04-23399. National Medal of Technology Nomination Evaluation Committee; Notice of Determination for Closure of Meeting

The National Medal of Technology Nomination Evaluation Committee has scheduled a meeting for November 30, 2004.

The Committee was established to assist the Department in executing its responsibilities under 15 U.S.C. 3711. Under this provision, the Secretary of Commerce is responsible for recommending to the President prospective recipients of the National Medal of Technology. The committee's recommendations are made after reviewing all nominations received in response to a public solicitation. The Committee is chartered to have twelve members.

Time and Place:

The meeting will begin at 10 a.m. and end at 4 p.m. on November 30, 2004. The meeting will be held in Room 4813 at the U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230. For further information contact: Mildred S. Porter, Director National Medal of Technology, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., Herbert C. Hoover Building, Room 4843, Washington, DC 20230, Phone: [phone].

If a member of the public would like to submit written comments concerning the committee's affairs at any time before and after the meeting, written comments should be addressed to the Director of the National Medal of Technology as indicated above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The meeting will be closed to discuss the relative merits of persons and companies nominated for the Medal. Public disclosure of this information would be likely to significantly frustrate implementation of the National Medal of Technology program because premature publicity about candidates under consideration for the Medal, who may or may not ultimately receive the award, would be likely to discourage nominations for the Medal.

Accordingly, I find and determine, pursuant to section 10(d) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. app. 2, as amended, that the November 30, 2004, meeting may be closed to the public in accordance with section 552b (c) (9) (B) of title 5, United States Code because revealing information about Medal candidates would be likely to significantly frustrate implementation of a proposed agency Action.

Due to closure of the meeting, copies of the minutes of the meeting will not be available, however a copy of the Notice of Determination will be available for public inspection and copying in the office of Mildred Porter, Director, National Medal of Technology, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., Herbert Hoover Building, Room 4843, Washington, DC 20230, Phone: [phone].

Dated: October 12, 2004.

Phillip J. Bond,

Under Secretary of Commerce for Technology.