81 FR 17561 - Renewal of the U.S. Maritime Transportation System National Advisory Committee and Solicitation of Nominations for Membership

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Maritime Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 60 (March 29, 2016)

Pursuant to authority delegated by the Secretary of Transportation (Secretary) to the Maritime Administrator (Administrator) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act implementing regulations, the Maritime Administration (MARAD) announces the renewal of the U.S. Maritime Transportation System National Advisory Committee (Committee or MTSNAC), by the Secretary of Transportation. The Committee will advise the Secretary on solutions to impediments hindering effective use of short sea transportation and other matters as the Secretary determines. Duration of the MTSNAC is for two years unless renewed by the Secretary. This notice also requests nominations for membership on the Committee.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 60 (Tuesday, March 29, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17561-17562]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-07053]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration


Renewal of the U.S. Maritime Transportation System National 
Advisory Committee and Solicitation of Nominations for Membership

AGENCY: Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice of charter renewal and nomination solicitation.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to authority delegated by the Secretary of 
Transportation (Secretary) to the Maritime Administrator 
(Administrator) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act implementing 
regulations, the Maritime Administration (MARAD) announces the renewal 
of the U.S. Maritime Transportation System National Advisory Committee 
(Committee or MTSNAC), by the Secretary of Transportation. The 
Committee will advise the Secretary on solutions to impediments 
hindering effective use of short sea transportation and other matters 
as the Secretary determines. Duration of the MTSNAC is for two years 
unless renewed by the Secretary. This notice also requests nominations 
for membership on the Committee.

DATES: Nominations for immediate consideration for appointment must be 
received on or before 5:00 p.m. ET on May 2, 2016. After that date, 
MARAD will continue to accept applications under this notice for a 
period of up to two years from the deadline to fill any vacancies that 
may arise. The Agency encourages nominations submitted any time before 
the deadline.

ADDRESSES: Interested candidates may submit a completed application by 
one of the following methods:
     Email: [email protected], subject line: MTSNAC Application.
     Fax: 202-308-8968, ATTN: MTSNAC DFO, please provide name, 
mailing address and telephone and fax numbers to send application forms 
to.
     Mail: MARAD-MTSNAC Designated Federal Officer, Room W21-
310, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., 
Washington, DC 20590, please provide name, mailing address and 
telephone and fax numbers to send application forms to.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric Shen, Designated Federal Officer, 
at [email protected] or at (202) 308-8968. Please visit the MTSNAC Web 
site at http://www.marad.dot.gov/ports/marine-transportation-system-mts/marine-transportation-system-national-advisory-committee-mtsnac/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Under what authority is MARAD renewing the MTSNAC?

    The MTSNAC is a Federal advisory committee MARAD sponsors that 
advises the Department of Transportation on issues related to the 
marine transportation system. The MTSNAC was originally established in 
1999 in accordance with the recommendations made in a Report to 
Congress titled ``An Assessment of the U.S. Marine Transportation 
System,'' and mandated in 2007 by section 1121 of the Energy 
Independence and Security Act of 2007, Public Law 110-140 (46 U.S.C. 
55603). The MTSNAC operates in accordance with the provisions of the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), and shall undertake information-
gathering activities, develop technical advice, and present 
recommendations to the Administrator on matters including but not 
limited to the following:
    a. Impediments hindering effective use of short sea transportation, 
including the expansion of America's Marine Highways, as directed in 
Section 1121 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (Pub. 
L. 110-140), and methods to expand the use of the Marine Transportation 
System for freight and passengers;
    b. Expand capacity of U.S. international gateway ports to 
accommodate larger vessels;
    c. Improve waterborne transport to reduce congestion and increase 
mobility throughout the domestic transportation system;
    d. Strengthen maritime capabilities essential to economic and 
national security;
    e. Modernize the maritime workforce and inspire and educate the 
next generation of mariners;
    f. Foster maritime innovation; and,
    g. Topics related to the Agency's mission that the Maritime 
Administrator may charge the Committee with addressing.

II. Who should be considered for nomination as MTSNAC members?

    The Maritime Administration seeks nominations for immediate 
consideration to fill approximately 10 positions on the Committee for 
the upcoming 2016-2018 charter term, and will continue to accept 
nominations under this notice on an on-going basis for two years for 
consideration to fill vacancies that may arise during the charter term. 
Member appointment terms run for two years concurrently with the 
Committee charter. Members will be selected in accordance with 
applicable Agency guidelines based upon their ability to advise the 
Administrator on marine transportation issues. Members will be selected 
with a view toward a varied perspective of the marine transportation 
industry, including (1) ports and terminal operators; (2) vessel 
operators; (3) shippers or beneficiary cargo owners; (4) shipbuilders; 
(5) other modes of transportation; (6) relevant policy areas such as 
innovative financing, economic competitiveness, performance monitoring, 
safety, labor, and environment; (7) freight customers and providers; 
and (8) government bodies. Specifically, the Agency seeks to balance 
the following interests to the extent practicable: State departments of 
transportation; State, local, and tribal officials; local planning 
offices; shippers, businesses, and economic development; freight 
forwarders; rail, ports, trucking, and pipelines operations; workforce 
including both shipboard and waterfront workers, safety, and 
environmental interest. Registered lobbyists are not eligible to serve 
on Federal Advisory Committees. Registered lobbyists are lobbyists 
required to comply with provisions contained in the Lobbying Disclosure 
Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 110-81).

III. Do MTSNAC members receive compensation and/or per diem?

    Committee members will receive no salary for the participation in 
MTSNAC activities. While attending meetings or when otherwise engaged 
in Committee business, members may be reimbursed for travel and per 
diem expenses as

[[Page 17562]]

permitted under applicable Federal travel regulations. Reimbursement is 
subject to funding availability.

IV. What is the process for submitting nominations?

    Individuals can self-apply or be nominated by any individual or 
organization. To be considered for the MTSNAC, nominators should submit 
the following information:
    (1) Contact Information for the nominee, consisting of:

a. Name
b. Title
c. Organization or Affiliation
d. Address
e. City, State, Zip
f. Telephone number
g. Email address

    (2) Statement of interest limited to 250 words on why the nominee 
wants to serve on the MTSNAC and the unique perspectives and 
experiences the nominee brings to the Committee;
    (3) Resume limited to 3 pages describing professional and academic 
expertise, experience, and knowledge, including any relevant experience 
serving on advisory committees, past and present;
    (4) An affirmative statement that the nominee is not a Federally 
registered lobbyist and that the nominee understands that, if 
appointed, the nominee will not be allowed to continue to serve as a 
Committee member, if the nominee becomes a Federally registered 
lobbyist; and
    (5) Optional letters of support.
    Please do not send company, trade association, organization 
brochures, or any other promotional information. Materials submitted 
should total five pages or less and must be in a 12 font, formatted in 
Microsoft Word or PDF. Should more information be needed, MARAD staff 
will contact the nominee, obtain information from the nominee's past 
affiliations, or obtain information from publicly available sources. If 
you are interested in applying to become a member of the Committee, 
send a completed application package by email to [email protected] or by 
mail to Eric Shen, MTSNAC- DFO, Room W21-310, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., Washington, DC 20590. 
Applications must be received on or before 5:00 p.m. ET on March 24, 
2016; however, candidates are encouraged to send application any time 
before the deadline.

V. How will MARAD select MTSNAC members?

    A selection team comprised of representatives from the Maritime 
Administration will review the application packages. The selection team 
will make recommendations regarding membership to the Administrator 
based on the following criteria: (1) Professional or academic 
expertise, experience, and knowledge; (2) stakeholder representation; 
(3) availability and willingness to serve; and (4) relevant experience 
in working in committees and advisory panels. Nominations are open to 
all individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national 
origin, age, mental or physical disability, marital status, or sexual 
orientation.

    Authority: 49 CFR part 1.93(a); 5 U.S.C. 552b; 41 CFR parts 102-
3; 5 U.S.C. app. Sections 1-16.

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.

    Dated: March 24, 2016.
T. Mitchell Hudson, Jr.,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 2016-07053 Filed 3-28-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-81-P