03-30918. Invasive Species Advisory Committee; Request for Nominations

AGENCY:

Office of the Secretary, National Invasive Species Council, Department of the Interior.

ACTION:

Request for Nominations for the Invasive Species Advisory Committee.

Note:

This is a republication of the notice published December 1, 2003 (68 FR 67202). It contains a correction to the date for nominations.

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:

Nominations must be received by January 15, 2004.

ADDRESSES:

Nominations should be sent to Lori Williams, Executive Director, National Invasive Species Council (OS/SIO/NISC), 1849 C Street NW., Washington, DC 20240.

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 Invasive Species Council (Council), 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. The Council is Co-chaired by the Secretaries of the Interior, Agriculture, and Commerce. The duty of the Council is to provide national leadership regarding invasive species issues. Pursuant to the Executive Order, the Council developed a National Invasive Species Management Plan. The Plan is available on the Web at http://www.invasivespecies.gov. The Council is responsible for effective implementation of the Plan. The Council coordinates Federal agency activities concerning invasive species; prepares, revises, and issues the National Invasive Species Management Plan; 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 four (4) times per year.

Terms for approximately half of the current members of the ISAC will expire in March 2004. Current members of the ISAC are eligible for reappointment. The Secretary of the Interior will appoint members to ISAC in consultation with the Secretaries of Agriculture and Commerce. The Secretary of Interior actively solicits new nominees to the ISAC. 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.

Members 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 three (3) consecutive terms. All terms will be limited to two (2) 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.

Submitting Nominations

Nominations should be typed and should include 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.

Nominations should be sent no later than January 15, 2004, to Lori Williams, National Invasive Species Council (OS/SIO/NISC), 1849 C Street NW., Washington, DC 20240.

To ensure that recommendations of the ISAC take into account the needs of the diverse groups served, the Department of the Interior is actively soliciting nominations of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities and members of low income populations.

Dated: December 9, 2003.

Lori C. Williams,

Executive Director, National Invasive Species Council.