be eligible for a second term in 2023 must reapply. 
HSRP maintains an active pool

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of candidates and advertises once a year to fulfill the Hydrographic 
Services Improvement Act (HSIA) requirement on membership solicitation.

ADDRESSES: Nominations will be accepted by email and should be sent to: 
[email protected], [email protected] and 
[email protected]. You will receive a confirmation response.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lynne Mersfelder-Lewis, NOAA HSRP 
program manager, email [email protected] or phone: 240-533-
0064.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the HSIA, (33 U.S.C. 
892c), the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA) is required to solicit nominations for membership 
once a year for the HSRP. The HSRP, a Federal advisory committee, 
advises the NOAA Administrator on matters related to the 
responsibilities and authorities set forth in section 303 of the HSIA, 
the ``charts and related information for the safe navigation of marine 
and air commerce, and to provide basic data for engineering and 
scientific purposes and for other commercial and industrial needs'' as 
is set forth in section 883a (Surveys and other activities) of the 
Coast and Geodetic Survey Act of 1947, as amended (33 U.S.C. 883a et 
seq.), and such other appropriate matters as the Administrator refers 
to the Panel for review and advice. Those responsibilities and 
authorities include, but are not limited to: Acquiring and 
disseminating hydrographic data and providing hydrographic services, as 
those terms are defined in the HSIA; promulgating standards for 
hydrographic data and services; ensuring comprehensive geographic 
coverage of hydrographic services; and testing, developing, and 
operating vessels, equipment, and technologies necessary to ensure safe 
navigation and maintain operational expertise in hydrographic data 
acquisition and hydrographic services.
    The HSIA states ``the voting members of the Panel shall be 
individuals who, by reason of knowledge, experience, or training, are 
especially qualified in one or more of the disciplines and fields 
relating to hydrographic data and hydrographic services, marine 
transportation, port administration, vessel pilotage, coastal and 
fishery management, and other disciplines as determined appropriate by 
the Administrator.'' The NOAA Administrator seeks individuals with 
expertise in marine navigation and technology, port administration, 
marine shipping or other intermodal transportation industries, 
cartography and geographic information systems, geodesy, physical 
oceanography, coastal resource management, including coastal 
preparedness and emergency response, and other related fields.
    In accordance with applicable Department of Commerce guidance, NOAA 
seeks a balanced membership and members are selected on a standardized 
basis. Subject matter expertise, as specified in the HSIA, is the 
primary criteria considered in the evaluation process. Professional 
sector representation (academia, industry, research, scientific 
institution, state and local government, tribal interests, consultant, 
non-governmental organization, etc.), geographic expertise, experience 
working productively with committees and working groups, and leadership 
with navigation, observations, and positioning are other criteria that 
will be considered. The diverse membership of the HSRP assures 
expertise reflecting the full breadth of the HSRP's responsibilities. 
Where possible, NOAA will also consider the ethnic, racial, and gender 
diversity of the United States. NOAA is an equal opportunity employer.
    Nominees are required to submit four items including a cover letter 
that responds to the five short response questions below. The entire 
nomination package should include all components, be submitted in word 
and PDF, and be no longer than eight pages.
    (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 
``Five Short Response Questions'' below. Please be sure to highlight 
the nominee's specific area(s) of expertise relevant to the purpose of 
the HSRP from the list in the Federal Register Notice.
    (2) A short biography of 300-400 words.
    (3) A resume of no more than 2-3 pages.
    (4) The nominee's full work and home contact information including: 
Full name, work title, institutional affiliation, work and home mailing 
addresses, email(s), phones, and fax. Please note preferred email, 
phone number and mailing address.
    Five Short Response Questions for the Cover Letter:
    (1) List your area(s) of expertise, from the list above.
    (2) List the geographic region(s) of the country with which you 
primarily associate your expertise.
    (3) Describe your leadership or professional experiences which you 
believe will contribute to the effectiveness of the HSRP panel.
    (4) Describe your familiarity and experience with NOAA National 
Ocean Service (NOS) navigation, observations and positioning data, 
products, and services.
    (5) Generally describe the breadth and scope of your knowledge of 
stakeholders, users, or other groups who interact with NOAA and whose 
views and input you believe you can share with the panel.

Information on NOS and HSRP Members Responsibilities

    Under 33 U.S.C. 883a et seq., NOAA's NOS is responsible for 
providing nautical charts and related information for safe navigation. 
NOS collects and compiles hydrographic, tidal and current, geodetic, 
and a variety of other data in order to fulfill this responsibility. 
The HSRP provides advice on current and emerging oceanographic and 
marine science technologies relating to operations, research and 
development; and dissemination of data pertaining to:
    (a) Hydrographic surveying;
    (b) Shoreline surveying;
    (c) Nautical charting;
    (d) Water level measurements;
    (e) Current measurements;
    (f) Geodetic measurements;
    (g) Geospatial measurements;
    (h) Geomagnetic measurements; and
    (i) Other oceanographic/marine related sciences.
    The HSRP has fifteen voting members appointed by the NOAA 
Administrator in accordance with 33 U.S.C. 892c. Two NOAA employees, 
the Directors of the National Geodetic Survey and the Center for 
Operational Oceanographic Products and Services, and the Co-Directors 
of the Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping/Joint Hydrographic Center 
serve as non-voting members. The Director, NOAA Office of Coast Survey, 
serves as the Designated Federal Officer (DFO) along with two Alternate 
DFOs.
    Voting members are individuals who, by reason of knowledge, 
experience, or training, are especially qualified in one or more 
disciplines relating to hydrographic surveying, tides, currents, 
geodetic and geospatial measurements, marine transportation, port 
administration, vessel pilotage, coastal or fishery management, and 
other oceanographic or marine science areas as deemed appropriate by 
the Administrator. Full-time officers or employees of the United States 
may not be appointed as a voting member. Any voting member of the Panel 
who is an applicant for, or beneficiary of (as

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determined by the Administrator) any assistance under 33 U.S.C. 892c 
shall disclose to the Panel that relationship, and may not vote on any 
other matter pertaining to that assistance.
    Voting members of the Panel serve a four-year term, except that 
vacancy appointments are for the remainder of the unexpired term of the 
vacancy. Members serve at the discretion of the Administrator and are 
subject to government ethics standards. Any individual appointed to a 
partial or full term may be reappointed for one additional full term. A 
voting member may serve until his or her successor has taken office. 
The Panel selects one voting member to serve as the Chair and another 
to serve as the Vice Chair. The Vice Chair acts as Chair in the absence 
or incapacity of the Chair but will not automatically become the Chair 
if the Chair resigns. Public meetings occur at least twice a year, and 
at the call of the Chair or upon the request of a majority of the 
voting members or of the Administrator. Voting members receive 
compensation at a rate established by the Administrator, not to exceed 
the maximum daily rate payable under section 5376 of title 5, United 
States Code, when engaged in performing duties for the Panel during the 
public meeting. Members are reimbursed for actual and reasonable travel 
expenses incurred in performing such duties according to the Federal 
Travel Regulation.
    Additional HSRP information and past HSRP public meeting summary 
reports, agendas, presentations, transcripts, webinars, and other 
information is available online at:

Membership: https://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/hsrp/panel.html
Recommendations: https://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/hsrp/recommendations.html
Public meeting materials: https://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/hsrp/meetings.html

Individuals Selected for Panel Membership

    Upon selection and agreement to serve on the HSRP Panel, you become 
a Special Government Employee (SGE) of the United States Government. An 
SGE, as defined in 18 U.S.C. 202(a), is an officer or employee of an 
agency who is retained, designated, appointed, or employed to perform 
temporary duties, with or without compensation, not to exceed 130 days 
during any period of 365 consecutive days, either on a full time or 
intermittent basis. After the selection process is complete, applicants 
selected to serve on the Panel must complete the following actions 
before they can be appointed as a Panel member:
    (a) Security Clearance (online Background Security Check process 
and fingerprinting conducted through NOAA's Office of Security and 
Office of Human Capital Services); and
    (b) Confidential Financial Disclosure Report. SGEs are required to 
file a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report to avoid involvement in 
a real or apparent conflict of interest. You may find information on 
the Confidential Financial Disclosure Report: https://www.oge.gov/Web/oge.nsf/Resources/OGE+Form+450.

Kathryn L. Ries,
Deputy Director, Office of Coast Survey, National Ocean Service, 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2021-27844 Filed 12-22-21; 8:45 am]
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