[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 240 (Thursday, December 15, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76613-76614]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-27188]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Establishing an Advisory Council Pursuant to the National Marine 
Sanctuaries Act and Solicitation for Applications for the Proposed 
Hudson Canyon National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council

AGENCY: Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS), National Ocean 
Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Department of Commerce (DOC).

ACTION: Notice of solicitation.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NOAA is establishing a sanctuary 
advisory council (council) for the proposed Hudson Canyon National 
Marine Sanctuary to provide advice and recommendations to ONMS 
regarding the sanctuary's designation. With this notice, ONMS is 
soliciting applications for seats on the council. ONMS will add this 
new council to the list of established national marine sanctuary 
advisory councils.

DATES: Applications for membership on the proposed Hudson Canyon 
National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council must be emailed or 
postmarked by January 31, 2023.

ADDRESSES: For application submission or further information contact: 
Ellen Brody, NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, 4840 South 
State Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48108, phone: (734) 276-6387, email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Section 315 of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA) (16 
U.S.C. 1445a) authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to establish 
advisory councils to advise and make recommendations regarding the 
designation and management of national marine sanctuaries. ONMS is 
establishing a new sanctuary advisory council for the proposed Hudson 
Canyon National Marine Sanctuary to serve as a liaison to the local 
community and provide guidance and advice to ONMS during its 
designation.

[[Page 76614]]

ONMS is adding this new advisory council to the list of councils with 
open vacancies and announcing that it is soliciting applications to 
fill the council's seats. Applications are due January 31, 2023.

II. Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS)

    ONMS serves as the trustee for a network of underwater parks 
encompassing more than 620,000 square miles of marine and Great Lakes 
waters from Washington State to the Florida Keys, and from Lake Huron 
to American Samoa. The network includes a system of 15 national marine 
sanctuaries and the Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea and Rose Atoll marine 
national monuments. National marine sanctuaries protect our nation's 
most vital coastal and marine natural and cultural resources and, 
through a diverse set of management tools, sustain nationally 
significant marine and Great Lakes environments that are the foundation 
for thriving communities and stable economies.
    One of the many ways ONMS ensures public participation in the 
designation and management of national marine sanctuaries is through 
the formation of advisory councils. Advisory councils are community-
based groups established to provide advice and recommendations to ONMS 
on issues including management, science, service, and stewardship, as 
well as to serve as liaisons between their constituents in the 
community and the sanctuary. Pursuant to Section 315(a) of the NMSA, 
advisory councils are exempt from the requirements of the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act. Additional information on ONMS and its advisory 
councils can be found at https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov.

III. Advisory Council Membership

    Under Section 315 of the NMSA, the advisory council shall consist 
of no more than 15 voting members. Members shall be selected by the 
director from groups representing the diverse perspectives surrounding 
sanctuary resources, including Federal, State, or local agency 
employees with expertise in natural resources management; local user-
group representatives; conservation and other public interest 
organizations; scientific and educational organizations; and members of 
the public interested in the protection and multiple-use management of 
sanctuary resources. 16 U.S.C. 1455a(b).
    The charter for each advisory council defines the number and type 
of seats and positions on the council. The advisory council charter for 
the proposed Hudson Canyon National Marine Sanctuary identifies the 
following voting non-governmental seat types: commercial fishing; 
recreational fishing; tourism/recreation; conservation; research; 
business/maritime industry; education/outreach; and citizen at-large. 
The council will also have non-voting seats for government agencies. 
Recognizing the cultural significance of this area to Indigenous 
Nations and Tribes, NOAA welcomes the participation of such interested 
Nations and Tribes on the council. This could involve multiple Nations 
and Tribes. Nations and Tribes interested in participating in the 
advisory council should contact the NOAA representative identified in 
the ADDRESSES section. Participation on the council does not take the 
place of government-to-government consultation nor does it serve as the 
only opportunity for engagement between NOAA and Indigenous Nations and 
Tribes.
    Applicants are chosen based upon their particular expertise and 
experience in relation to the seat for which they are applying; 
community and professional affiliations; views regarding the protection 
and management of marine or Great Lakes resources; and possibly the 
length of residence in the area affected by the site. Council members 
and alternates for the proposed Hudson Canyon National Marine Sanctuary 
Advisory Council serve three-year terms, as reflected in the signed 
charter.
    For more information about the new advisory council for the 
proposed Hudson Canyon National Marine Sanctuary, including seat 
descriptions and application materials and instructions, please visit 
https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/hudson-canyon/. More information on 
advisory council membership and processes, and materials related to the 
purpose, policies, and operational requirements for advisory councils 
can be found in the charter for a particular advisory council (https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/management/ac/council_charters.html) and the 
National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council Implementation Handbook 
(https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/media/docs/2022-sanctuary-advisory-council-handbook.pdf).

B. Paperwork Reduction Act

    ONMS has a valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control 
number (0648-0397) for the collection of public information related to 
the processing of ONMS national marine sanctuary advisory council 
applications across the National Marine Sanctuary System. Establishing 
a sanctuary advisory council for the proposed Hudson Canyon National 
Marine Sanctuary fits within the estimated reporting burden under that 
control number. See https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRASearch (Enter 
Control Number 0648-0397). Therefore, ONMS will not request an update 
to the reporting burden certified for OMB control number 0648-0397.
    Send comments regarding this burden estimate, or any other aspect 
of this data collection, including suggestions for reducing the burden, 
to: Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, 1305 East-West Highway, 
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910.
    Notwithstanding any other provisions of the law, no person is 
required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty 
for failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the 
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et 
seq., unless that collection of information displays a currently valid 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The OMB control 
number is #0648-0397.
    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.

John Armor,
Director, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, National Ocean 
Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2022-27188 Filed 12-14-22; 8:45 am]
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