81 FR 79461 - General Advisory Committee to the United States Section to the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission; Statement of Organization, Practices, and Procedures
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 219 (November 14, 2016)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 219 (November 14, 2016)
| Page Range | 79461-79462 | |
| FR Document | 2016-27294 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 219 (Monday, November 14, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 79461-79462] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-27294] [[Page 79461]] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648-XF014 General Advisory Committee to the United States Section to the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission; Statement of Organization, Practices, and Procedures AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: On May 27, 2016, the General Advisory Committee to the United States Section to the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission adopted the Statement of Organization, Practices, and Procedures (SOPP) as set forth. The General Advisory Committee may revise or amend the SOPP in future meetings. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rachael Wadsworth, NMFS, West Coast Region, (562) 980-4036. Statement of Organization, Practices, and Procedures I. Authority The General Advisory Committee (Committee) to the U.S. Section to the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) is established pursuant to Section 4 of the Tuna Conventions Act (TCA; 16 U.S.C. 953). II. Committee Organization A. Objectives and Scope of Activities The purpose of the Committee shall be to serve in an advisory capacity to the U.S. National Section of the IATTC (U.S. Section) with respect to the U.S. participation in the work of the IATTC, with particular reference to development of U.S. policies, positions, and negotiating tactics. The U.S. Section consists of the four U.S. Commissioners to the IATTC, who represent the United States with advisors from the U.S. Department of State, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), and other agencies of the U.S. Government. NMFS and U.S. Department of State representatives will be acting for the Secretaries of Commerce and State, respectively, to fulfill duties described in this Statement of Organization, Practices, and Procedures. B. Support Services NMFS and the Secretary of State shall furnish the Committee with relevant information concerning fisheries and international fishery agreements. NMFS shall provide to the Committee in a timely manner such administrative and technical support services as are necessary for its effective functioning. Executive Secretariat. NMFS shall provide an Executive Secretariat for each meeting of the Committee. The Executive Secretariat shall approve and attend all meetings and shall advise the Chair to adjourn, or shall herself/himself adjourn, any meeting when in the public interest. The Executive Secretariat will prepare an agenda and circulate it amongst Committee members in advance of the meeting for feedback and approve the agenda. The Executive Secretariat shall ensure that the minutes of each meeting are prepared, of which the accuracy shall be certified by the Chair. The Executive Secretariat will also maintain copies of all reports the Committee receives, issues, or approves. C. Procedures The Committee shall determine its organization and prescribe its practices and procedures for carrying out its functions under the TCA, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), and the Antigua Convention. The Committee shall publish and make available to the public a statement of its organization, practices, and procedures. D. Agency or Official to Whom the Committee Reports The Committee shall report, either orally or in writing, to NMFS, U.S. Department of State, and to the U.S. Section. III. Membership and Terms A. Membership The Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall appoint the members of the Committee. Committee composition. The Committee shall have no fewer than 5, or no more than 25, individuals, and the ex-officio members will be counted towards the total number of individuals. The Committee shall be representative of the various groups concerned with the fisheries covered by the Antigua Convention, including nongovernmental conservation organizations, providing an equitable balance among such groups to the maximum extent practicable. Ex-officio members. The Chair of the Pacific Fishery Management Council's Advisory Subpanel for Highly Migratory Fisheries and the Chair of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council's Advisory Panel shall be ex-officio members of the Committee by virtue of their positions with those Councils. B. Appointment Terms Each member of the Committee shall serve for a term of three years and is eligible for reappointment. IV. Officers and Terms of Office A. Committee Chair and Vice-Chair Every 3 years, the Committee will appoint its Chair for a term of 3 years. Every 3 years, the Committee will appoint its Vice-Chair for a term of 3 years. Each Chair shall be eligible for reappointment for up to 2 terms as Chair. Similarly, each Vice-Chair shall be eligible for reappointment for up to 2 terms as Vice-Chair. If a vacancy occurs, the Committee shall appoint a Chair or Vice-Chair to serve the remainder of the term; such service shall not count toward the term limits. V. Subcommittee A. Subcommittee NMFS shall appoint a Scientific Advisory Subcommittee to advise the Committee, pursuant to Section 4 of the TCA. VI. Administrative Matters A. Meetings All meetings of the Committee shall be open to the public, except when in executive session, which shall be closed to the public. Officers of the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Coast Guard, and representatives of any other agencies of the U.S. Government responsible for matters pertaining to fisheries in the eastern Pacific Ocean may attend and participate in all meetings of the Committee. Sensitive information, including discussion of the U.S. negotiating position for upcoming IATTC meetings, other than input from the public, may be discussed in executive session. NMFS shall be responsible for providing notice of meetings to the public in a timely fashion. The Committee is not subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.). B. Number and Frequency of Meetings The Committee shall meet at least once per year. If sufficient funds are available, one of the Committee meetings shall be an in- person meeting. All meetings shall be called by the Executive Secretariat, subject to the approval of the Commissioner who is also a full-time employee of the U.S. Government. There shall be no requirement of a quorum. [[Page 79462]] C. Attendance in U.S. Delegation The Committee shall be invited to attend all non-executive meetings of the U.S. delegation and at such meetings shall be given opportunity to examine and to be heard on all proposed programs of investigation, reports, recommendations, and regulations of the IATTC. Participation as a member of the U.S. delegation shall be subject to such limits as may be placed on the size of the delegation. D. Closed Meetings Executive sessions of the Committee shall be closed to the public, and all discussion occurring in these sessions shall not be disclosed publicly unless otherwise specified by an appropriate U.S. Government official. The Committee may choose to invite the Subcommittee members that are not also Committee members to executive sessions of the Committee. Below are examples of when the Committee may go into executive sessions: a. The Committee is considering the U.S. negotiating position prior or subsequent to international meetings. b. The Committee is being briefed on litigation in which the Committee is interested. c. The Committee is discussing internal operational matters. To the extent practicable, notice of closed sessions on matters of substance should be included in the Federal Register notice announcing the Committee meeting. E. Duration The Committee is a statutory body and may be terminated only by law. F. Recordkeeping The Executive Secretariat shall prepare the minutes of each meeting, which shall at a minimum contain: (1) A record of all persons present; (2) the names of persons from the public who attend the meeting and their interests or affiliations; (3) a description of matters and materials discussed and conclusions reached and the rationale for same; and (4) copies of all reports received, issued, or approved by the Committee. The Executive Secretariat shall distribute the minutes to the Committee members for their review. The Chair of the Committee shall certify the accuracy of all minutes of the Committee. The Executive Secretariat shall endeavor to provide any draft U.S. IATTC proposals to the Committee members at least five days prior to the meeting of the Committee. The Executive Secretariat shall provide a summary of any available information from bilateral or multilateral meetings between the United States and other nations to the Committee members. The records for the Committee and any working group will be handled in accordance with NOAA Administrative Order 205-1 governing the NOAA Records Management Program. Such records will be available for public inspection and copying, to the extent required by 5 U.S.C. 552. The Executive Secretariat shall ensure that all records and other written materials are maintained and available for inspection to the extent required by law. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 951 et seq. Dated: November 8, 2016. Jennifer M. Wallace, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2016-27294 Filed 11-10-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![79462 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 219 / Monday, November 14, 2016 / Notices
C. Attendance in U.S. Delegation from bilateral or multilateral meetings Charleston, SC 29405;
The Committee shall be invited to between the United States and other www.sedarweb.org.
attend all non-executive meetings of the nations to the Committee members. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julia
U.S. delegation and at such meetings The records for the Committee and Byrd, SEDAR Coordinator, 4055 Faber
shall be given opportunity to examine any working group will be handled in Place Drive, Suite 201, North
and to be heard on all proposed accordance with NOAA Administrative Charleston, SC 29405; phone: (843) 571–
programs of investigation, reports, Order 205–1 governing the NOAA 4366; email: julia.byrd@safmc.net.
recommendations, and regulations of Records Management Program. Such SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Gulf
the IATTC. Participation as a member of records will be available for public of Mexico, South Atlantic, and
the U.S. delegation shall be subject to inspection and copying, to the extent Caribbean Fishery Management
such limits as may be placed on the size required by 5 U.S.C. 552. The Executive Councils, in conjunction with NOAA
of the delegation. Secretariat shall ensure that all records Fisheries and the Atlantic and Gulf
and other written materials are States Marine Fisheries Commissions,
D. Closed Meetings maintained and available for inspection have implemented the Southeast Data,
Executive sessions of the Committee to the extent required by law. Assessment and Review (SEDAR)
shall be closed to the public, and all Authority: 16 U.S.C. 951 et seq. process, a multi-step method for
discussion occurring in these sessions determining the status of fish stocks in
Dated: November 8, 2016.
shall not be disclosed publicly unless the Southeast Region. SEDAR is a three-
otherwise specified by an appropriate Jennifer M. Wallace,
step process including: (1) Data
U.S. Government official. The Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
Workshop; (2) Assessment Process
Committee may choose to invite the utilizing webinars; and (3) Review
Subcommittee members that are not also [FR Doc. 2016–27294 Filed 11–10–16; 8:45 am]
Workshop. The product of the Data
Committee members to executive BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
Workshop is a data report which
sessions of the Committee. Below are compiles and evaluates potential
examples of when the Committee may datasets and recommends which
go into executive sessions: DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
datasets are appropriate for assessment
a. The Committee is considering the analyses. The product of the Assessment
U.S. negotiating position prior or National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration Process is a stock assessment report
subsequent to international meetings. which describes the fisheries, evaluates
b. The Committee is being briefed on the status of the stock, estimates
litigation in which the Committee is RIN 0648–XE984
biological benchmarks, projects future
interested. Fisheries of the South Atlantic; population conditions, and recommends
c. The Committee is discussing research and monitoring needs. The
Southeast Data, Assessment, and
internal operational matters. assessment is independently peer
To the extent practicable, notice of Review (SEDAR); Public Meeting
reviewed at the Review Workshop. The
closed sessions on matters of substance AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries product of the Review Workshop is a
should be included in the Federal Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Summary documenting panel opinions
Register notice announcing the Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), regarding the strengths and weaknesses
Committee meeting. Commerce. of the stock assessment and input data.
E. Duration ACTION: Notice of SEDAR 50 Pre-Data Participants for SEDAR Workshops are
The Committee is a statutory body Workshop Webinar. appointed by the Gulf of Mexico, South
and may be terminated only by law. Atlantic, and Caribbean Fishery
SUMMARY: The SEDAR 50 assessment of Management Councils and NOAA
F. Recordkeeping the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico stock of Fisheries Southeast Regional Office,
Blueline Tilefish will consist of a series Highly Migratory Species Management
The Executive Secretariat shall
of workshops and webinars: Stock Division, and Southeast Fisheries
prepare the minutes of each meeting,
Identification (ID) Work Group Meeting; Science Center. Participants include:
which shall at a minimum contain: (1)
Data Workshop; Assessment Workshop data collectors and database managers;
A record of all persons present; (2) the
and Webinars; and a Review Workshop. stock assessment scientists, biologists,
names of persons from the public who
See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. and researchers; constituency
attend the meeting and their interests or
affiliations; (3) a description of matters DATES: The SEDAR 50 Pre-Data representatives including fishermen,
and materials discussed and Workshop Webinar will be held on environmentalists, and non-
conclusions reached and the rationale Tuesday, December 13, 2016, from 1 governmental organizations (NGOs);
for same; and (4) copies of all reports p.m. to 4 p.m. international experts; and staff of
received, issued, or approved by the ADDRESSES: Councils, Commissions, and state and
Committee. The Executive Secretariat Meeting address: The meetings will be federal agencies.
shall distribute the minutes to the held via webinar. The webinar is open The items of discussion at the SEDAR 50
Committee members for their review. to members of the public. Those Pre-Data Workshop webinar are as follows:
The Chair of the Committee shall certify interested in participating should Participants will continue to discuss data
the accuracy of all minutes of the contact Julia Byrd at SEDAR (see FOR needs and treatments in order to prepare for
Committee. FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT below) to the Data Workshop.
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
The Executive Secretariat shall request an invitation providing webinar Although non-emergency issues not
endeavor to provide any draft U.S. access information. Please request contained in this agenda may come
IATTC proposals to the Committee webinar invitations at least 24 hours in before this group for discussion, those
members at least five days prior to the advance of each webinar. issues may not be the subject of formal
meeting of the Committee. The SEDAR address: South Atlantic action during this meeting. Action will
Executive Secretariat shall provide a Fishery Management Council, 4055 be restricted to those issues specifically
summary of any available information Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, N. identified in this notice and any issues
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Document Created: 2018-10-24 10:46:03
Document Modified: 2018-10-24 10:46:03
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice. | |
| Contact | Rachael Wadsworth, NMFS, West Coast Region, (562) 980-4036. | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 79461 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XF01 |
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