[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 76 (Wednesday, April 21, 2010)] [Notices] [Pages 20809-20810] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2010-9138] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Hydrographic Services Review Panel AGENCY: National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce. ACTION: Notice of Additional Membership Solicitation for Hydrographic Services Review Panel. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is soliciting additional applications for membership on the Hydrographic Services Review Panel (the Panel), a Federal advisory committee. NOAA is extending the previous membership solicitation period, which ended July 24, 2009, and will hereby accept additional membership applications through Wednesday, June 30, 2010. NOAA is seeking to broaden the areas of expertise represented on the Panel. The Hydrographic Services Improvement Act Amendments of 2008 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.'' NOAA encourages individuals with expertise in navigation data, products and services; coastal management; fisheries management; coastal and marine spatial planning; geodesy; water levels; and other science-related fields to submit applications for Panel membership. To apply for membership on the Panel, applicants should submit a resume as indicated in the ADDRESSES section. NOAA is an equal opportunity employer. DATES: Application materials should be sent to the address, email, or fax specified and must be received by June 30, 2010. ADDRESSES: Submit applications for Panel membership, in the form of a resume, to Kathy Watson via mail, fax, or e-mail. Mail: Kathy Watson, NOAA National Ocean Service, Office of Coast Survey, NOAA (N/CS), 1315 East West Highway, SSMC3 Rm. 6126, Silver Spring, MD, 20910; Fax: 301- 713-4019; E-mail: [email protected]. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathy Watson, NOAA National Ocean Service, Office of Coast Survey, NOAA (N/CS), 1315 East West Highway, SSMC3 Rm. 6126, Silver Spring, Maryland, 20910; Telephone: 301-713-2770 x158, Fax: 301-713-4019; E-mail: [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice responds to the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act Amendments of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-372), which requires the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere to solicit nominations for Panel membership. The Panel shall advise the NOAA Administrator on matters related to the responsibilities and authorities set forth in section 303 of the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998, its amendments, and such other appropriate matters as the [[Page 20810]] Administrator refers to the Panel for review and advice. Under 33 U.S.C. 883a, et seq., NOAA's National Ocean Service (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 Hydrographic Services Review Panel 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 Panel has fifteen voting members appointed by the Administrator in accordance with 33 U.S.C. 892c. Members are selected on a standardized basis, in accordance with applicable Department of Commerce guidance. The Co-Directors of the Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping/Joint Hydrographic Center and two other NOAA employees serve as nonvoting members of the Panel. The Director, NOAA Office of Coast Survey, serves as the Designated Federal Official (DFO). This solicitation is to obtain candidate applications for up to 11 full voting member vacancies on the Panel as of January 1, 2011. Additional appointments may be made to fill vacancies left by any members who choose to resign during 2010. Be advised that some voting members whose terms expire January 1, 2011 may be reappointed for another full term if eligible. If you submitted an application for the July 16, 2009 Federal Register Notice for membership solicitation, and are still interested in being considered for HSRP membership, you need to confirm your interest by contacting NOAA's HSRP Program Coordinator, Kathy Watson, at [email protected] or 301-713-2770 x 158. If you respond that you are still interested, your 2009 application will remain valid and will be included in this 2010 selection. 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 determined by the Under Secretary) 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 Under Secretary 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. 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 Under Secretary. Voting members receive compensation at a rate established by the Under Secretary, 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. Members are reimbursed for actual and reasonable expenses incurred in performing such duties. 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. 18 U.S.C. 202(a) An SGE (s) is an officer or employee of an agency who is retained, designated, appointed, or employed to perform temporary duties, with or without compensation, for not to exceed 130 days during any period of 365 consecutive days, either on a fulltime or intermittent basis. Please be aware that 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 (on-line Background Security Check process and fingerprinting conducted through NOAA Workforce Management); and (b) Confidential Financial Disclosure Report-As an SGE, you are required to file a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report to avoid involvement in a real or apparent conflict of interest. You may find the Confidential Financial Disclosure Report at the following Web site: http://www.usoge.gov/forms/form_450.aspx Dated: April 14, 2010. Captain John E. Lowell, Jr., NOAA, Director, Office of Coast Survey, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. [FR Doc. 2010-9138 Filed 4-20-10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-JE-P