[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 221 (Thursday, November 17, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69007-69008]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-24940]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Establishment of the Marine and Coastal Area-Based Management 
Advisory Committee and Solicitation of Nominations for Membership

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

ACTION: Notice of establishment of the Marine and Coastal Area-based 
Management Advisory Committee and solicitation of nominations for 
membership.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Under 
Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere (Under Secretary) 
announces the establishment of the Marine and Coastal Area-based 
Management Advisory Committee (MCAM AC). The MCAM AC shall advise the 
Under Secretary on science-based approaches to area-based protection, 
conservation, restoration, and management in coastal and marine areas, 
including the Great Lakes. The scope of the Committee's advice will 
include, but not be limited to, efforts consistent with the America the 
Beautiful initiative, as well as other relevant issues that may be 
requested by the Under Secretary. The MCAM AC shall terminate 2 years 
from the date of its charter's filing with the appropriate U.S. Senate 
and House of Representatives committees unless earlier terminated or 
renewed by the proper authority. This notice also requests nominations 
for membership on the MCAM AC (see ``Structure'' and ``Nominations and 
Applications'' below for more detail).

DATES: Nominations and applications to serve on the inaugural 
membership of the MCAM AC should be sent to the web address specified 
below and must be received on or before January 17, 2023. Nominations 
and applications will continue to be accepted on an ongoing basis for a 
period of 1 year and may be considered in case of vacancies.

ADDRESSES: Nominations and applications should be submitted 
electronically to Lauren Wenzel, National Ocean Service, NOAA, at 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lauren Wenzel, National Ocean Service, 
NOAA, at [email protected] or (240) 533-0652. For additional 
information, visit noaa.gov/marine-area-based-management-committee.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background and Authority

    The MCAM AC is governed by the FACA, 5 U.S.C. app., and its 
implementing regulations, 41 CFR part 102-3, which sets forth standards 
for the formation and use of advisory committees.
    The establishment of the MCAM AC is necessary and in the public 
interest. The Committee would provide a forum for discussion to advise 
NOAA on area-based management, including opportunities to enhance 
conservation of biodiversity, promote climate resilience, and expand 
access to nature for underserved communities. The scope of the 
Committee's advice will include, but not be limited to, efforts 
consistent with the America the Beautiful/Conserving Our Nation's Lands 
and Waters initiative called for by section 216(a) of Executive Order 
14008 on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, as well as 
other relevant issues that may be requested by the Under Secretary. No 
other Federal program or advisory committee has the mandate or scope to 
address all types of area-based management, including sites that are 
managed under different authorities and for differing purposes.

II. Structure

    The MCAM AC shall consist of not more than 20 non-Federal voting 
members with diverse perspectives and expertise. Membership shall 
include knowledgeable individuals that serve in a representative 
capacity for such perspectives as: resource managers for coastal and 
marine areas and the Great Lakes (such as representatives from states, 
territories, and localities and members of regional fishery management 
councils, members of regional ocean councils, and interstate fisheries 
commissions); Indigenous communities involved in coastal and ocean 
resource issues, including representatives from Indian tribes, Alaska 
Native corporations, Alaska Native organizations, tribal organizations, 
and Native Hawaiian organizations; conservation, philanthropic, and 
other non-

[[Page 69008]]

governmental organizations involved in coastal and ocean resource 
issues, as well as youth-serving organizations, education and outreach 
interests, and environmental justice organizations; and affected 
interest groups, such as representatives from the offshore minerals, 
energy, marine transportation, fishing (recreational and commercial), 
boating, diving, recreational, tourism, and maritime communities. These 
representative members serve as representatives of their respective 
group or viewpoint and are not Special Government Employees (SGEs) as 
defined in title 18 of United States Code, section 202(a).
    Membership on the Committee shall also include scientists and other 
experts in disciplines that study the structure, function, human use, 
and management of coastal and ocean ecosystems, such as ecologists, 
oceanographers, fisheries scientists, geologists, economists, 
engineers, anthropologists, archeologists, maritime historians, 
sociologists, educators, and others. Members appointed for their 
expertise in the scientific or other disciplines identified here will 
be designated as SGEs and are subject to conflict of interests laws and 
regulations (such as annually completing ethics training and a New 
Entrant Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450)).
    Members of the MCAM AC will be appointed by the Under Secretary. In 
order to provide for staggered membership to ensure continuity, half of 
the members shall be appointed to a 2 year term and half shall be 
appointed to a four-year term, as selected by the Under Secretary. 
Thereafter, all members will serve one 4 year, nonrenewable term. The 
Under Secretary shall appoint a chair and vice chair from among the 
Committee members. An appointment may be terminated if a member misses 
two consecutive meetings, unless excused for good cause by the chair or 
vice chair. In addition to the Department of Commerce, one official 
from each of the following Federal departments and agencies may serve 
on the Committee as Regular Government Employee non-voting members: the 
Department of the Interior, the Department of Defense, the Department 
of State, the Department of Homeland Security, the Environmental 
Protection Agency, the Department of Agriculture, and the National 
Science Foundation. Such membership may be granted to other pertinent 
Federal agencies by the Under Secretary.
    The MCAM AC is expected to meet at least once each year, which may 
be conducted in person or by teleconference, webinar, or other means. 
Members will not be compensated for their services but may, upon 
request and at the discretion of NOAA, be allowed travel and per diem 
expenses as allowed by 5 U.S.C. 5701 et seq. and 5 U.S.C. app., section 
7(d)(l)(B). As a Federal advisory committee, the MCAM AC's membership 
is required to be balanced in terms of perspectives and expertise for 
the functions to be performed, and appointments shall be made without 
discrimination on the basis of age, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual 
orientation, disability, or cultural, religious, or socioeconomic 
status. NOAA will consider geographic diversity, leadership on marine 
management/conservation issues, and experience working with committees 
and workgroups (e.g., fishery management councils, sanctuary advisory 
councils, and, where possible, NOAA will also consider the ethnic, 
racial, gender, and various abilities of the United States population.

III. Nominations and Applications

    Interested persons may nominate themselves or third parties. An 
application is required to be considered for MCAM AC 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 (if any), and contact 
information; (2) identification of the nominee's area(s) of 
representation (if the nominee is applying to be a representative 
member as described above) or expertise (if the nominee is applying to 
be an SGE as described above); (3) a short description of their 
qualifications relative to the scope of the MCAM AC as described in 
this Notice; and (4) a current resume (maximum length four [4] pages). 
If nominated by a third party, the nomination should include a 
statement that the nominated individual agrees to be nominated. All 
nomination information should be provided in a single, complete 
package, and should be sent to the electronic address provided above.

Privacy Act Statement

    Authority. The collection of information concerning nominations to 
the MCAM AC is authorized under the FACA, 5 U.S.C. app. and its 
implementing regulations, 41 CFR part 102-3, and in accordance with the 
Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, (Privacy Act) 5 U.S.C. 552a.
    Purpose. The collection of names, contact information, resumes, 
professional information, and qualifications is required in order for 
the Under Secretary to appoint members to the MCAM AC.
    Routine Uses. NOAA will use the nomination information for the 
purpose set forth above. The Privacy Act of 1974 authorizes disclosure 
of the information collected to NOAA staff for work-related purposes 
and for other purposes only as set forth in the Privacy Act and for 
routine uses published in the Privacy Act System of Records Notice 
COMMERCE/DEPT-11, Candidates for Membership, Members, and Former 
Members of Department of Commerce Advisory Committees, available at 
https://www.osec.doc.gov/opog/PrivacyAct/SORNs/dept-11.html, and the 
System of Records Notice COMMERCE/DEPT-18, Employees Personnel Files 
Not Covered by Notices of Other Agencies, available at https://www.osec.doc.gov/opog/PrivacyAct/SORNs/DEPT-18.html.
    Disclosure. Furnishing the nomination information is voluntary; 
however, if the information is not provided, the individual would not 
be considered for appointment as a member of the MCAM AC.

    Dated: November 9, 2022.
Richard W. Spinrad,
Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA 
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2022-24940 Filed 11-16-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-NK-P