E8-391. Request for Nominations for the Invasive Species Advisory Committee; Extension of Submission Deadline

AGENCY:

Office of the Secretary, National Invasive Species Council.

ACTION:

Request for Nominations for the Invasive Species Advisory Committee; Extension of Submission Deadline.

SUMMARY:

The U.S. Department of the Interior, on behalf of the interdepartmental National Invasive Species Council, proposes to appoint new members to the Invasive Species Advisory Committee (ISAC). The Secretary of the Interior, acting as administrative lead, is requesting nominations for qualified persons to serve as members of the ISAC.

DATES:

The submission deadline for nominations has been extended. All must now be postmarked by February 13, 2008.

ADDRESSES:

Nominations should be sent to Lori Williams, Executive Director, National Invasive Species Council (OS/NISC), Regular Mail: 1849 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20240; Express Mail: 1201 Eye Street, NW., 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kelsey Brantley, Program Analyst, at [phone], fax: [phone], or by e-mail at [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Advisory Committee Scope and Objectives

The purpose and role of the ISAC are to provide advice to the National Invasive Species Council (NISC), as authorized by Executive Order 13112, on a broad array of issues including preventing the introduction of invasive species, providing for their control, and minimizing the economic, ecological, and human health impacts that invasive species cause. NISC is Co-chaired by the Secretaries of the Interior, Agriculture, and Commerce, and is charged with providing coordination, planning and leadership regarding invasive species issues. Pursuant to the Executive Order, the Council developed a National Invasive Species Management Plan, which is available on the Web at http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov. The Council is responsible for effective implementation of the Plan including any revisions of the Plan, and also coordinates Federal agency activities concerning invasive species; encourages planning and action at local, tribal, State, regional and ecosystem-based levels; develops recommendations for international cooperation in addressing invasive species; facilitates the development of a coordinated network to document, evaluate, and monitor impacts from invasive species; and facilitates establishment of an information-sharing system on invasive species that utilizes, to the greatest extent practicable, the Internet.

The role of ISAC is to maintain an intensive and regular dialogue regarding the aforementioned issues. ISAC provides advice in cooperation with stakeholders and existing organizations addressing invasive species. The ISAC meets up to three (3) times per year.

Terms for many of the current members of the ISAC will expire in June 2008. After consultation with the other members of NISC, the Secretary of the Interior will actively solicit new nominees and appoint members to ISAC. Prospective members of ISAC should be knowledgeable in and represent one or more of the following communities of interests: weed science, fisheries science, rangeland management, forest science, entomology, nematology, plant pathology, veterinary medicine, the broad range of farming or agricultural practices, biodiversity issues, applicable laws and regulations relevant to invasive species policy, risk assessment, biological control of invasive species, public health/epidemiology, industry activities, international affairs or trade, tribal or State government interests, environmental education, ecosystem monitoring, natural resource database design and integration, and Internet-based management of conservation issues.

Prospective nominees should also have practical experience in one or more of the following areas: representing sectors of the national economy that are significantly threatened by biological invasions (e.g., agriculture, fisheries, public utilities, recreational users, tourism, etc.); representing sectors of the national economy whose routine operations may pose risks of new or expanded biological invasions (e.g., shipping, forestry, horticulture, aquaculture, pet trade, etc.); developing natural resource management plans on regional or ecosystem-level scales; addressing invasive species issues, including prevention, control and monitoring, in multiple ecosystems and on multiple scales; integrating science and the human dimension in order to create effective solutions to complex conservation issues including education, outreach, and public relations experts; coordinating diverse groups of stakeholders to resolve complex environmental issues and conflicts; and complying with NEPA and other Federal requirements for public involvement in major conservation plans. Members will be selected in order to achieve a balanced representation of viewpoints, so to effectively address invasive species issues under consideration. No member may serve on the ISAC for more than two (2) consecutive terms. All terms will be limited to three (3) years in length.

Members of the ISAC and its subcommittees serve without pay. However, while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services of the ISAC, members shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as persons employed intermittently in the government service, as authorized by section 5703 of Title 5, United States Code.

Note:

Employees of the Federal Government ARE NOT eligible for nomination or appointment to ISAC.

Submitting Nominations

Nominations should be typed and must include each of the following:

1. A brief summary of no more than two (2) pages explaining the nominee's suitability to serve on the ISAC.

2. A resume or curriculum vitae.

3. At least two (2) letters of reference.

Incomplete nominations (missing one or more of the items described above) will not be considered. The submission deadline for nominations has been extended. All nominations should now be postmarked no later than February 13, 2008, to Lori Williams, Executive Director, National Invasive Species Council (OS/NISC), Regular Mail: 1849 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20240; Express Mail: 1201 Eye Street, NW., 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20005.

The Secretary of the Interior, on behalf of the other members of NISC, is actively soliciting nominations of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities and members of low income populations to ensure that recommendations of the ISAC take into account the needs of the diverse groups served.

Dated: January 8, 2008.

Lori C. Williams,

Executive Director, National Invasive Species Council.