SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This notice responds to the ICOOS Act of 2009 (Pub. L. 111-11, section 12304), which requires the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere to solicit nominations for Committee membership. The Committee will advise the NOAA Administrator or Interagency Ocean Observation Committee on matters related to the responsibilities and authorities set forth in section 12302 of the ICOOS Act of 2009 and other appropriate matters as the Under Secretary refers to the Committee for review and advice.

The United States Integrated Ocean Observing System Advisory Committee will provide advice on:

(a) Administration, operation, management, and maintenance of the System;

(b) Expansion and periodic modernization and upgrade of technology components of the System;

(c) Identification of end-user communities, their needs for information provided by the System, and the System's effectiveness in dissemination information to end-user communities and to the general public; and

(d) Any other purpose identified by the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere or the Interagency Ocean Observation Committee.

The Committee's voting members will be appointed by the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere. Members shall be qualified by education, training, and experience to evaluate scientific and technical information related to the design, operation, maintenance, or use of the System, or the use of data products provided through the System. Members are selected on a standardized basis, in accordance with applicable Department of Commerce guidance. Members will be appointed for three-year terms, renewable once. One Committee member will be designated by the Under Secretary as chairperson. Full-time officers or employees of the United States may not be appointed as a voting member. Members will be appointed as special Government employees (SGEs) for purposes of section 202(a) of title 18, United States Code. Members serve at the discretion of the Under Secretary and are subject to government ethics standards. Members of the Committee will not be compensated for service on the Committee, but they may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code.

The Committee will meet at least once each year, and at other times at the call of the Under Secretary, the Interagency Ocean Observation Committee, or the Committee Chairperson. The Committee has approximately fifteen voting members. This solicitation is to obtain candidate applications for up to two full voting member vacancies.

To apply for membership, applicants must submit the following five items, ( printed page 36382) including a cover letter that responds to the five questions below. The entire package should be a maximum length of eight pages or fewer. NOAA is an equal opportunity employer.

(1) A cover letter that responds to the five questions listed below and serves as a statement of interest to serve on the panel. Please see “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 short biography of 300 to 400 words.

(4) A current resume.

(5) The nominee's full name, title, institutional affiliation, mailing address, email, phone, fax and contact information.

Short Response Questions:

(1) List your area(s) of expertise, as listed above.

(2) List the geographic region(s) of the country with which you primarily associate your expertise.

(3) Describe your leadership or professional experience that you believe will contribute to the effectiveness of this panel.

(4) Describe your familiarity and experience with U.S. IOOS data, products, and services.

(5) Generally describe the breadth and scope of your knowledge of stakeholders, users, or other groups who interact with NOAA or other U.S. IOOS agencies and whose views and input you believe you can share with the panel.

Individuals Selected for Committee Membership

Upon selection and agreement to serve on the United States Integrated Ocean Observing System Advisory Committee, one becomes a Special Government Employee (SGE) of the United States Government. An SGE 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 full-time or intermittent basis. After the membership selection process is complete, applicants who are selected to serve on the Committee must complete the following actions before they can be appointed as a Committee member:

(a) Background Check (on-line Background Check process and fingerprinting conducted through NOAA Workforce Management); and

(b) Confidential Financial Disclosure Report: As an SGE, one is required to file annually a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report to avoid involvement in a real or apparent conflict of interest. One may find the Confidential Financial Disclosure Report at the following website: www.usoge.gov/​forms/​form_​450.aspx.

85 FR 36381