[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 124 (Wednesday, June 29, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38711-38712]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-13919]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Establishment of the Ocean Research Advisory Panel and 
Solicitation of Nominations for Membership

AGENCY: Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce 
(DOC).

ACTION: Notice of establishment of the Ocean Research Advisory Panel 
and solicitation of nominations for membership.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021

[[Page 38712]]

(H.R. 6395) Act and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), the NOAA 
Administrator and the Co-Chairs of the Ocean Policy Committee (OPC) 
announce the establishment of the Ocean Research Advisory Panel (ORAP). 
The ORAP shall advise the OPC on certain ocean science and research 
policies, procedures, priorities, and other appropriate matters. The 
ORAP charter shall terminate two years from the date of its filing with 
the appropriate U.S. Senate and House of Representatives Committees 
unless earlier terminated or renewed by proper authority. 
Notwithstanding section 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the 
Advisory Panel shall terminate on January 1, 2040. This notice also 
requests nominations for membership on the ORAP.

DATES: Nominations should be sent to the email address specified below 
and must be received no more than 45 days after publication of this 
notice.

ADDRESSES: Nominations and applications should be submitted 
electronically to Dr. Cynthia Decker, the Designated Federal Officer 
(DFO), ORAP, NOAA, at [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Cynthia Decker, DFO, ORAP, NOAA 
(Phone Number: (202) 936-5847), Email: [email protected] and 
Andrew Peck, Program Support, ORAP, NOAA (Phone Number: 202-964-1254), 
Email: [email protected] in the Office of Science Support, Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Research.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background and Authority

    Establishment of the ORAP implements a statutory requirement of the 
William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2021 (H.R. 6395), 10 U.S.C. 8933 et seq. The ORAP is 
governed by the FACA, as amended, 5 U.S.C. App., which sets forth 
standards for the formation and use of advisory committees. 
Responsibilities include the following: (1) to advise the OPC on 
policies and procedures to implement the National Oceanographic 
Partnership Program; (2) to advise the OPC on matters relating to 
national oceanographic science, engineering, facilities, or resource 
requirements; (3) to advise the OPC on improving diversity, equity, and 
inclusion in the ocean sciences and related fields; (4) to advise the 
OPC on national ocean research priorities; and (5) any additional 
responsibilities that the OPC considers appropriate.

II. Structure

    The ORAP shall consist of not fewer than 10 and not more than 18 
members appointed by the co-chairs of the OPC, including each of the 
following: (A) three members who represent the National Academies of 
Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; (B) members selected from among 
individuals who represent the views of ocean industries, State, tribal, 
territorial or local governments, academia, and such other views as the 
co-chairs consider appropriate; and (C) members selected from among 
individuals eminent in the fields of marine science, marine technology, 
and marine policy, or related fields.
    Members shall serve in a representative capacity; they are, 
therefore, not Special Government Employees. As such, members are not 
subject to the ethics rules applicable to Government employees, except 
that they must not misuse Government resources or their affiliation 
with the ORAP for personal purposes. All members of the ORAP will be 
appointed by the OPC Co-Chairs for a three-year term, with one member 
appointed by the OPC Co-Chairs as the ORAP Chair. Members may not serve 
on the ORAP for more than two consecutive terms. A member of the ORAP 
may not serve as the ORAP Chair for more than two terms. The ORAP shall 
meet not less than two times each year. Additional meetings may be 
called as deemed desirable by the OPC. Members are reimbursed for 
actual and reasonable travel and other per diem expenses incurred in 
performing such duties but will not be compensated for their time. As a 
Federal Advisory Committee, the ORAP's membership is required to be 
balanced in terms of viewpoints represented and the functions to be 
performed. The OPC Co-Chairs shall ensure that an appropriate balance 
of academic, scientific, industry, and geographical interests are 
represented by the members of the ORAP. The OPC Co-Chairs shall also 
make appointments without discrimination on the basis of age, race, 
ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or cultural, 
religious, or socioeconomic status.

III. Nominations

    Interested persons may nominate themselves or third parties. An 
application is required to be considered for ORAP membership, 
regardless of whether a person is nominated by a third party or self-
nominated. The application package must include: (1) the nominee's full 
name, title, institutional affiliation, and contact information; (2) 
identification of the nominee's area(s) of industry perspective--
academia, commercial service provider, or end-user; (3) a short 
description of his/her qualifications relative to the kinds of advice 
being solicited in this Notice; and (4) a current resume (maximum 
length four [4] pages). All nomination information must be provided in 
a single, complete package, and must be sent to the ORAP DFO at the 
electronic address provided above.

Paul Johnson,
Acting Chief Financial Officer/Administrative Officer, Office of 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2022-13919 Filed 6-28-22; 8:45 am]
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