[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 167 (Thursday, August 28, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45628-45629]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-22860]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 080697D]
Request for Nominations of Individuals for the Federal Investment
Task Force
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of request for nominations.
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SUMMARY: The Sustainable Fisheries Act (SFA) requires the Secretary of
Commerce (Secretary) to establish a task force to study the role of the
Federal Government in subsidizing fleet capacity and influencing
capital investment in fisheries. NMFS requests nominations of qualified
individuals to serve on the task force.
DATES: Nominations will be accepted through September 5, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Nominations should be sent to Atlantic States Marine
Fisheries Commission, 1444 Eye Street, NW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC
20005, ATTN: Federal Investment Task Force. Nominations may be
submitted by fax, (202) 289-6051.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Beal, Atlantic States Marine
Fisheries Commission, (202) 289-6400.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
In accordance with section 116(b) of the SFA (Public Law 104-297),
the Secretary is establishing a task force of interested parties to
study the role of the Federal Government in (1) subsidizing the
expansion and contraction of fishing capacity in fishing fleets managed
under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act
(Magnuson-Stevens Act), and (2) otherwise influencing the aggregate
capital investment in fisheries. The task force will report the
findings of the study to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Resources of the
House of Representatives.
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) has
contracted with NMFS to establish the Federal Investment Task Force and
complete the tasks necessary to prepare and submit the report to
Congress. ASMFC is in the position of being knowledgeable about the
issues associated with the Federal Investment Study, while lacking a
vested interest in the outcome of the task force's work.
Procedures and Guidelines
A. Procedures for Establishing the Task Force.
Individuals with definable interests in fisheries will be
considered as members of the task force. Nominations may include, but
are not limited to, individuals who are associated with commercial or
recreational fishing, environmental organizations, academia, or quasi-
governmental entities. Selection of task force members will not be
limited to individuals who are nominated.
Nominations are invited from all individuals and constituent
groups. The nomination should include:
1. The name of the applicant or nominee and description of his/her
interest in or association with the role of the Federal Government in
subsidizing fleet capacity and influencing capital investment in
fisheries.
2. A statement of background and/or qualifications.
3. A written commitment that the applicant or nominee will actively
participate in good faith in the duties of the task force.
B. Participants.
The task force will consist of no more than 15 individuals who have
a substantial interest in fisheries. Nominations will be accepted to
represent commercial and recreational fishing interests, the
conservation community, and the academic community. ASMFC and NMFS
believe that all interests should be represented on the task force. The
intent is to have a group that, as a whole, represents all interests
fairly and supplies the necessary expertise to complete all assigned
tasks. Current employees of NOAA will not be considered for the task
force.
ASMFC will provide the necessary administrative support, including
technical assistance, for the task force. ASMFC will also reimburse all
travel expenses that are directly related to the activities of the task
force. However, ASMFC will be unable to compensate participants with
additional monetary support of any kind.
C. Tentative Schedule.
The task force is tentatively scheduled to meet five times between
September 1997 and May 1998. These meetings will focus on programs that
both
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directly and indirectly increase the capacity and capitalization of
commercial and recreational fishing fleets. The task force will also
evaluate the extent to which Federal programs have been successful at
reducing the capacity and capitalization of fishing fleets managed
under the Magnuson-Stevens Act. U.S. Coast Guard vessel mortgage
records will be reviewed to evaluate the influence of the Federal
Government on vessel financing. The final report of this task force
will be submitted to Congress by September 1, 1998.
Dated: August 22, 1997.
George H. Darcy,
Acting Office Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-22860 Filed 8-22-97; 4:51 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
