81 FR 33215 - Hydrographic Services Review Panel

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 101 (May 25, 2016)

In accordance with the Hydrographic Service Improvements Act Amendments of 2002, Public Law 107-372, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is required to solicit nominations for membership at least once a year for the Hydrographic Services Review Panel (HSRP). The HSRP, a Federal advisory committee, advises the Administrator on matters related to the responsibilities and authorities set forth in section 303 of the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act and such other appropriate matters as the Administrator refers to the Panel for review and advice. Those responsibilities and authorities include, but are not limited to: Acquiring and disseminating hydrographic data and providing hydrographic services, as those terms are defined in the Act; promulgating standards for hydrographic data and services; ensuring comprehensive geographic coverage of hydrographic services; and testing, developing, and operating vessels, equipment, and technologies necessary to ensure safe navigation and maintain operational expertise in hydrographic data acquisition and hydrographic services. The Act 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.'' The NOAA Administrator seeks and encourages individuals with expertise in marine navigation, port administration, marine shipping or other intermodal transportation industries, cartography and geographic information systems, geodesy, physical oceanography coastal resource management, including coastal resilience and emergency response, and other related fields. To apply for membership on the Panel, applicants are requested to submit the following five items and answer five response questions. The entire package should be a maximum length of seven pages or fewer. NOAA is an equal opportunity employer. (1) A cover letter that responds to the five questions listed below as a statement of interest to serve on the panel, ``Short Response Questions'' below. (2) Highlight the nominee's specific area(s) of expertise relevant to the purpose of the Panel from the list in the Federal Register Notice; (3) A current resume. (4) A short biography of 400 to 600 words. (5) The nominee's full name, title, institutional affiliation, and contact information.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 101 (Wednesday, May 25, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33215-33216]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-12323]


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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 membership solicitation for Hydrographic Services 
Review Panel.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Hydrographic Service Improvements Act 
Amendments of 2002, Public Law 107-372, the Administrator of the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is required to 
solicit nominations for membership at least once a year for the 
Hydrographic Services Review Panel (HSRP). The HSRP, a Federal advisory 
committee, advises the Administrator on matters related to the 
responsibilities and authorities set forth in section 303 of the 
Hydrographic Services Improvement Act and such other appropriate 
matters as the Administrator refers to the Panel for review and advice. 
Those responsibilities and authorities include, but are not limited to: 
Acquiring and disseminating hydrographic data and providing 
hydrographic services, as those terms are defined in the Act; 
promulgating standards for hydrographic data and services; ensuring 
comprehensive geographic coverage of hydrographic services; and 
testing, developing, and operating vessels, equipment, and technologies 
necessary to ensure safe navigation and maintain operational expertise 
in hydrographic data acquisition and hydrographic services.
    The Act 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.'' The NOAA Administrator seeks and encourages 
individuals with expertise in marine navigation, port administration, 
marine shipping or other intermodal transportation industries, 
cartography and geographic information systems, geodesy, physical 
oceanography coastal resource management, including coastal resilience 
and emergency response, and other related fields. To apply for 
membership on the Panel, applicants are requested to submit the 
following five items and answer five response questions. The entire 
package should be a maximum length of seven pages or fewer. NOAA is an 
equal opportunity employer.
    (1) A cover letter that responds to the five questions listed below 
as a statement of interest to serve on the panel, ``Short Response 
Questions'' below.
    (2) Highlight the nominee's specific area(s) of expertise relevant 
to the purpose of the Panel from the list in the Federal Register 
Notice;
    (3) A current resume.
    (4) A short biography of 400 to 600 words.
    (5) The nominee's full name, title, institutional affiliation, and 
contact information.

Short Response Questions

    (1) List the area(s) of expertise, as listed above, which you would 
best represent on this Panel.
    (2) List the geographic region(s) of the country with which you 
primarily associate your expertise.
    (3) Describe your leadership or professional experiences which you 
believe will contribute to the effectiveness of this panel.
    (4) Describe your familiarity and experience with NOAA navigation 
data, products, and services.
    (5) Generally describe the breadth and scope of stakeholders, 
users, or other groups whose views and input you believe you can share 
with the panel.

DATES: Solicitation of nomination is on an ongoing basis through June 
30, 2017. The HSRP maintains a pool of candidates to fulfill the HSIA 
requirements on membership solicitation. Although there are no current 
vacancies on the HSRP, this solicitation seeks to update the current 
pool of candidates for consideration of appointment for potential 
future vacancies on the Panel. Your application will be kept on file 
for the next call for nominations in summer 2017 which will fill 
vacancies in 2018. You will not need to reapply in 2017.

ADDRESSES: Nominations will be accepted by email and should be sent to: 
[email protected]; or [email protected]. You will 
receive a confirmation response.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lynne Mersfelder-Lewis, NOAA, 
telephone: 301-713-2750 x166.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under 33 U.S.C. 883a, et seq., NOAA's 
National Ocean Service (NOS) is responsible for providing nautical 
charts and related

[[Page 33216]]

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 HSRP 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 NOAA 
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).
    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 
Administrator) 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 Administrator 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 Administrator. Voting members receive compensation at 
a rate established by the Administrator, 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, 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: May 9, 2016.
Gerd F. Glang,
NOAA, Director, Office of Coast Survey, National Ocean Service, 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2016-12323 Filed 5-24-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-JE-P