2014-26603. Availability of Seats for National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Councils

AGENCY:

Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS), National Ocean Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce (DOC).

ACTION:

Notice and request for applications.

SUMMARY:

ONMS is seeking applications for vacant seats for 7 of its 13 national marine sanctuary advisory councils (advisory councils). Vacant seats, including positions (i.e., primary member and alternate), for each of the advisory councils are listed in this notice under Supplementary Information. Applicants are chosen based upon their particular expertise and experience in relation to the seat for which they are applying; community and professional affiliations; views regarding the protection and management of marine or Great Lake resources; and possibly the length of residence in the area affected by the sanctuary. Applicants who are chosen as members or alternates should expect to serve two- or three-year terms, pursuant to the charter of the specific national marine sanctuary advisory council.

DATES:

Applications are due by December 31, 2014.

ADDRESSES:

Application kits are specific to each advisory council. As such, application kits must be obtained from and returned to the council-specific addresses noted below.

• Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council: Lilli Ferguson, Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, P.O. Box 159, Olema, CA 94950; [phone] extension 107; email [e-mail]; or download application from http://cordellbank.noaa.gov.
• Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council: Inouye Regional Center, ATTN: NOS/HIHWNMS/Emily Gaskin, 1845 Wasp Blvd., Building 176, Honolulu, HI 96818; [phone] extension 257; email [e-mail]; or download application from http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/​council/​council_​app_​accepting.html.
• Monitor National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council: Shannon Ricles, Monitor National Marine Sanctuary, 100 Museum Drive, Newport News, VA 23606; [phone]; email [e-mail]; or download application from http://monitor.noaa.gov.
• Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council: Erin Ovalle, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, 99 Pacific Street, Building 455A, Monterey, CA 93940; [phone]; email [e-mail]; or download application from http://montereybay.noaa.gov/​welcome.html.
• National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa Advisory Council: Joseph Paulin, National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa, Tauese P.F. Sunia Ocean Center, Utulei, American Samoa; [phone]; email [e-mail]; or download application from http://americansamoa.noaa.gov.
• Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council: Karlyn Langjahr, Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, 115 East Railroad Ave., Suite 101, Port Angeles, WA 98362; [phone] extension 31; email [e-mail]; or download application from http://olympiccoast.noaa.gov/​involved/​sac/​sac_​welcome.html.
• Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary: Elizabeth Stokes, NOS/ONMS/SBNMS, 175 Edward Foster Road, Scituate, MA 02066; [phone] extension 201; email [e-mail]; or download application from http://stellwagen.noaa.gov/​.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For further information on a particular national marine sanctuary advisory council, please contact the individual identified in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

ONMS serves as the trustee for 14 marine protected areas encompassing more than 170,000 square miles of ocean and Great Lakes waters from the Hawaiian Islands to the Florida Keys, and from Lake Huron to American Samoa. National marine sanctuaries protect our Nation's most vital coastal and marine natural and cultural resources, and through active research, management, and public engagement, sustains healthy environments that are the foundation for thriving communities and stable economies. One of the many ways ONMS ensures public participation in the designation and management of national marine sanctuaries is through the formation of advisory councils. National marine sanctuary advisory councils are community-based advisory groups established to provide advice and recommendations to the superintendents of the national marine sanctuaries on issues including management, science, service, and stewardship; and to serve as liaisons between their constituents in the community and the sanctuary. Additional information on ONMS and its advisory councils can be found at http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov. Information related to the purpose, policies and operational requirements for advisory councils can be found in the charter for a particular advisory council (http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/​management/​ac/​council_​charters.html) and the National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council Implementation Handbook (http://www.sanctuaries.noaa.gov/​management/​ac/​acref.html).

The following is a list of the vacant seats, including positions (i.e., primary member or alternate), for each of the advisory councils currently seeking applications for members and alternates:

Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council: Community-At-Large—Marin (alternate); Education (primary member); and Research (alternate).

Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council: Business/Commerce (alternate); Citizen-At-Large (alternate); Conservation (alternate); Education (alternate); Lanai Island Representative (alternate); Molokai Island Representative (alternate); Ocean Recreation (alternate); Tourism (alternate); and Whale Watching (alternate).

Monitor National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council: Education (primary member); Recreational/Commercial Fishing (primary member); and Youth (primary member).

Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council: Conservation (alternate); and Education (primary member).

National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa Advisory Council: Community-At-Large, Swains Island (primary member).

Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary: Conservation (primary member); Conservation (alternate); Tourism/Economic Development (primary member); Tourism/Economic Development (alternate); Marine Industry (primary member); and Marine Industry (alternate).

Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council: Research (primary member); and Mobile Gear Commercial Fishing (alternate).

Authority: 16 U.S.C. Sections 1431, et seq.

(Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog Number 11.429 Marine Sanctuary Program)

Dated: October 27, 2014.

Daniel J. Basta,

Director, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.