83 FR 32845 - Nominations to the Marine Mammal Scientific Review Groups

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 136 (July 16, 2018)

Page Range		32845-32846
FR Document		2018-15064

As required by of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), the Secretary of Commerce established three independent regional scientific review groups (SRGs) to provide advice on a range of marine mammal science and management issues. NMFS conducted a membership review of the Alaska, Atlantic, and Pacific SRGs, and is soliciting nominations for new members to fill vacancies and gaps in expertise.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 136 (Monday, July 16, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 136 (Monday, July 16, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32845-32846]
From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-15064]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG299

Nominations to the Marine Mammal Scientific Review Groups

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; request for nominations.

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SUMMARY: As required by of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), the
Secretary of Commerce established three independent regional scientific
review groups (SRGs) to provide advice on a range of marine mammal
science and management issues. NMFS conducted a membership review of
the Alaska, Atlantic, and Pacific SRGs, and is soliciting nominations
for new members to fill vacancies and gaps in expertise.

DATES: Nominations must be received by August 15, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Nominations can be emailed to Shannon.Bettridge@noaa.gov, or
mailed to: Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Conservation Division, Office
of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-
West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226, Attn: SRGs.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shannon Bettridge, Office of Protected
Resources, 301-427-8402, Shannon.Bettridge@noaa.gov. Information about
the SRGs, including the SRG Terms of Reference, is available at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-mammal-protection/scientific-review-groups.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 117(d) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C.
1386(d)) directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish three
independent regional SRGs to advise the Secretary (authority delegated
to NMFS). The Alaska SRG advises on marine mammals that occur in waters
off Alaska that are under the jurisdiction of the United States. The
Pacific SRG advises on marine mammals that occur in waters off the U.S.
West Coast, Hawaiian Islands, and the U.S. Territories in the Central
and Western Pacific that are under the jurisdiction of the United
States. The Atlantic SRG advises on marine mammals that occur in waters
off the Atlantic coast, Gulf of Mexico, and U.S. Territories in the
Caribbean that are under the jurisdiction of the United States.
SRGs members are highly qualified individuals with expertise in
marine mammal biology and ecology, population dynamics and modeling,
commercial fishing technology and practices, and stocks taken under
section 101(b) of the MMPA. The SRGs provide expert reviews of draft
marine mammal stock assessment reports and other information related to
the matters identified in section 117(d)(1) of the MMPA, including:
A. Population estimates and the population status and trends of
marine mammal stocks;
B. Uncertainties and research needed regarding stock separation,
abundance, or trends, and factors affecting the distribution, size, or
productivity of the stock;
C. Uncertainties and research needed regarding the species, number,
ages, gender, and reproductive status of marine mammals;
D. Research needed to identify modifications in fishing gear and
practices likely to reduce the incidental mortality and serious injury
of marine mammals in commercial fishing operations;
E. The actual, expected, or potential impacts of habitat
destruction, including marine pollution and natural environmental
change, on specific marine mammal species or stocks, and for strategic
stocks, appropriate conservation or management measures to alleviate
any such impacts; and
F. Any other issue which the Secretary or the groups consider
appropriate.
SRG members collectively serve as independent advisors to NMFS and
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and provide their expert review and
recommendations through participation in the SRG. Members attend annual
meetings and undertake activities as independent persons providing
expertise in their subject areas. Members are not appointed as
representatives of professional organizations or particular stakeholder
groups, including government entities, and are not permitted to
represent or advocate for those organizations, groups, or entities
during SRG meetings, discussions, and deliberations.
SRG membership is voluntary; and, except for reimbursable travel
and related expenses, service is without pay. The term of service for
SRG members is three years, and members may serve up to three
consecutive terms if reappointed.
NMFS annually reviews the expertise available on the SRG and
identifies gaps in the expertise that is needed to provide advice
pursuant to section 117(d) of the MMPA. In conducting the reviews, NMFS
attempts to achieve, to

[[Page 32846]]

the maximum extent practicable, a balanced representation of viewpoints
among the individuals on each SRG.

Expertise Solicited

For the Atlantic SRG (including waters off the Atlantic coast, Gulf
of Mexico, and U.S. Territories in the Caribbean), NMFS seeks
individuals with expertise in one or more of the following priority
areas (not in order of priority): Acoustics methodology and
anthropogenic effects of sound on cetaceans; line-transect methodology,
mark-recapture methods and survey design, and quantitative ecology;
Gulf of Mexico/southeast U.S. bottlenose dolphin population dynamics;
and manatees. Additional areas of expertise areas include marine mammal
bycatch reduction, Caribbean marine mammal species, and genetics.
For the Pacific SRG (including waters off the Pacific coast,
Hawaiian Islands and the U.S. Territories in the Central and Western
Pacific), NMFS seeks individuals with expertise in one or more of the
following areas (not in order of priority): Marine mammal stock
definition and assessment under the MMPA and ESA; abundance estimation,
especially distance sampling and mark-recapture methods and survey
design; West Coast and Alaska fishing gear/techniques; West Coast
pinnipeds, including assessment, life history, ecology, and human-
pinniped interactions; large whales, particularly with regard to
entanglement issues; ocean health and veterinary expertise, especially
relative to disease and habitat change; fisheries oceanography and
ecology, particularly decadal and long-term understanding; quantitative
ecology, population dynamics, modeling, and statistics, especially as
related to abundance and bycatch estimation, Bayesian methods,
applications of new technologies, and methods for data-limited
circumstances; State, Tribal, or regional/local fishery and/or marine
mammal entanglement issues in the Pacific Islands and West Coast
states; sea otters; science-management interface, such as management
approaches with imperfect data; and interdisciplinary skills combining
different fields of research.
For the Alaska SRG, NMFS seeks individuals with expertise in one or
more of the following areas, in order of priority: The Alaska
commercial fishing industry and commercial fishery methods/gear,
particularly fisheries with marine mammal bycatch interactions;
population dynamics, modeling, and statistics; and abundance
estimation, especially distance sampling and mark-recapture methods and
survey design; and knowledge of the MMPA and processing of marine
mammal stock assessments.

Submitting a Nomination

Nominations for new members should be sent to Dr. Shannon Bettridge
in the NMFS Office of Protected Resources (see ADDRESSES) and must be
received by August 15, 2018. Nominations should be accompanied by the
individual's curriculum vitae and detailed information regarding how
the recommended person meets the minimum selection criteria for SRG
members (see below). Nominations should also include the nominee's
name, address, telephone number, and email address. Self-nominations
are acceptable.

Selection Criteria

Although the MMPA does not explicitly prohibit Federal employees
from serving as SRG members, NMFS interprets MMPA section 117(d)'s
reference to the SRGs as ``independent'' bodies that are exempt from
Federal Advisory Committee Act requirements to mean that SRGs are
intended to augment existing Federal expertise and are not composed of
Federal employees or contractors. Therefore, NMFS will not consider any
nominee who is currently a Federal employee or a full-time contractor
supporting a Federal agency.
When reviewing nominations, NMFS, in consultation with the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, will consider the following six criteria:
(1) Ability to make time available for the purposes of the SRG;
(2) Knowledge of the species (or closely related species) of marine
mammals in the SRG's region;
(3) Scientific or technical achievement in a relevant discipline,
particularly the areas of expertise identified above, to be considered
an expert peer reviewer for the topic;
(4) Demonstrated experience working effectively on teams;
(5) Expertise relevant to current and expected needs of the SRG, in
particular, expertise required to provide adequate review and
knowledgeable feedback on current or developing stock assessment
issues, techniques, etc. In practice, this means that each member
should have expertise in more than one topic as the species and
scientific issues discussed in SRG meetings are diverse; and
(6) No conflict of interest with respect to their duties as a
member of the SRG.

Next Steps

Following review, nominees who are identified by NMFS as potential
new members must be vetted and cleared in accordance with Department of
Commerce policy. NMFS will contact these individuals and ask them to
provide written confirmation that they are not registered Federal
lobbyists or registered foreign agents, and to complete a confidential
financial disclosure form, which will be reviewed by the Ethics Law and
Programs Division within the U.S. Department of Commerce's Office of
General Counsel. All nominees will be notified of a selection decision
in advance of the 2019 SRG meetings.

Dated: July 10, 2018.
Donna S. Wieting,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-15064 Filed 7-13-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 136 / Monday, July 16, 2018 / Notices 32845

622.435(a)(1)(i) & (ii) & (iii)). The DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE mammal biology and ecology,
applicant does not intend to retain any population dynamics and modeling,
of these species caught during the National Oceanic and Atmospheric commercial fishing technology and
respective seasonal closures. However, Administration practices, and stocks taken under
the EFP would allow the applicant to RIN 0648–XG299 section 101(b) of the MMPA. The SRGs
possess these species during those provide expert reviews of draft marine
closure periods for sufficient time to Nominations to the Marine Mammal mammal stock assessment reports and
collect and record length measurements, Scientific Review Groups other information related to the matters
consistent with the goals of the EFP. If identified in section 117(d)(1) of the
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries MMPA, including:
these species were caught outside of a Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and A. Population estimates and the
closed season, the contracted Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), population status and trends of marine
commercial fishers would be able retain Commerce. mammal stocks;
them, consistent with applicable law. ACTION: Notice; request for nominations. B. Uncertainties and research needed
These species also may be encountered regarding stock separation, abundance,
in the Bajo de Sico closed area (50 CFR SUMMARY: As required by of the Marine or trends, and factors affecting the
622.435(a)(2)(iv)), and the EFP would Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), the distribution, size, or productivity of the
allow the applicant to possess the Secretary of Commerce established three stock;
species during the seasonal area closure independent regional scientific review C. Uncertainties and research needed
for sufficient time to collect and record groups (SRGs) to provide advice on a regarding the species, number, ages,
length measurements. No species caught range of marine mammal science and gender, and reproductive status of
as incidental catch during the seasonal management issues. NMFS conducted a marine mammals;
or area closures would be retained membership review of the Alaska, D. Research needed to identify
during the EFP. Atlantic, and Pacific SRGs, and is modifications in fishing gear and
soliciting nominations for new members practices likely to reduce the incidental
NMFS finds this application warrants to fill vacancies and gaps in expertise. mortality and serious injury of marine
further consideration based on a mammals in commercial fishing
DATES: Nominations must be received
preliminary review. Possible conditions by August 15, 2018. operations;
the agency may impose on this permit, E. The actual, expected, or potential
ADDRESSES: Nominations can be
if it is granted, include but are not impacts of habitat destruction,
emailed to Shannon.Bettridge@
limited to, a prohibition on conducting including marine pollution and natural
noaa.gov, or mailed to: Marine Mammal
sampling activities within marine and Sea Turtle Conservation Division, environmental change, on specific
protected areas, marine sanctuaries, or Office of Protected Resources, National marine mammal species or stocks, and
special management zones, without Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East- for strategic stocks, appropriate
additional authorization, and requiring West Highway, Silver Spring, MD conservation or management measures
compliance with best practices in the 20910–3226, Attn: SRGs. to alleviate any such impacts; and
event of interactions with any protected F. Any other issue which the
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
species. NMFS may also require annual Secretary or the groups consider
Shannon Bettridge, Office of Protected appropriate.
reports summarizing the amount of reef Resources, 301–427–8402,
fish species harvested during the SRG members collectively serve as
Shannon.Bettridge@noaa.gov. independent advisors to NMFS and the
seasonal and area closures, as well as Information about the SRGs, including U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and
during the period of effectiveness of any the SRG Terms of Reference, is available provide their expert review and
issued EFP. Additionally, NMFS would at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/ recommendations through participation
require any sea turtles taken national/marine-mammal-protection/ in the SRG. Members attend annual
incidentally during the course of the scientific-review-groups. meetings and undertake activities as
activities to be handled with due care to SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section independent persons providing
prevent injury to live specimens, 117(d) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1386(d)) expertise in their subject areas.
observed for activity, and returned to directs the Secretary of Commerce to Members are not appointed as
the water. establish three independent regional representatives of professional
A final decision on issuance of the SRGs to advise the Secretary (authority organizations or particular stakeholder
EFP will depend on NMFS’ review of delegated to NMFS). The Alaska SRG groups, including government entities,
public comments received on the advises on marine mammals that occur and are not permitted to represent or
application, consultations with the in waters off Alaska that are under the advocate for those organizations,
affected state(s), the Council, and the jurisdiction of the United States. The groups, or entities during SRG meetings,
U.S. Coast Guard, and a determination Pacific SRG advises on marine discussions, and deliberations.
mammals that occur in waters off the SRG membership is voluntary; and,
that it is consistent with all applicable
U.S. West Coast, Hawaiian Islands, and except for reimbursable travel and
laws.
the U.S. Territories in the Central and related expenses, service is without pay.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Western Pacific that are under the The term of service for SRG members is
Dated: July 10, 2018. jurisdiction of the United States. The three years, and members may serve up
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

Margo B. Schulze-Haugen,
Atlantic SRG advises on marine to three consecutive terms if
mammals that occur in waters off the reappointed.
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Atlantic coast, Gulf of Mexico, and U.S. NMFS annually reviews the expertise
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
Territories in the Caribbean that are available on the SRG and identifies gaps
[FR Doc. 2018–15074 Filed 7–13–18; 8:45 am] under the jurisdiction of the United in the expertise that is needed to
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P States. provide advice pursuant to section
SRGs members are highly qualified 117(d) of the MMPA. In conducting the
individuals with expertise in marine reviews, NMFS attempts to achieve, to

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32846 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 136 / Monday, July 16, 2018 / Notices

the maximum extent practicable, a design; and knowledge of the MMPA Next Steps
balanced representation of viewpoints and processing of marine mammal stock Following review, nominees who are
among the individuals on each SRG. assessments. identified by NMFS as potential new
Expertise Solicited Submitting a Nomination members must be vetted and cleared in
For the Atlantic SRG (including accordance with Department of
Nominations for new members should Commerce policy. NMFS will contact
waters off the Atlantic coast, Gulf of be sent to Dr. Shannon Bettridge in the
Mexico, and U.S. Territories in the these individuals and ask them to
NMFS Office of Protected Resources provide written confirmation that they
Caribbean), NMFS seeks individuals (see ADDRESSES) and must be received
with expertise in one or more of the are not registered Federal lobbyists or
by August 15, 2018. Nominations registered foreign agents, and to
following priority areas (not in order of should be accompanied by the
priority): Acoustics methodology and complete a confidential financial
individual’s curriculum vitae and disclosure form, which will be reviewed
anthropogenic effects of sound on
detailed information regarding how the by the Ethics Law and Programs
cetaceans; line-transect methodology,
recommended person meets the Division within the U.S. Department of
mark-recapture methods and survey
minimum selection criteria for SRG Commerce’s Office of General Counsel.
design, and quantitative ecology; Gulf of
members (see below). Nominations All nominees will be notified of a
Mexico/southeast U.S. bottlenose
should also include the nominee’s selection decision in advance of the
dolphin population dynamics; and
name, address, telephone number, and 2019 SRG meetings.
manatees. Additional areas of expertise
email address. Self-nominations are
areas include marine mammal bycatch Dated: July 10, 2018.
acceptable.
reduction, Caribbean marine mammal Donna S. Wieting,
species, and genetics. Selection Criteria Director, Office of Protected Resources,
For the Pacific SRG (including waters National Marine Fisheries Service.
off the Pacific coast, Hawaiian Islands Although the MMPA does not
[FR Doc. 2018–15064 Filed 7–13–18; 8:45 am]
and the U.S. Territories in the Central explicitly prohibit Federal employees
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
and Western Pacific), NMFS seeks from serving as SRG members, NMFS
individuals with expertise in one or interprets MMPA section 117(d)’s
more of the following areas (not in order reference to the SRGs as ‘‘independent’’
of priority): Marine mammal stock bodies that are exempt from Federal DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
definition and assessment under the Advisory Committee Act requirements
Office of the Secretary
MMPA and ESA; abundance estimation, to mean that SRGs are intended to
especially distance sampling and mark- augment existing Federal expertise and [Docket ID: DOD–2018–OS–0023]
recapture methods and survey design; are not composed of Federal employees
West Coast and Alaska fishing gear/ or contractors. Therefore, NMFS will Submission for OMB Review;
techniques; West Coast pinnipeds, not consider any nominee who is Comment Request
including assessment, life history, currently a Federal employee or a full- AGENCY: Office of the Under Secretary of
ecology, and human-pinniped time contractor supporting a Federal Defense for Acquisition and
interactions; large whales, particularly agency. Sustainment, DoD.
with regard to entanglement issues; When reviewing nominations, NMFS, ACTION: 30-Day information collection
ocean health and veterinary expertise, in consultation with the U.S. Fish and notice.
especially relative to disease and habitat Wildlife Service, will consider the
change; fisheries oceanography and following six criteria: SUMMARY: The Department of Defense
ecology, particularly decadal and long- has submitted to OMB for clearance the
(1) Ability to make time available for
term understanding; quantitative following proposal for collection of
ecology, population dynamics, the purposes of the SRG;
information under the provisions of the
modeling, and statistics, especially as (2) Knowledge of the species (or Paperwork Reduction Act.
related to abundance and bycatch closely related species) of marine
DATES: Consideration will be given to all
estimation, Bayesian methods, mammals in the SRG’s region;
comments received by August 15, 2018.
applications of new technologies, and (3) Scientific or technical
ADDRESSES: Comments and
methods for data-limited circumstances; achievement in a relevant discipline,
State, Tribal, or regional/local fishery recommendations on the proposed
particularly the areas of expertise
and/or marine mammal entanglement information collection should be
identified above, to be considered an
issues in the Pacific Islands and West emailed to Ms. Jasmeet Seehra, DoD
expert peer reviewer for the topic;
Coast states; sea otters; science- Desk Officer, at oira_submission@
(4) Demonstrated experience working omb.eop.gov. Please identify the
management interface, such as effectively on teams;
management approaches with imperfect proposed information collection by DoD
data; and interdisciplinary skills (5) Expertise relevant to current and Desk Officer, Docket ID number, and
combining different fields of research. expected needs of the SRG, in title of the information collection.
For the Alaska SRG, NMFS seeks particular, expertise required to provide FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Fred
individuals with expertise in one or adequate review and knowledgeable Licari, 571–372–0493, or whs.mc-
more of the following areas, in order of feedback on current or developing stock alex.esd.mbx.dd-dod-information-
priority: The Alaska commercial fishing assessment issues, techniques, etc. In collections@mail.mil.
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

industry and commercial fishery practice, this means that each member SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
methods/gear, particularly fisheries should have expertise in more than one Title; Associated Form; and OMB
with marine mammal bycatch topic as the species and scientific issues Number: Base Realignment and Closure
interactions; population dynamics, discussed in SRG meetings are diverse; (BRAC) Military Base Reuse Status; DD
modeling, and statistics; and abundance and Form 2740; OMB Control Number 0790–
estimation, especially distance sampling (6) No conflict of interest with respect 0003.
and mark-recapture methods and survey to their duties as a member of the SRG. Type of Request: Reinstatement.

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Document Created: 2018-07-14 00:53:25
Document Modified: 2018-07-14 00:53:25

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; request for nominations.
Dates		Nominations must be received by August 15, 2018.
Contact		Shannon Bettridge, Office of Protected Resources, 301-427-8402, [email protected] Information about the SRGs, including the SRG Terms of Reference, is available at https:/ /www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-mammal-protection/scientific- review-groups.
FR Citation		83 FR 32845
RIN Number		0648-XG29

83 FR 32845 - Nominations to the Marine Mammal Scientific Review Groups

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 136 (July 16, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration